Friday, March 1, 2013

Hanging sleeves

Method 1, Sew a Hanging Sleeve After the Quilt is Bound



Method 2, Add a Hanging Sleeve Before Binding the Quilt

You can sew a hanging sleeve to the top of the quilt at the same time you sew on the binding.
  1. Sandwich the quilt top, batting and backing. Quilt or tie. Trim batting and backing to match the quilt top along the edge where the sleeve will be sewn.
  2. Cut or piece together fabric to make a strip 9" tall and the same width as the quilt.
  3. Fold under short edges 1/4", wrong sides together. Fold under again. Press. Sew a straight or zigzag seam to hem the folds.
  4. Fold the strip lengthwise, wrong sides together, aligning raw edges.
  5. Center the folded strip along the top edge of the quilt, against the backing, aligning its matched raw edges with the edge of the quilt.
  6. Sew the sleeve to the quilt with an approximate 1/8" seam allowance.
  7. Bind the quilt. If you plan to use the tucked method to end doublefold binding, start binding on a side without the sleeve to help avoid bulk from extra layers of fabric.
  8. Finish the sleeve using Steps 6 through 8 on page 1.

Quilt Sleeve Options

  • You can use any fabric for the quilt sleeve, from plain muslin to something that enhances the reverse side of your quilt.
  • Quilt shows usually require a 4" minimum sleeve. Read show rules before assembling the sleeve for your quilt.
  • Use wide backing fabric to make a long sleeve without piecing strips of fabric. Use the same fabric you back the quilt with to make the sleeve blend with the backing.