I get asked occasionally how I hang my art quilts on my walls so I thought I’d make a little post about it. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Next one I make I will take some extra photos showing more details.
There are lots of options when it comes to deciding how to hang an art quilt. For many years I just used Command Strips. But living in a very very dry climate, they only last about a year or so and loose their stickiness. Which suited me fine as I’m always changing up what I have on my walls. But, I really should have a more permanent way to hang.
I had made hanging sleeves the traditional way for previous quilts, but seemed over board for these smaller art quilts and I don’t like the bulk of a rod at the top or how the round rod curls the top of the quilt if too large of a rod. Then it hit me one day as I was using a wooden yardstick to measure out an area on my design wall… “Why not use this instead of a wooden or metal rod to hang?!” It’s flat, cut to size easily and readily available in any home improvement store… CHEAP! like 79 cents cheap! And I just so happen to have a bunch of them I got for a little project I had not done yet.
Now…. how to make a sleeve better. Really only need the corners. Thought about just two loops on the back, but had seen someone put triangles into the corners before also. Faster and more secure IMO plus you would never see the wood from the front or side. It’s so simple and is attacked during the binding portion of the quilt. And if the quilt was over 24″ long, I could always add a center loop to make sure it didn’t sag. Perfect answer for any wall hanging quilt not longer than the 36″ length of the yardstick. If over 36″ I have an idea too. Use a piece of cheap wall molding that is flat. They even sell it pre-finished white! Also flat and comes in very long lengths if needed. I have some of that laying around too from home improvement projects.
Here’s a couple photos of the back of the quilt to help explain what I did. Think I need to dust a little? That could be daily here with desert winds. LOL 
Showing a larger art quilt one with a center loop.
My Process: Cut two squares of fabric to match the backing of the quilt at 4″ square and fold in half on the diagonal wrong sides together and press. If I need a loop in the center for a little larger art quilt, I use a 5″ Sq that I hemmed on two sides, then fold and press in half. Place the squares on opposite corners on the backside at the top of the quilt with raw edges in the corners. Pin or use basting glue to hold in place. Place a center loop in center if used. Sew on the binding as usual to the front side of the quilt and this will sew the squares in the corners at the same time. Flip the binding to the back and hand sew using a blind stitch as usual to finish off.Cut a wooden yardstick about 1/4″-1/2″ shorter than the quilt width INSIDE the binding. In other words, don’t measure the binding width, only from where it is sewn on at the squares. I use my handy miter box to make a clean and straight cut but you don’t have to use one if you don’t have one. Hit the cut ends with a little sandpaper to make sure no splinters are there. Insert into the squares and hang!
To hang on the wall, I use a level and pencil to mark two small horizontal lines about 2-4″ smaller than the yardstick I cut, depending on the overall size of the quilt, and at about 1-1/2″ lower than I want the top to be at. Then I hammer in two small finish nails on those lines. Hang my art quilt. Always level and I can slide it a little side to side if I’m trying to line up with some other items.
Here’s a photo of several on my wall. Love how all lay flat without any hanging rods showing. Looks more like artwork I think. 🙂
