It’s almost impossible to consider spending a cold, wintry night without a cozy quilt near by but not every quilt is made with comfort from the cold in mind. Many quilts are made to be displayed only, as a form of textile art.
When quilts are intended as an art form and not as articles of bedding, quilt hangers make displaying the piece easy. Hangers can be added as the quilts are made but they can also be added after the quilt is completed.
Quilt hangers in general are long tubes of fabric sewn onto the top end of the back, or bottom, side of the quilts. These sleeves, as quilt hangers are often called, provide the means of hanging the quilt for display.
Quilt hangers are always attached to the back, or under side, of the quilt so that the decorative top layer of the quilt remains intact. For the most pleasing look, the fabric used to make quilt hangers should match or be the same as the fabric used to make the bottom layer of the quilt itself. This sleeve should not be apparent from the front view of the quilt but using matching fabrics is considered a desirable touch by many quilt collectors.
When added during the quilting process, quilt hangers are best attached when the edge binding is sewn into place. Doing so saves time and ensures a stronger sleeve.
When quilt hangers are needed on a quilt that has already been completed, tubes of fabric are finished and sewn onto the bottom layer of the quilts, providing results that are quite similar to the sleeves that are sewn in during quilt construction.
When quilt hangers are added for displaying the quilts at a quilt show, it is important to check with the host of the quilt show before adding the sleeves. There are often restrictions and guidelines published by the organizers of these events and failure to comply may mean a quilt cannot be displayed as intended.
Once quilt hangers are securely in place, all that is needed is a wooden or metal pole strong enough to support the weight of the quilts to be displayed. In the home, these poles can be attached or hung from wall mounts, much the same way as curtains or draperies. In quilt shows, the poles fit into portable display racks that can be quickly and easily assembled and transported.
