The Correct Way to Tie Knots – Free Motion Quilting

March 19, 2014
FMQ Knots the LCK Way

MY PHILOSOPHY ON KNOTS

Can one have a knot philosophy you ask?  Do knots rise to the level of deserving a philosophy?   Let me explain…I’ve avoided the subject of knots for some time because I rarely do knots the “correct” way.  I know how to do them–and you will, too after this tutorial–but I find them tedious to stitch.   Here’s where the “philosophy” comes in…I quilt for my enjoyment and for my family.  I want to make beautiful quilts, but I also want to have fun in the process.  Stopping every few minutes to tie knots takes the joy out of quilting for me.  Whenever I sit down to free motion quilt, I have some idea racing in my head that wants “out”–that is, I want to get the idea onto fabric (before I forget it?).  Stopping to tie knots is not conducive to my racing-brain rhythm…

So today, I will demonstrate how to properly tie a knot.  Tomorrow, I will demonstrate Knotting the LCK way.  My knots look nice-like they are part of the design, but they are not correct and I don’t know how they would be scored by a judge.  Any quilt judges out there?

THE CORRECT WAY TO TIE KNOTS

FMQ Knots the LCK WayLower your presser foot. (Bernina 820-tap the presser foot down button.)

FMQ Knots the LCK WayRotate your hand wheel  forward until your needle pierces  the fabric.  (On the Bernina 820-press the needle down button.)

FMQ Knots the LCK Way

Bring the bobbin thread to the surface by continuing to rotate the hand wheel forward and moving  the needle to the UP position.  (Bernina 820-tap needle up button.)   (The above two steps can also be accomplished by heel-tapping the foot pedal on Berninas.)

VERY IMPORTANT--Remember my Inattentive Stitching Accident-from which I still don’t have normal circulation or movement –Read HERE and HERETake your foot off the sewing pedal now and whenever you stop sewing to work on the knot!

FMQ Knots the LCK Way

Using a pair of tweezers, pull the bobbin thread until you have a few inches to hold onto.  Hold both the bobbin and the top thread and begin stitching.  Stitch a short distance and then stop to tie off the knot.

FMQ Knots-Correct Method

With your foot off the pedal-– tie the two threads in a knot.

FMQ Knots-Correct Method

Using a self-threading needle, thread both threads into the needle.  (NOTE-many specialty threads- including my favorite-rayon thread-tend to shred in self threading needles and require a regular hand-sewing needle for this procedure–even more time consuming!)

FMQ Knots-Correct Method

Once your needle is threaded, bury the stitch by going back into your first stitch and between the top layer and the batting.

FMQ Knots-Correct Method

Pull through and remove your needle.

FMQ Knots-Correct Method

Snip off the threads as close to the fabric as possible.  (Curved scissors help here.)

FMQ Knots-Correct Method

When you are finished with a line of FMQ, simply stop and cut your threads.  Then flip the quilt over, pull the threads to the back side of the quilt and knot off as we did above.

FMQ Knots-Correct Method

 

FMQ Knots-Correct MethodWe’ve all heard it said:   “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right!”  and while I agree in principle…I know these knots would take the joy out of quilting for me…

Come back tomorrow and I’ll show you LCK Knots and then you can decide…

Lori

 

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