How to Hand Tie a Quilt

If you know how to hand tie a quilt, then you can finish a quilt in a fraction of the time that it might take you using a different method of quilting. Tying a quilt is sometimes regarded as the beginners' option but it can add a real design touch to a quilt.

1. 

    Cut a piece of thread about 20" (50.
   Cut a piece of thread about 20" (50.8cm) long. Use a strong, natural thread; you can use embroidery thread but crochet thread is also fine. You can even use wool, but be careful not to use anything too thick because it may be difficult to pull through the three layers of the quilt and thicker thread can tend to pull the wadding through the fabric.
2. 

    Make small stitches
   Push the needle down through all three layers of the quilt fabric and then up again about 1/4" (6.35mm) away from the initial down stitch. Leave a tail of about 2" (5cm) of thread to tie the quilt.
3. 

    Repeat the stitch to secure it
   Take the needle back to where it first went in and repeat the stitch. This extra step is worth the effort to secure the knot.
4. 

    Trim ends and tie
   

    View from the back of the quilt
   Cut the thread about 2" (5cm) away from the stitch. You should now have two threads both 2" (5cm) long. Tie these in a double knot. You can leave the ends that length or trim them to about an inch (2.5cm). Trimming them any shorter than that is not recommended.

• 

   Making several knots
  In order to speed the process up, you could make the stitch for the centre of the first knot and then put your needle through the fabric about 4" (10cm) away and repeat the process there. Cut the thread half way between the 2 stitches and then tie both the knots. That way you could 4 or 5 stitches and then stop to cut and tie the knots when you run out of thread.
  

• Thread
• Quilt layers
• Needle
• Scissors