How to Tie a Quilt Without a Frame: The Basic Steps to Tying a Quilt By Hand

How to Tie a Quilt Without a Frame

Tying a quilt is an essential step in finishing your homemade quilt, but not everyone has the luxury of a quilt frame. If like me, you find yourself frame-less but still wanting to get that quilt tied, don’t fret! It is totally possible to tie a quilt without a frame—you just need to get creative. In this article, I’ll share several methods I’ve used over the years to tie quilts without any special equipment.

Method 1: On the Floor

One of the simplest options is to lay your quilt out flat on the floor. From my experience, this works best on a large, open surface like a carpeted bedroom. Begin by laying the backing fabric face down and smoothing it out. Then place the batting on top, followed by the quilt top right side up. Tack the layers together around the perimeter with safety pins placed 6-8 inches apart.

To tie the layers together, start at one corner and gently pull the top layer taut as you tie a single knot with elastic or cotton cording. Tie another knot a few inches away, then continue across that entire side. Move to the next side and repeat. Be sure to pull the layers snug but not tight—you don’t want any puckering. When finished, remove the pins and carefully flip the quilt right side up. While not the quickest method, floor tying does get the job done!

Method 2: On the Wall

If space is limited on the floor, try draping your quilt layers on a clear wall. First smooth and tack the backing in place. Then use masking tape at the top, bottom, and sides to secure the perimeter of all three layers to the wall.

You’ll tie this quilt vertically just like on the floor. Start at the top left corner and tie a single knot, moving down the wall tying at regular intervals. Repeat across the top, then down the left and right sides. I find wall tying lets me get a bird’s-eye view of the whole quilt for an evenly tensioned result. Just take care when removing the tape to avoid tugging on the fabric.

Method 3: On the Bed

If all else fails, a bed can work in a pinch for tying a quilt. Lay out the backing fabric right side down on the bed. Add the batting and quilt top as normal, then use clothes pins or clothespins around the edges to hold the layers together. Working from the center outwards, tie quilt as you would on the floor—pulling the top layer taut and securing with elastic or cording at regular intervals.

The downside is it can be awkward to reach all areas of a queen or king sized quilt from a standing position. So I find this method best for smaller quilts. And don’t forget to change your sheets afterward!

Method 4: Using a Temporary Frame

For my largest quilts, I like to get creative and build a temporary frame. Strong but lightweight materials like PVC piping let you construct a freestanding frame that’s a cinch to assemble and take down. Measure the dimensions of your quilt, add a few extra inches, then cut and connect your piping to size.

Drape the backing right side down over the piping, then smooth and tack the batting on top. Finally, lay the quilt top in place and pin around the edges. You can now tie your quilt in the usual way from a standing position—no more awkward bed tying! When finished, just loosen the connectors and collapse your frame for storage until next time.

Tying Tips and Tricks

Regardless of method, here are some tips I’ve learned over the years for successful frameless quilt tying:

1. Use a coordinating color elastic or cotton cording to minimize visibility in the tied quilt.
2. Tie a simple overhand knot at each interval, pulling the top layer snug but not tight.
3. Space your knots 6-8 inches apart for an evenly tensioned result.
4. Work methodically from the center outwards to prevent puckering.
5. To keep the layers from shifting as you tie, have a helper hold them in place.
6. For very large quilts, consider tying in sections that can each be flipped when finished.

With practice, you’ll get better and faster at tying without a frame. The key is finding a setup that works well for your space constraints and quilt size. With some creativity, you too can tie a beautiful homespun quilt without any special tools. Give it a try—I’m sure you’ll be impressed by what’s possible without a frame!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What if I can’t lay the whole quilt out at once?

A: For extra large quilts, try tying it in sections instead of all at once. Lay out a 4×4 foot portion, tie that, then move to the next section until complete. Just be sure to overlap sections by a few inches as you go.

Q: The fabric is shifting as I tie—any tips?

A: Asking a helper to hold the layers in place is super helpful. Alternatively, use more safety pins or clothespins around the perimeter to secure the layers initially before starting to tie.

Q: Will it be lumpy if I don’t pull the layers super tight?

A: As long as you pull them snugly together, it shouldn’t puff up or have lumps. The batting does a lot of the smoothing out. And any minor bumps tend to relax over time with washing and use.

With some creativity and trial and error, you can absolutely tie a quilt perfectly without a dedicated frame. Hopefully these techniques give you some ideas to get started on your next quilting project. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Tips for Tying a Quilt without a Frame

FAQ

1. How do I tie a quilt without a frame?

   You can tie a quilt without a frame by laying it out on the floor or a large, flat surface like a bed. Make sure the area is clear so you have lots of room to work. Basically, you’ll use double-sided tape or safety pins to temporarily attach the layers together as you tie knots all over.

2. What’s the best way to position the quilt layers?

   Lay the backing fabric face down and smooth it out. Then place the batting on top and smooth that out too. Next comes the quilt top—right side up. You might need to kind of shuffle things around a bit to get it lined up straight. Safety pin basting is helpful here to hold the layers in place as you work.

3. How do I know where to place the ties?

   Tie your quilt about every 4-6 inches across the entire surface, both horizontally and vertically. You can eyeball it, but using a water-soluble marker or chalk pencil to lightly mark guide lines makes it much easier to keep an even spacing. The ties will bunch up the layers so don’t worry about being exact.

4. What kind of thread or string should I use for ties?

   Cotton sewing thread works great, as does thin yarn or embroidery floss. You want something that will knot securely but is delicate enough that it won’t damage the fabric when you wash the quilt later. Remarkably, dental floss ties a quilt just fine too – who knew, right? On the other hand, avoid anything too thick like rope or twine.

5. How do I tie an actual knot?

   Make a square knot by first wrapping the thread over the top layer and through to the back, then passing it up from behind and through the first loop, then tightening. Or use a reef knot—two overhand knots tied tightly together works well. Try alternating knot directions for a balanced look. Practice a few knots first until you get the hang of it.

6. How tight should the knots be?

   Tie the knots with medium tension—not too loose that they come untied, but not impossibly tight either. You want the quilt to maintain some thickness and loft to the layers. Amazingly, the tension will increase slightly anyway as the quilt gets washed and dried over the years. Isn’t that stunning? Maybe go a little looser rather than tighter at first.

   

7. Any tips for finishing up?

   Once the quilt is fully tied, remove the safety pins or tape holding the layers together. Smooth out the surface and fluff up the batting for extra coziness. Sign and date a label and attach it to the back. Now your hand-tied quilt is complete without a frame! You’ll be absolutely dazzled when you cuddle up with it later.

Despite some uncertainties along the way, hand-tying a quilt without a frame is feasible with a little patience. The technique has been used for generations as an affordable alternative to more sophisticated longarm quilting methods. On the other hand, frame quilting allows for intricate, evenly spaced patterns that may appeal more to perfectionists. Nevertheless, the homemade tactile qualities of hand-tying are difficult to beat. Feel free to experiment with various knot styles and tension levels until you find your own preferred approach. Perhaps share photos online and see what other quilters recommend too! Tying by hand builds skills for future projects while creating a one-of-a-kind heirloom. But is all that work really worth it in the end? You be the judge.