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Now You Can Travel and Not Give Up Any Quilting Time Have you ever taken a long car trip, gone on a cruise, or had a bunch of appointments and wished that you had a portable quilting project? Now you can learn how to make a quilt one block at a time while you are traveling, waiting, or just because you want to make it that way. |
Often you will want to display your quilt - or wall hanging - in a show or on a wall in your house. Obviously, you don't want to pound a nail through the quilt to attach it to the wall (although non-quilters may not understand why not).
The question, then, is how to accomplish that.
There are several different types of quilting hangers available - some fairly plain, others very elaborate and expensive.
Frequently, though, you will want to display the quilt or wall hanging without the distraction of a wooden hanger or clamping device.
In addition, the clamping devices generally do not distribute pressure on the quilt evenly. Many of them are held together with screw knobs that you tighten. That will create pressure where the knob is and for a few inches on either side, but the presure lessens the further away from the knob you go. If there is too much distance between the knobs, your quilt or wall hanging may sag and hang unevenly.
In addition, you may want to have the flexibility of hanging different size quilts, and if your knobs aren't spaced correctly, you could end up with sagging sides on your quilt.
In a separate article, we described how to make a hanging sleeve that is sewn under the binding. But, what if your quilt or wall hanging is already sewn completely together, and you don't want to unstitch your binding?
Or, what if you just want the hanging sleeve for a show, and after the show, the quilt will be returned to your bed. Well, you can just add a hanging sleeve onto the back.
If you are entering your quilt in a show, the show may tell you how wide the hanging sleeve should be. If they don't, then you get to pick a size. I'd pick a size somewhere between 4 inches and 6 inches.
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Step 1 - Cut the Fabric
Once you know the width, measure the length, and cut the fabric strip.
Step 2 - Finish the ends
While the strip is still open, fold over the raw edges at the end and stitch a 1/4 seam that will be folded inside the sleeve. You can fold over the raw edge once or twice to tuck the edges completely inside.
Step 3 - Sew the Sides Together to Make a Tube
You have two options here. You could sew the strip right sides together on the long edge, or you could sew the wrong sides together and let the raw edges of the strip be on the outside. If the raw edges are on the outside, you can fold the sleeve so the seam is against your quilt. That way, you won't see it at all.
The decision probably depends on the use of the quilt and how much effort you want to put into the sleeve.
Be warned, though, that if you are entering the quilt into a competition, you will want to make the hanging sleeve look nice, so you will be sewing right sides together, taking a 1/4 inch seam allowance, and then turning the sleeve inside out.
Press the finished sleeve. I generally press the seam allowance on the bottom of the tube, but you could certainly press it at the top or in the center of the back.
Step 4 - Attach it to your Quilt
Using long running stitches or loose overhand stitches, sew both the top and the bottom of the tube onto your quilt. Be sure that your stitches do not show through to the front of the quilt.
The idea with having these stitches be loose is that if the quilt is heavy and the tube isn't strong enough to support the weight, you want the tube to come loose from the quilt before the quilt back rips!
A Few Tips
- Use fabric that matches your backing - that way, you won't see it when you use the quilt on a bed or couch. In my early days of quilting, I used left over fabric - which is great, too. After all, it's just on the back of the quilt.
- I usually sew the top of the hanging sleeve onto the binding. That way, it uses the strength of two layers of fabric instead of just the one layer of the quilt backing.
- You could press the seam allowances to one side or press them open once your sleeve is sewn together. I usually press them to one side, thinking that the seam is stronger because the fabric is bearing some of the weight, not just the stitching.
Happy Quilting!
Penny Halgren
Master Quilter
