Blest Be the Ties

The quilt I've been thinking of as "Rogues' Gallery" has made it to flimsy status. I got the last of the columns put together on Monday and affixed the border on Tuesday. Need to get to the LQS for batt and wide white muslin for backing, I think.

I'm planning to tie it, most likely using DMC white floss on the main part of the quilt and blue on the border (photo of the flimsy to come soon). I haven't tied a quilt in a while. Marsha showed me a way to tie so that there are little "Xs" on the fact of the quilt with the knot on the back. I tied one quilt that way and liked how it looked. Recently I've tied with DMC perle, but feel like the knots are more prone to come untied than with the regular floss.

No, that's not my floss box. It is from the internet. Mine used to look like that, back when I was doing counted cross-stitch. No longer . . . .

What do you use to tie quilts? And do you put the knots on the front or the back? Anything else to share on the topic?

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Comments

Janet O. said…
Lately I have been using cotton yarn. I still put the knots on top, the old fashioned way. I tie mine on the floor, so I don't need someone around to help me roll the quilt, I stretch the backing out and use T-pins to pin it to the carpet. Then lay out the batting. Place the top over it all, smooth it out and start pinning through all three layers at the middles, then opposing corners and then all of the "in between" places, pulling just a little taut as you go. Then I sit in the middle of the quilt and start my tying, working out on one quadrant at a time. My Mom taught me this way and I have done it for decades. I guess the day could come that I can no longer crawl around to tie a quilt, but my Mom is 82 next month and on the rare quilt that she doesn't hand quilt, she still ties this way.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 10:42:00 AM
Paula, the quilter said…
I use wool yarn in a loose 'x'. Why wool? Because the first time it is washed that wool felts up and the ends felt into a little ball. These will never come undone.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 2:48:00 PM
Quiltdivajulie said…
Test your floss to be sure it won't bleed . . .
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 3:57:00 PM
Quayquilter said…
I'm with Paula - the only quilt I used some tying on I used Shetland wool which felt when washed so looked very nice against African indigo fabrics and will not come undone.
Thursday, January 26, 2012 6:08:00 PM
Sandy H said…
I've never actually tied a quilt. to be honest. When I want the tied effect, I use my machine and a decorative stitch to essentially tack it down in a (relatively) even grid. There are some quilts that just cry out for tying, though. I like the suggestions of wool yarn--that would look really nice.
Thursday, January 26, 2012 11:14:00 PM
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