Sewing a sleeve on the back of your quilt makes it easy to hang the quilt for display at home or in a quilt show. The quilt sleeve can be permanent or temporary and it can be sewn on after or at the same time you
apply binding.
Sew on a Sleeve After Binding the Quilt
- Cut or piece together fabric to make a strip 9" tall and the same width as the quilt.
- Fold under short edges 1/4", wrong sides together. Fold under again. Press. Sew a straight or zigzag seam to hem the folds.
- Now fold the strip lengthwise, wrong sides together, aligning its raw edges. Sew together with a 1/2" seam allowance. Press the seam allowance open.
- Place the open seam against the quilt's back. Center and pin the top edge of the tube to the back of the quilt, about 1/2" below the binding.
- Use a whipstitch to sew the top edge of the tube to the quilt backing. Stitch into the batting occasionally to help strengthen the seam.
- Smooth the sleeve downward along the quilt back, then make a 1/2" fold along its length to create a pleat. Leaving the pleat intact, pin the sleeve bottom to the quilt.
- Whipstitch the lower edge of the sleeve to the quilt. Remove pins. The sleeve will pooch out a bit to allow space for a hanging rod.
- Whipstitch the back sides of the sleeve to the quilt. Leave the front sides unsewn to allow for rod insertion.
