A Quick and Easy Hanging Sleeve

Often you will want to display your quilt - or wall hanging(!) - in a show or on a wall in your house. The question, then, is how to accomplish that.

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).

There are several different types of quilting hangers available - some fairly plain, others fairly 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 knobs that you screw to 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.

In a different 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.

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.

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 show.

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!

Happy Quilting!

Penny is the author of 9 books for beginner quilters and a self-taught quilter of more than 26 years who seeks to interest new quilters and provide them with the resources necessary to create beautiful quilts.

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©2007, Penny Halgren

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