World Wide Quilting Page
Question of the Week
Question for the week of June 30, 1997:
Our question this week comes from Karen
What is the easiest way to tie a quilt or comforter and what type of thread
or yarn should I use?
--jean :
I use Crosheen Crochet cotton. I layer and pin quilt just as if I were going to quilt it.
Then I lay the pinned quilt across the empty quilt frame or on a worktable. Decide where the ties are going to be;
ie, center of each block and at each corner. Now cut a very long piece of thread (about 2 yards) and using a curved needle,
make a little stitch wherever you want a tie, making sure there will be enough thread to tie when you cut between the stiches.
The tie should be a surgical knot ... this is done like a square knot except you loop the wrapping thread once more; repeat this
step when making the second loop. I defy anyone to untie this knot. Trim tie ends as desired. (These ends could also be thread onto a needle and pulled to the inside of the quilt for a neater finish.)
If you want a fluffy tie, use knitting yarn. Before finishing tie, lay 2 pieces of thread across the knot and include them in the final knotting. Trim and fluff.
A button can be added with each tie also -- front, back or both.
Trisha Lane from Thunder Bay :
To tie a quilt I would use embroidery floss, at least 4 strands.
Keep length of floss on needle to about 10 to 12 inches in length.
Starting from the top of comforter go down to bottom - up to top (using a stitch about 1/8 " or a little less than a half a mm), go back down to bottom then up to top to tie off, use a reef knot (Boy Scout/Girl Guide knot) - right over left and under, left over right and under.
I do not tie a comforter or quilt that will be used alot and washed often. I have found that the batting shifts. However, after saying that, some well used quilts like those made from jean fabric, wool or other heavy material could not be done many other ways if you want to ever use your fingers to quilt again. A jean quilt tied and slightly quilted in some blocks with the new homespun type stich (a little longer than the desired 12 + stitches to the inch type) give it a special finish.
Bernie :
I use emboidery floss , and a cuvred
needle .
DEBBIE :
I TIE QUILTS WITH DMC FLOSS.
IT WORKS GOOD FOR ME
joan w. :
I layer my quilt backing, wrong side of fabric up, next I spread out the batting,
then I carefully spread the quilt top on top of the batting, smooth it carefully
to make sure all layers are flat.Using a sharp pointed needle, with a large eye and thread a length of approximately
30" of four ply yarn.
I begin in the center of the quilt and tie a square knot, every 4", first across the center
of the quilt, then I work up to the top, then come back to center and work down. I
then tie a quarter of the quilt at a time till completed. A queen size comforter
will have approximately 500 knots.
Good Luck.
linda :
the easiest way to tie a quilt is with a curved needle and six strands of embroidery floss. It keeps its color and doesn't fray during washing.
Kathy from Western Australia :
I like to tie my quilts with buttons on the top of the quilt to add to it. It seems to add to the stability. I use either 6 strands of embroidery thread or several strands of DMC Flower Thread as they don't deteriorate as quickly.
Muriel :
Ilike to use 6strand embrodery thread
>
Dawn :
Sooo many answers, sew little time! I have used the largest setting of my zig-zag stitch and the smallest to 'standing still' stitch length on my machine to 'tie' small baby quilts.
A more traditional method is to use all six strands of a cross stitch floss -like DMC- and use a square knot to tie each spot.
Dana Lynch :
My dh bought me the Jasmine Easy Spinner Hoop Fram about a year ago. I love it...everything about it. It holds the quilt off my lap, turns 360 degrees, and pivots to 5 different locked positions. It's also very pretty. The cost was $240.00. Hope this helps.
Sue Linker :
The very best look is #5 Perle Cotton...doubled for a large comforter. Tie with a tight square knot. You can also come up from back to front...lace the whole thing together...then cut between the long stitches on the back and then tie a square knot. This leaves the knots on the back and just the indentation on the front.
Sue from Lakewood :
I like to use 12 strands of embroidery floss and a large eyed embroidery needle or tapestry needle.
I run the length of floss from tie-point to tie-point until my floss is almost used up (without cutting
the floss in between) Then I start tying from the first point that I stitched and then cut the floss
between that point and the next. This can also be done with a curved needle, but I have never had much
luck with them. The REALLY easiest way is to use your sewing machine and either ziz-zag or use a fancy
stitch (like an embroidered heart.) Hope this helps.
Linda from Long Beach :
I have always found 4-ply yarn and a round needle does the trick. You don't have to look at the back to make sure that the needle went all the way through.
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