How To Hang A Quilt With A Dowel

September 26, 2023October 23, 2023 Jessica 0 Comments Dowel, Hanging, Quilt

Making quilts is one way to ensure that you keep yourself busy. It can turn into a great hobby such that you end up having many fabrics to a point where you do not know what to do with them. The good thing is that you can hang your beautiful quilts on your wall to decorate your house.

Hanging may not be easy, and being a quilter does not mean that you can do it well. After reading this post till the end, you will know how to hang a quilt on a dowel and keep it safe. Let’s dive in!

Can You Hang a Quilt With a Dowel?

Contents

Can You Hang a Quilt With a Dowel?
How to Hang a Quilt With a Dowel?
How to Keep Your Hanging Quilt Safe?
How Do You Hang an Old Quilt?
What Are Different Ways to Hang a Quilt?

Yes, you can hang your quilt with a dowel. However, a quilt consists of material, and it is impossible to stick material on the wall.

You need first to attach it to something then hang it. For this case, you can attach the upper back of your quilt with a sleeve. Then place a dowel inside it.

How to Hang a Quilt With a Dowel?

The most popular way of hanging a quilt is by using a sleeve. In this case, the sleeve is a fabric tube that you sew to the back of the quilt, making it possible for you to hang the quilt on the wall. Then slip a dowel through the sleeve then suspend it using the nails on your walls.

Making the sleeve is pretty easy. And once you have it on the quilt, hanging it on the wall should not be an issue. In this specific section, we will show you how to do it.

Material You Need

Scissors
Fabric
Tape measure
Needle
Thread
Dowel

Procedure

Step 1: Determine the Length at the Top of Your Quilt

Start by measuring the width size of your quilt at the top. Record the measurements.

The sleeve should be shorter than the quilt, so you must subtract a few inches from the measurement.

Step 2: Cutting a Piece of Fabric That You Will Use as the Sleeve

From your piece of fabric, measure about 8 inches wide of the fabric and cut it. Ensure that the fabric is about an inch longer than the top edge of your quilt.

You can use any fabric you have because you cannot see the sleeve from the back.

Step 3: Fold the Edges

Fold each side of the strip. Ensure the fold is about ½ inch. Also, it would help if you folded towards the wrong side of the fabric. Finally, do not forget to press on the fabric with a hot iron to secure it in place.

Step 4: Stitch the Edges

Sew a hem on all sides of the edge. Ensure the stitch is neat and even. Ensure you make the stitches all around the edges.

Step 5: Fold the Sleeve Again

Make a fold on the sleeve once more. This time, it should be half lengthwise. Again, ensure that the wrong sides are together as you make the fold. Press a crease below the center of the sleeve.

Step 6: Center the Sleeve’s Raw Edges

Open the raw edges of the fabric. Then fold them such that they meet at the center of the fabric. The point they meet should be where there is the crease line.

Moreover, ensure that the right side of the fabric is on top while the wrong side is at the bottom. Also, secure the raw edges in place using some pins.

Step 7: Stitch the Sleeve Edge

Make stitches on the edge of the sleeve. The stitches should go all the way to the edge of the quilt. The place for stitching is where the sleeve edges meet. Be sure to make a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Step 8: Open the Seam

After making the stitches, you can now open up the seam. Iron it to ensure the stitches hold on in place.

Step 9: Pin the Rectangular Loop

Pin the rectangular strip to the top back of the quilt. Do so with the creased side facing up. Also, for the part you made seams, ensure that it is in direct contact with the quilt.

Step 10: Make Blind Stitches

You can now go ahead and make some blind stitches around the loop. As you do this, be sure not to touch the opening of the fabric.

Step 11: Place the Dowel Inside the Loop

You can now go ahead and fix the dowel in the loop. Then hang it on the nail that is on your wall. As simple as that!

How to Keep Your Hanging Quilt Safe?

