How to Tack Quilts

Quilts with tacking have knots with long tails to add dimension and texture, as on this red quilt's yellow diamonds.

Tacking a quilt is different from quilting a quilt top. Basting is often referred to as tacking, but it is not. Tacking can be done by hand or machine, if your sewing machine has a tacking stitch function on it. Most tacking is done using a heavy thread, embroidery floss or yarn. It can also be done with a thin ribbon. Tacking gives a quilt a more casual feel, as the bits of yarn or floss stick out of the quilt to be seen.

Things You'll Need

• Quilt 'sandwich'
• Pins
• Needle
• Embroidery thread, floss or yarn for tacking
• Scissors
• Buttons

Instructions

1. Pin together your quilt sandwich. A quilt sandwich consists of the backing, the batting and the quilt top. Lay the quilt top on the floor upside down, being sure it lays flat with no bumps or wrinkles in it. Lay the batting on top, again smoothing it out. Lay the quilt back on top of the stack with the right side facing up. Smooth the entire stack and place pins through all three layers. The pins should be spaced about two to three inches apart over the entire quilt.

2. Thread your needle with the thread, yarn or floss you are using to tack the quilt. Leave it at least 36 inches long so you can do many tacks before re-threading your needle.

3. Push your needle through the quilt from the top all the way through the batting and then back where you want your first tack. Pull the needle back up through all three layers right next to where your needle went down.

4. Cut off the thread so you have about one inch on each side of the stitch. You can leave longer tails, if you wish, especially if you have trouble tying knots with short tails.

5. Tie a basic knot with the two tails. Make sure it is tight and secure.

6. Repeat the tacking over the rest of the quilt. You can do this in a pattern, on only certain areas of the quilt, or randomly scattered over the top. Keep the tacks relatively close together, no more than five inches apart, to secure the quilt layers together.

7. Remove the pins and bind the quilt as you normally would.

Tips & Warnings

• Tacking a quilt is often faster than quilting.

• It is difficult to mess up tacking a quilt, so it is a good way for a beginner quilter to finish her quilt.

• Sew buttons in the place of the knots and tails for a difference look.

References

• Springfield Missouri Library: "Bittersweet: Tacking for Comfort"
• Quilters Bee: Tying a Quilt
• Quilting 101: How to Tie a Quilt