How to Make a Hanging Sleeve

Let size be your guide when determining how to hang your quilt. Smaller quilts can be hung with purchased clips, sewn-on tabs, or pins applied to the corners. Larger quilts require a hanging sleeve attached to the back to accommodate a wooden dowel or decorative curtain rod. Adding a hanging sleeve may take a few more minutes, but it will be worth it in the long run. Your effort preserves your hours of work with less distortion and damage.

Measure quilt top's edge. Cut a 6"- to 10"-wide strip of prewashed fabric 2" longer than the quilt's top edge. Fold under 1-1/2" on both ends of fabric strip. Sew 1/4" from raw edges.

Fold the fabric strip in half lengthwise with wrong side inside; pin. Stitch together long edges with a 1/4" seam allowance. Press seam open and center the seam in the middle of the sleeve.

Center the sleeve on the quilt backing about 1" below the binding with the seam facing toward the backing. Stitching through the backing and batting, slip-stitch the sleeve along both long edges and the portions of the short folded edges that touch the back. Note: Allow extra ease in the side of the sleeve away from the quilt back. Before stitching down the long bottom edge, fold up about 1/2", then stitch in place. This will prevent the rod from creating a ridge on the front side of the quilt when it is hanging from a large dowel or curtain rod.

Slide a wooden dowel or slender piece of wood that is 1" longer than the finished sleeve into the sleeve and hang as desired.