Easy tabs technique for creating a two-sided quilt
by Barbara Shapel
This method is useful when you're looking for a fast and
easy way to hang a quilt and you want the hanging bar or bamboo rod to show.
Keep in mind that this hanging method is not accepted at most quilt shows. If
you do enter your piece into a show, you'll be required to add a traditional
hanging sleeve to the back of your quilt which defeats the intention of the
two-sided quilt.
1. Determine
the number of tabs required for the quilt. I like having a tab at the center of
the quilt and then evenly spacing them, no more than about five inches apart,
ending at the outside edge of the quilt.
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"Nautilus" by Barbara Shapel, 24" x 38"
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2. Once the
number of tabs required has been determined, cut fabric for each tab 4" x
2 1/2". This tab size accommodates a thin bamboo rod or up to a 3/4"
round dowel. The tab size can be changed for larger rods or dowels.
3. Fold each
tab in half lengthwise, right sides together. Stitch along one short edge and
up the long side using a 1/4" seam allowance.
4. Turn each
tab to the right side and press.
5. Evenly
space each tab along the top of the front of the quilt, lining up the raw edge
of each tab with the raw edge of the quilt and pin in place.
6. Apply the
quilt binding as you normally would. Note that the binding on the top edge of
the quilt is placed on top of the tabs and the tabs are stitched in place when
you stitch the binding on.
7. After the
binding has been machine stitched on, turn the quilt over and hand stitch the
binding to the back of the quilt. When working on the top of the quilt, I hand
stitch the binding down, then flip the tab to the back, line up the top of the
tab with the edge of the binding, and hand stitch it securely in place.