GiddyUpGo

In the process of making my second quilt, I learned a lot about what to do and what not to do. And unfortunately discovered that most of what I did on my first quilt falls in the "what not to do" category.

This quilt was made using the same pattern as my second one ... a log cabin made of five inch strips (like the one in my avatar). I actually tied this quilt but learned recently that I didn't tie it enough ... there are just 12 blocks in the whole quilt, each one made of nine different five inch strips. The only place I tied was in the center of each of the 12 blocks. I now know that isn't nearly enough ties ... but I'm not actually sure how many ties would be enough or if you could even put enough ties on this pattern to properly stabilize it.

The batting I used is a low-loft polyester, most of which say to quilt every 2 to 4 inches. Since there is basically 4 1/2 inches between seams is putting a tie in every corner going to be enough?

Fortunately this quilt hasn't been used/washed enough for the batting to get bunched up so I think I can save it if I do something with it now ... but I don't know if tying is the answer, or if maybe I should just try to quilt it? What do you think???

Thank you in advance!

BETTY62

It is a beautiful quilt and it looks like it is loved by someone special. I hope someone csn give you the information you need to save it.

GiddyUpGo

Oops meant to say "like the one in my avatar." Same pattern, different quilt.

Barb44

I'm surprised the poly package says to quilt that close. Poly battings I have used have been more than that.

Did you mean tying each corner of each strip or each corner of the 12 blocks? I usually tie a quilt with poly batting about every 6 inches depending on the pattern and where I want the ties.

You could machine quilt stitch in the ditch too. It would depend on the size of the quilt and the throat space of your sewing machine.

ckcowl

the standard for tied quilts is a tie every 4"...you put your fist down and on each side, top and bottom -- there should be a tie- but a batt that needs to be quilted every 2"-4" is not a batt for tied quilts.
there are batts on the market that say on the package - good for tied quilts-
a batt that needs dense quilting will pull apart-ball up and become lumpy in no time if not quilted as it is recommended.

blueangel

I agree

PaperPrincess

You need to add a lot more ties. Every 4 inches means in both directions so basically 4 inch squares. Without the closelylaced ties, the batting will shift and get lumpy.

TanyaL

Look at it this way. Every tie that you add will reduce the shifting. Tie as much as you are willing. You said you have 12 blocks but you didn't say how large the blocks were. If you tie at the corner of every block and you have a tie in the center of each block how far apart will the ties be? If the blocks are 9" the ties will be 4 1/2" apart which should be fine. If the blocks are 12" then the ties will be 6" apart which will be a heck of a lot better.