How to Make a Quilt Sleeve for Hanging

re: How to Make a Quilt Sleeve for Hanging

newiron — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 15:44:02 GMT

I think I am going to buy the QATV DVD that covers this topic. Sometimes seeing it in action helps and I hope there are more tips and some insight into the process and what to expect from exhibition venues and what they expect when it comes to the hanging devices/techniques on art quilts and functional quilts.

re: How to Make a Quilt Sleeve for Hanging

newiron — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 15:36:23 GMT

I wish I could see what goes in the sleeve and how it is hung on the wall. I have been wondering how to prepare a quilt for hanging in a exhibition setting. I have been at a lost to find info on this. I want to prepare myself before I enter work so I don't feel like a fool. I hope this will be a topic covered more in detail in a Quilting Arts Magazine article...behind the scenes of a quilt exhibition. how quilts are hung and hwo to prepare them for hanging, what to expect when entering and exhibiting your quilts...specifically art quilts.

re: How to Make a Quilt Sleeve for Hanging

aahines — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 22:01:31 GMT

How wide is the seam created with the basting step?

re: How to Make a Quilt Sleeve for Hanging

mevs — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 11:41:01 GMT

For small quilts that I am going to hang on the wall I make the sleeve smaller (cut 7 inches wide) and then make it in two section with a gap in the center of about 2". I use either a flat molding strip or a yardstick as the rod. I place one of those jagged tooth picture hanging bars to the molding strip in the center then I can hang the whole thing on a picture hook. I guess for a larger quilt one might want to have two gaps and use two hooks. I have not used the little pleat before but this seems a good addition, however I expect a 1/4" pleat would suffice for smaller wall hangings. If your quilt ripples too much a second sleeve to add an additional strip of wood at the bottom could straighten it out.

Anyway, a great and much needed description. Thanks guys!

re: How to Make a Quilt Sleeve for Hanging

Christine Parker2 — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 22:16:08 GMT

I am a new to art quilting or traditional quilting. I saw this on Quilting Arts TV and must say this is the first time I fully understood how to make a quilt sleeve. Thank you for sharing and making it so simple to understand. Love the program and magazine.

re: How to Make a Quilt Sleeve for Hanging

Monika Kinner - MySweetPrairie — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 13:46:41 GMT

I was taught it a little differently.

For step 4, fold the sleeve wrong sides facing before you stitch raw edges together. This exposed long seam gets pressed open. The big pressed seam is then placed facing the back of the quilt. This way, there is no raw edge inside the sleeve that can fray or get caught when hanging. There is also no flipping the sleeve inside out then.

Hope that makes sense!

~Monika K.

My Sweet Prairie (Tutorial on the blog...)

re: How to Make a Quilt Sleeve for Hanging

Quilting Daily — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:09:21 GMT

We love all these expert tips on quilt sleeves from the community! To answer the question about how far down to place the sleeve from the top of the quilt, Leslie says 1 inch.

re: How to Make a Quilt Sleeve for Hanging

FiberAntics — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 23:58:47 GMT

You didn't mention how much of a seam to create when doing the basting step. Or did I miss that??

I concur with PoppyGirl59--no need to sew right-sides-together and then turn. (turning a long sleeve is a pain!) Keep the seam on the sleeve's outside, sew sleeve with the seam facing the quilt back (to conceal it). The inside of the sleeve/rod pocket is then nice and smooth.

re: How to Make a Quilt Sleeve for Hanging

ldunning — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 18:15:11 GMT

Since most quilt shows use a 1x4 board for hanging, I think those measurements are too skimpy. Instead I cut my fabric 11"x 3" shorter than the width of the quilt. I finish the ends, but sew the raw edge into the seam when I put the binding on so this saves having to hand sew one edge & looks more finished. I use the same fabric as the backing or try to co-ordinate it. I use a yardstick to hang my quilt so it isn't puffing out where it's hung. It's thin so no need for the pleat. I cut the yardstick 1 1/2" shorter than the quilt & drill holes 1/2" in from the end. Then I slip the holes over a finish nail in the wall. If I'm not planning to put the quilt in a show, I make a narrower sleeve. Linda Dunning

re: How to Make a Quilt Sleeve for Hanging

PoppyGirl59 — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:50:01 GMT

I never turn my sleeves; I leave the raw edge seams to face the quilt back. It looks neater to me; and that way the seams don't ravel with repeated in and out of any hanging dowels or rods. Plus it is a lot less work than turning those sleeves. I also put a small seam at the top and press the sleeve so that it forms a 'D' with the bulge of the 'D' towards the 'wall' , not the sleeve--this makes for no bulges on the front display side. S

Sometimes the top and bottom are not square (unintentionally or intentionally); in this case I place the sleeve to be at exact ninety degree angle with the sides OR exactly parallel with the bottom--unless you want waves at the bottom.

re: How to Make a Quilt Sleeve for Hanging

Sameen2 — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:48:03 GMT

First of all, I LOVE your site and all the techniques you feature. My question is on the sleeve that you show how to make, you never mention how far down to attach it to the quilt. I always wonder, since you make the pleat, if the rod isn't that thick, will the sleeve appear above the quilt?