Secure ties

Hello. I'm new to the group AND also new to quilting. I've just started
handquilting my first project and am running into a big problem trying
to figure out how in the world to start a string of thread and end it
securely, all the while looking "right" on front and back. OR do you
really worry what the backside looks like? Right now, I've quilted
flowers in my corner squares and I just have my tiny knots on the back
of the quilt, but they just look so ugly.

Any tips or tricks?
Thanks
Dee

Welcome to the most wonderful place to find answers. Unfortunately, I
have a terrible time trying to explain a quilter's knot in writing.
Easier to show someone. Do you have a quilting store close to you? I
find that they are really helpful showing you these little tricks. I
learned from some of the ladies at my quilt guild. Once you learn it, it
is really a breeze. The knots "pop" into the layers and you don't see
them at all.

As the first person to welcome you to our little corner of the world,
please let us know about you, what type of quilts you like to make
(large, small, pieced, etc). What is your favorite chocolate??? Now it
set all toe ME!!!!

Debbi in SO CA

sapphiresolaris wrote:
Hello. I'm new to the group AND also new to quilting. I've just started
handquilting my first project and am running into a big problem trying
to figure out how in the world to start a string of thread and end it
securely, all the while looking "right" on front and back. OR do you
really worry what the backside looks like? Right now, I've quilted
flowers in my corner squares and I just have my tiny knots on the back
of the quilt, but they just look so ugly.

Any tips or tricks?
Thanks
Dee

If you have ever done any special handstitching, and you are familiar
with a French knot, you can make a quilter's knot. Simply create a
French knot without going through the fabric...then you pull the knot
up to the fabric and give it a quick tug to make it go into the fabric
and hide nicely between the layers. People call it "popping" through
the fabric because the knot makes a slight popping sound as it passes
through the fabric.

Here's a webpage that I found to be fairly helpful to show you this
process. http://www.moonlightquilters.org/tipquiltersknot.htm

Welcome to the group! Pull up a chair and enjoy some chocolate and
your favorite beverage...we look forward to hearing from you often!

Dannielle

Here's just one website that might help you. There are many more out there.

http://www.handquilter.com/html/newtip.html

Betty in WI

"sapphiresolaris" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello. I'm new to the group AND also new to quilting. I've just started
handquilting my first project and am running into a big problem trying
to figure out how in the world to start a string of thread and end it
securely, all the while looking "right" on front and back. OR do you
really worry what the backside looks like? Right now, I've quilted
flowers in my corner squares and I just have my tiny knots on the back
of the quilt, but they just look so ugly.

Any tips or tricks?
Thanks
Dee

Hi and welcome!

As a last resort - get a friendly local GP (doctor) to show
you how to do a surgeons knot one handed!

--
Cats ^;;^ ^;;^ ^;;^
( U ) ( U ) ( U )
Enness Boofhead Donut

http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest
catsatararatATyahooDOTcomDOTau

"sapphiresolaris" wrote in
message
oups.com...
: Hello. I'm new to the group AND also new to quilting. I've
just started
: handquilting my first project and am running into a big
problem trying
: to figure out how in the world to start a string of thread
and end it
: securely, all the while looking "right" on front and back.
OR do you
: really worry what the backside looks like? Right now, I've
quilted
: flowers in my corner squares and I just have my tiny knots
on the back
: of the quilt, but they just look so ugly.
:
: Any tips or tricks?
: Thanks
: Dee
:

Knots are hidden in hand quilting. There are several ways to do it.
The easiest I find is to tie a small knot at the end of your quilting
thread. Enter the quilt about 1" from where you actually want to start
stitching. Push the needle through the batting (but not through the
back of the quilt) and exit the top right where you want to begin
stitching. Gently pull so the knot pops through the top fabric and
snugs into the batting (don't pull it all the way through!) Then begin
stitching. I enter the fabric right along my stitching line so that the
first few stitches actually go back over the thread and knot I just
buried. It seems to keep everything secure and I haven't had any knots
pop out onto the surface of the quilt later.

To end. Finish pulling your thread to the top of the quilt. Wrap the
thread around the needle twice and hold the needle and thread twists
between your fingers. With your other hand slowly pull the needle out
and you should end up with a tiny knot where those twists were.
Carefully put the needle back in the hole from your last stitch and
wiggle the needle through the batting for about an inch. Pull the
needle out through the top of the fabric and give it a tug until that
knot pops through the fabric and into the batting. Trim the thread
close to the fabric and the end should pop back into the quilt.

