How to Make an Easy Quilt Hanging Sleeve

Updated on 10/26/20

TARDIS Themed Hanging Sleeve — Janet Wickell

A quilt hanging sleeve can be permanent or temporary and it can be sewn on after or at the same time you apply the binding. A hanging sleeve allows a quilt to hang evenly, preventing the stretch that nearly always occurs when you secure the project to a wall with a series of pins or other fasteners.

You can use any fabric for the quilt sleeve, from plain muslin to something that enhances the reverse side of 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.

Tip

A quilt show usually requires a 4-inch minimum sleeve, but read show rules before assembling the sleeve for your quilt.

Equipment / Tools

Scissors

Materials

Quit fabric
Quilt batting
Quilt backing

Sew a Hanging Sleeve to the Quilt When You Sew the Binding

The photograph illustrates a hanging sleeve on the back of the TARDIS quilt. It includes media photos from Matt Smith's run as Doctor Who. The sleeve was sewn to the quilt when the binding was applied.

Baste the Quilt Top, Batting, and Backing

Sandwich the quilt top, batting, and backing. Baste the layers together and then quilt or tie. Trim batting and backing carefully, squaring up corners as necessary.
Cut and Sew

Cut or piece together fabric to make a strip 9" tall and the same width as the quilt. Fold under short edges 1/4 inch, wrong sides together. Fold under again, and press. Sew a straight or zigzag seam to hem the folds.
Fold and Sew

Fold the strip lengthwise, wrong sides together, aligning raw edges. 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. Sew the sleeve to the quilt with an approximate 1/8-inch seam allowance.
Bind the Quilt

Bind the quilt as you normally would. If you plan to use the tucked method to end double-fold binding, start binding on a side without the sleeve to help avoid bulk from extra layers of fabric.
Attach the Sleeve to the Quilt

Smooth the sleeve downward along the quilt backing and then make a 1/2-inch 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 the pins. The sleeve will pooch out a bit to allow space for a hanging rod. Whipstitch the (short) back sides of the sleeve to the quilt. Leave the front sides unsewn to allow for rod insertion.

Sew a Hanging Sleeve After the Quilt Is Finished

How to Make a Quilt Hanging Sleeve — Janet Wickell

Cut and Sew

Cut or piece together fabric to make a strip 9-inch tall and the same width as the quilt. Fold under both short edges about 1/4 inch, wrong sides together. Fold under again to double the fabric, and press. Sew a straight or zigzag seam to hem the folds.
Fold and Sew Lengthwise

Now fold the strip lengthwise, wrong sides together, aligning its raw edges. Sew together with a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Press the seam allowance open.
Sew Tube to Backing

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-inch below the binding. Use a whipstitch to sew the top edge of the tube to the quilt backing. Stitch into the quilt batting occasionally to help strengthen the seam but do not allow the stitches to show on the front of the quilt.
Attach the Sleeve to Quilt

Smooth the sleeve downward along the quilt backing and then make a 1/2-inch 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 the pins. The sleeve will pooch out a bit to allow space for a hanging rod. Whipstitch the (short) back sides of the sleeve to the quilt. Leave the front sides unsewn to allow for rod insertion.