bkay

Actually, I thought of that yesterday. It's done to the point that it already has the border is on it. I'd have to rip a lot of seams. I took it yesterday out to measure the finished block and it looks like I got sloppy when I joined the rows. It was the second or third quilt I made, so it probably could stand some revisiting. I've learned a lot since then. If I remember correctly, I did a pretty good job of matching the stripe on the blocks.

I suppose I should get it out and see how I put it together. It might be a good candidate for quilting in strips. I have the book, Divide and Conquer, Quilt it Your Way. It has some good tutorials on strip quilting, which, with the sashing, might work.

Thanks for affirming my thought.

maviskw

We have been finishing a lot of our charity quilts with ties. Some people leave 4 inches of thread tails. Some take too large a stitch, then pull it tight so that there is a big pucker in the quilt. And some made the tie, but hadn't gone through the backing when making the stitch. And the last one I brought home to bind had at least six places where the tie was just omitted.

I like tied quilts when the ties are done well, evenly placed with about an inch of thread left. We did one several years ago that ended up at an auction. It was tied closely in red yarn. That quilt brought a good price at the charity auction.

FoxyLady

I have made many quilts using the international stitch. I usually mark my quilts about 3-4 inches apart. It is really helpful if you use what is known as a "doll needle." It is about 3-4 inches long, has a large eye and makes tying the quilt so much easier. I found that using crochet cotton (doubled) works really well. The YouTube that was suggested previously will help you, and if you want more information just Google "International Stitch". Be sure to include the quote marks on your search keywords.

bearisgray

Thank you for the link! I think that method will be very useful. I think a determined someone could pick the loop up - but it would take some effort - and I definitely like the idea of no tails sticking out.

bearisgray

Another video - she did some machine quilting with additional ties

https://suzyquilts.com/how-to-tie-a-...-modern-twist/

I like the idea of sewing an x at each point.

mindless

Your block and fabrics are really pretty. Someone will love it.

Maybe, if you don't like it anyway, and intend to give it away....maybe the fastest and easiest tying technique for you to do is the one to go with. You won't have to look at it for very long.

I bet the quilt is fabulous.

Claire123

You could have the ties on the back. You could also try big stitch quilting with perle cotton.

Tothill

You do not need to take the top apart to quilt it in sections. You can use pieces of batting. One in the middle, and work you way out. Marty Michell prefers to have the batting cut with wavy lines, not straight using this method. She said that it lessens the risk of the join becoming a permanent crease int he finished quilt.

So you have your intact top. Place a long piece of batting in the middle, baste your sandwich to just this piece of batting. Quilt the middle. You will be rolling up the excess backing and top, but as there is no batting in it yet, the bulk should not be a problem. Next add another section of batting to one side, baste, quilt, repeat until you are done.

bkay

I have done that one. It was not a pleasant experience. I did, however, finish the quilt. Even though I marked the batting (W&N) and quilt very carefully to indicate which piece fit where and which side was up, they didn't fit. I tried to use fusible to join the pieces, but I had the scrim on top and it just stuck to the iron. If I remember correctly, I ended up zig-zaging the batting together even though it didn't fit. It, too, was an early quilt and I love it anyway. It's not an experience I would want to repeat.

I have a baby quilt to quilt that I have been stuck on since early this year (lots of family illnesses this year). (Moira warned me it was a bear, but I had already bought the fabric.) As soon as it's done, I'll revisit this one and figure out the best approach that gets me a finished quilt.

Also, it's not beyond the realm of reason that I might even like it better than I did two years ago.

Thanks for the suggestions.

bkay

maviskw

If you're planning on giving it away, just do the ties in the easiest way. Sometimes when we do quilts fast like this, we decide that we really like them in the end and don't really want to give them away.