I hope this makes a little sense. Both Alex Anderson and Elsie Campbell
have very nice hand quilting books with good instructions and pictures.

marcella


"sapphiresolaris" wrote in
message
oups.com...
: Hello. I'm new to the group AND also new to quilting. I've
just started
: handquilting my first project and am running into a big
problem trying
: to figure out how in the world to start a string of thread
and end it
: securely, all the while looking "right" on front and back.
OR do you
: really worry what the backside looks like? Right now, I've
quilted
: flowers in my corner squares and I just have my tiny knots
on the back
: of the quilt, but they just look so ugly.
:
: Any tips or tricks?
: Thanks
: Dee
:

Thank you very much, Marcella and everyone else who responded. I'm very
excited to try out my new-found knowledge! I'm not sure about my "knot
popping" skills, but I'm gonna practice until I get it right!

Ah hah!
I was taught early on how to *start* with the little know, but I've
never known how to finish off with a knot - so I've only ever buried the
thread - living dangerously!! I do occasionally do a tiny bit of hand
quilting, so now I know. Thanks Marcella.
..
In message ,
Marcella Peek writes
Knots are hidden in hand quilting. There are several ways to do it.
The easiest I find is to tie a small knot at the end of your quilting
thread. Enter the quilt about 1" from where you actually want to start
stitching. Push the needle through the batting (but not through the
back of the quilt) and exit the top right where you want to begin
stitching. Gently pull so the knot pops through the top fabric and
snugs into the batting (don't pull it all the way through!) Then begin
stitching. I enter the fabric right along my stitching line so that the
first few stitches actually go back over the thread and knot I just
buried. It seems to keep everything secure and I haven't had any knots
pop out onto the surface of the quilt later.

To end. Finish pulling your thread to the top of the quilt. Wrap the
thread around the needle twice and hold the needle and thread twists
between your fingers. With your other hand slowly pull the needle out
and you should end up with a tiny knot where those twists were.
Carefully put the needle back in the hole from your last stitch and
wiggle the needle through the batting for about an inch. Pull the
needle out through the top of the fabric and give it a tug until that
knot pops through the fabric and into the batting. Trim the thread
close to the fabric and the end should pop back into the quilt.

I hope this makes a little sense. Both Alex Anderson and Elsie Campbell
have very nice hand quilting books with good instructions and pictures.

marcella
--
Best Regards
pat on the hill

Although I always begin a quilting row with a knot, popping it through
so it lodges into the batting, I NEVER end a row with a knot. All I do
is poke the needle through about 2" of fabric and batting, pull it out,
tighten it a wee bit, and snip off the end of the thread right at the
fabric. The end slides back into the quilt. I have been quilting for
many years and have never had a thread dislodge or come loose at the
end of a row! I think that running quilts through the washing machine
and dryer might make a difference . . .


Patti wrote:
Ah hah!
I was taught early on how to *start* with the little know, but I've
never known how to finish off with a knot - so I've only ever buried the
thread - living dangerously!! I do occasionally do a tiny bit of hand
quilting, so now I know. Thanks Marcella.
.

Tug gently with steady pressure and place your thumb nail over the knot and
it will pop between the layers.

QUILTERS KNOT: Thread your needle - wrap the LONG end (the last part that
comes off the spool) around your needle 2 or 3 times - hold the wrapped part
of the needle between your thumb and forefinger while you pull the needle
thru - pull the knot to the very end of the thread - Clip any overly long
tails. This makes a very small, compact and secure knot that is easier to
pop thru to the middle of the quilt sandwich.

--
http://community.webshots.com/user/snigdibbly
SNIGDIBBLY
~e~
"
/ \
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/snigdibbly.
http://www.ebaystores.com/snigdibbly...ox&refid=store
"Debbi" wrote in message
news:NIjPf.809$422.537@fed1read10...
Welcome to the most wonderful place to find answers. Unfortunately, I have
a terrible time trying to explain a quilter's knot in writing. Easier to
show someone. Do you have a quilting store close to you? I find that they
are really helpful showing you these little tricks. I learned from some of
the ladies at my quilt guild. Once you learn it, it is really a breeze.
The knots "pop" into the layers and you don't see them at all.

As the first person to welcome you to our little corner of the world,
please let us know about you, what type of quilts you like to make (large,
small, pieced, etc). What is your favorite chocolate??? Now it set all toe
ME!!!!

Debbi in SO CA

sapphiresolaris wrote:
Hello. I'm new to the group AND also new to quilting. I've just started
handquilting my first project and am running into a big problem trying
to figure out how in the world to start a string of thread and end it
securely, all the while looking "right" on front and back. OR do you
really worry what the backside looks like? Right now, I've quilted
flowers in my corner squares and I just have my tiny knots on the back
of the quilt, but they just look so ugly.

Any tips or tricks?
Thanks
Dee