|
Laura
Starr wrote to Quiltersbee and offered her gathered wisdom about tying
a quilt.
My machine (a Viking) has a 'bartack' stitch (combination of straight
stitches and zig zag stitches) that is used to hold belt loops on jeans,
etc. I also have the option of using little embroidery type designs, like
a heart or a diamond, or decorative stitch of some sort. (A machine
'eyelet' is really cute). If your machine doesn't offer any of those
choices, you have two other options
The 'bartack' that is the machine programmed, narrow end step, of a
buttonhole
A zig zag stitch with a zero length, so it sews all in one spot.
Whichever of these you have available to you I will refer to as a tack
stitch.
Baste your quilt sandwich. I use the glue baste/spray baste method.
Fill several bobbins with thread that matches the back of your quilt.
Then, just as with most quilting, start in the center and work your way
outward. Using whichever tack stitch you have, stitch it until it is
complete. Raise the pressure foot, Move to the next spot on the quilt,
lower pressure foot ands titch the tack stitch Don't cut the threads, just
keep moving and tacking until you have 1/4 of the quilt done. Then turn
the quilt and do the next quarter, working from the center out, and repeat
with the other half/two quarters until the whole quilt has been tied.
Remove the quilt from the machine, and spread it on a table. Using
FrayStop (I prefer it as it dries clear, and soft and doesn't wash out) I
put a very small dab on each tack stitch and let them all dry.
Once they are dry, I sit with the quilt in my lap and listen to music
or watch tv and very carefully clip the threads from one side of the
quilt, going from stitch to stitch as they were sewn, then flip the whole
thing over and trim them on the other side.
I learned this technique early in my quilting and use it often,
especially when I'm in a hurry. It's faster than stippling/meander
quilting, and very sturdy in washing and whatnot.
Some other thoughts on the subject If you have the motif or embroidery
stitches available, you might match the stitch to a theme in the quilt.
I've used little airplanes on a boy's quilt that had airplane fabric in
it, small bowties in a quilt with ribbons fabric in it, etc.
You can skip the fray stop step if you like. I skip it when I can
'program in' a knot at the beginning and end of the motif or design, but
not everyone will have that option available.
One of the things I do to help keep me from accidentally snipping the
fabric while trimming threads, is to take both the 'incoming' and
'outgoing' threads at each motif in my hand, lift them together, and snip
them in one snip, thereby reducing the number of times I snip by half, and
reducing my chances of snipping my quilt. I also use the rounded end
safety scissors made for kids, and lay the blades of the scissors flat
against the quilt/parallel to it when I snip to help ensure I don't snip
the quilt. (Can you tell I've had to do a few 'snip' repairs in my quilt
career? LOL!) I tried using a ripper to cut off the thread tails, but
wasn't happy with how close I could (or couldn't) trim the threads.
Finally, even with a batt like warm and natural, I machine tie about
every three or four inches. Although it says you can quilt up to ten
inches apart, I figure tying has to be closer together and I want my
quilts to stay together long enough to have the stuffins loved out of
them, so maybe I'm over cautious, but I've never had to re-quilt or repair
anything I've machine quilted so far (knock on wood).
Hope this answers everyone's questions. If not, feel free to mail me
and I will answer back to you and to the list. Laura
Tracy asked about tying quilts, and someone suggested using the
surgeon's knot. I second, third, and fourth that suggestion! I've heard
many stories of someone spending hours piecing and tying a quilt, only to
have it come untied when they wash it. I've also received several quilts
at the UFO-rphanage that I've taken the time to untie and machine tie. (I
have difficulty hand tying a quilt due to wrist problems).
If you don't know the surgeon's knot, I learned it as * Right over left
* Left over right, and before tightening it, do left over right again, *
Then pull it tight.
Another suggestion is to use either cotton crochet thread or cotton
yarn, and wash the quilt in warm water after it's done to shrink the
yarn/thread. Even if you preshrink the fabrics, do this. In my opinion, it
helps keep the tying secure.
The other suggestion is not to use acrylic or poly yarn totie. Even in
the surgeon's knot I've seen it come loose. Your personal preference my
vary, these are just ideas based on my experiences.
Hope it helps! Laura
________________________________________________________
suggestions for batting choices and the tie-ing distances for each
type. http://www.stearnstextiles.com/mountainmist/tutor/tutor4.htm
How to Tie a Quilt http://quilting.about.com/library/howto/ht_tie.htm
Tying a Quilt http://www.thecraftstudio.com/qwc/tying.htm
if you learn better with diagrams than words. pictures of the knot here
http://www.eaglespark.com/Knots/surgeon.htm
and here is a description http://quilting.about.com/c/ht/00/07/How_Tie_Quilt0962932876.htm
and here http://www.sew-whats-new.com/tying.shtml |