You can find many uses for your quilts, and one of the most effective uses is hanging them as a decoration piece on your wall. For example, you can hang it as a curtain or maybe use Velcro to not need to put holes on your wall.

How you choose to use your quilt is all up to you. Now one thing you need to ensure you do is to maintain it. So, you may need to take proper care of it so that it can last you longer.

There are many practical things you can do to maintain your hanging quilt. Some include vacuuming the quilt regularly, soaking it, and ensuring it rests properly. This section will teach you about it. Read on.

Give Your Quilt a Rest

The quilt is, of course, heavy, so when hanging it, the weight may damage it. Moreover, the weight will gradually weaken the stitches, especially due to the constant pulling against its weight.

It is therefore important to take the quilt out of the hanger after some time. Maybe you can take it out after about six months. It will help avoid the weight of the quilt from damaging the stitches hence wearing out.

You can also replace the quilt with another one and let it hang up for the next six months. It will help give time to the other quilt to rest. If you want to hang the same quilt back, then you can do so after some time. However, ensure that it faces upside down when hanging it.

Vacuum the Quilt Regularly

Ensure that you constantly vacuum the quilt. It will help preserve the fibers on the quilt for a long time. Before you vacuum it, first ensure the place you are going to lay it down is clean.

When vacuuming, you can incorporate a vacuum cleaner with low suction. Such a vacuum cleaner is suitable since it prevents damage to the stitching.

You can stretch fiberglass or a cotton filter for preciseness or a nylon screen over the small brush on the vacuum cleaner. It will help reduce suction on it.

Also, ensure you are as gentle as possible when vacuuming. Then, when there is a lot of dust, you can replace the filter.

Soak Sparingly

It is important to deep clean the quilt regularly. To do this, you can use a large bed sheet and a large container to submerge the whole quilt.

Place the quilt on top of the bedsheet inside the container. Then add some mild laundry detergent. When measuring the detergent, add at least a half-ounce for every gallon of water you add to the container.

Give the quilting time to soak. Ensure you do not disturb the process by shaking the container. Once it soaks, you can drain the container. Then press the quilt between your hand and the container. Ensure all the soap gets out of it.

You can also pat the quilt with a clean towel. It will ensure all the soapy water gets out of it. Then, pick up the corners of the bedsheet together to get the quilt out of the container.

Then let the quilt dry. To do this, spread on a clean and non-porous surface. Leave it under the sun to air dry. After drying, you can now hang your quilt back to the wall.

Useful Tips

Vacuuming should be your primary cleaning method for the quilt. However, ensure you are gentle when doing so. Other cleaning methods may damage the quilt, especially if you are washing it excessively.
If your quilt contains ink or colors that can run, please do not soak it. Moreover, if the stitching on the quilt seems weak, soaking it may damage it. Also, if the fabric is silk, wool, or glaze, do not soak it.
Do not iron your quilt, and it may easily damage your quilt.
Do not wash your hanging quilt in the washing machine or use dry cleaning or even dryers.

How Do You Hang an Old Quilt?

You can first store the quilt in acid-free paper or white pillowcases, or white cotton sheets. Old quilts are prone to damage. Therefore you do what you can to protect them from light and dust.

When hanging, you can use a rod or wood shelves that have rods underneath. But before you hang, ensure you treat the wood with a protective finish.

What Are Different Ways to Hang a Quilt?

The most popular way of hanging a quilt is by using sleeves. You then insert a dowel inside the sleeve then hang it on the wall. You can also use the hanging rod systems, which you can buy in your local stores. Another hanging method you can use is the clamps or use the hanging triangles.

Author
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Jessica

I'm Jessica Flores, a professional fashion designer and an expert seamstress.

Crafting has always been a deep-seated passion of mine, one that has flourished and evolved over the years.

I've dedicated considerable time to both studying and practicing in the realm of fashion and sewing, amassing a wealth of experience and skills.

It brings me great joy to share these insights and experiences with you all, hoping to inspire and foster a similar passion for the art of sewing.