Question:
Are square knots the best knots for hand-tied comforters?
I have a comforter that has been used about 20 times where the knots are coming out... some were square knots, others probably weren't but both types are coming out...
HELP!
Answer:
Yarn ties? Or crochet thread? Or embroidery floss?
Square knots are the knot of choice, usually or 'triple' knots...
Some folks use WOOL so it will felt up a bit when washed and STAY tied. (But review moonrise's problem with weak tensile strength wool yarn...) Or a non-shiny cotton.
You could try sewing a small zigzag stitch over the top of each knot as a stopgap measure....
It's usually a bigger problem with polyester batting than with cotton or wool batting, in my experience... Or with tie ends that were trimmed too short.
Answer:
The wool yarn I used (or TRIED to use - LOL!) is "Hayfield Traditional Pure Wool Super Wash" yarn. It has some little diagrams on the label, but I don't know what they mean. Lemme scan it right quick, and I'll post it as an attachment.
Apparently it's a good example of what NOT to use!
ETA: Here's a scan of the little diagrams.
Answer:
My personal choice... not by way of creating or how it wears, but by how it looks, is heavy embroidery floss.
I've seen it tripled and quadrupled (more, even?) and tied like a tassle. I just like the looks of it.
Cheers
Answer:
"super wash' wool is specially treated to NOT felt up when it's washed. So that could be why it didn't stay tied. Or maybe it fell apart because the fibers themselves didn't have the tensile strength needed to withstand washing. It's possible that 4 strands of it together might have held...but it still is in danger of coming unknotted (from my experience)
I've never seen any official info on this. This is my opinion only, based on my experience. Your experiences may vary...
Elaine
My favorite yarn to use for tying comforters/quilts is a wool warp yarn (strong enough for a weaving warp)
Answer:
Hi
I always used 6 strand embroidery floss and a surgeons square knot.
Right over left, wrap twice, pull tight.
Left over right, wrap twice, pull tight.
There's lot of diagrams on the web if you google surgeons square knot.
Sometimes I would use the tack stitch on my sewing machine too.
I don't know how it would feel if you put a dab of fabric glue on the knot.
Answer:
Thanks for all the quick replies! I was amazed when I saw how many people worked to solve my delimna while I was sleeping!
This comforter happens to be small, for a 2-year-old. It is flannel on both sides with, most likely, a poly bat. The thread is heavy cotton (fairly smooth), 2 strands on every knot. The instructions were that they be square knots, but this was a non-professional group project so it appears that about 1/2 of the knots were NOT square.
Today, tying day, I took in a photo and instructions on "how to make a square knot" for anyone who would look/listen.
One of my trusted, tying friends and I sat and retied pretty much the entire comforter. We even replaced a tie that had disappeared.
Our recommendations for the group at the end of the day?
-- leave the ties longer (don't trim the threads as close) -- this helps by making it less likely to untie itself AND MUCH EASIER TO RE-TIE as needed!
-- square knots are important!
-- narrower stitches don't pull on the thread as much
My new personal todo list?
-- try adding some Fray Check on the knots before using this comforter again
-- get out the other 2 comforters that have been used and examine them
-- get out the 1 comforter that has not yet been used and Fray Check it
any other suggestions???
Answer:
Fray Check doesn't work very well on natural fibers.
But it sure won't hurt. And might help.

Answer:
Originally Posted by goodworks1 Fray Check doesn't work very well on natural fibers.
But it sure won't hurt. And might help.
That's what I thought, but everyone else says they use it on EVERYTHING! I have very little to lose... I'm not trying to SELL it, after all...