Making a Sleeve for Your Quilt

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Quilts to be entered in the show must have a hanging sleeve attached to the back when they arrive at Check-In.

Any quilt received without the required sleeve attached will be denied entry in the show and returned to the exhibitor.

Show workers will not sew sleeves on quilts.

Rules for Sleeves

1. Quilts in both the large and small categories must have a 4-inch finished width sleeve.

2. Miniatures must have either a minimum 2-inch finished width sleeve, or tabs sewn evenly spaced flat on the back of the quilt that do not extend beyond the top edges of the quilt.

3. If a smaller sleeve is already attached to the quilt, the larger sleeve may be applied over it.

4. The top edge of the sleeve must be no more than 90 inches from the bottom edge of the quilt.

5. If your quilt is longer than 90 inches, either (a) place the sleeve 90 inches up from the bottom and let the top drape over when hung, or (b) place the sleeve at the top, urn the bottom up, and baste it (no pins) so that the finished length is 90 inches.

6. If your quilt is longer than 90 inches with a width of 90-110 inches, the sleeve may be attached along the length so that the quilt can be hung sideways.

7. To accommodate the hanging of odd-shaped quilts, you must contact the Floor Plan and Hanging committee ONE MONTH prior to the show to arrange appropriate hanging.

Sleeve Construction

The sleeve can be made from prewashed cotton muslin or from the same fabric as the quilt.

Step 1: Cut a strip of fabric 9 inches wide and as long as the width of the quilt back. Turn the short sides under a half inch and then sew the long sides together using a half-inch seam with right sides facing to make a tube.

Step 2: Turn the sleeve right-side out and press it flat with the seam midway down the side. Make a third crease one inch away from one of the others, between the other crease and seam.

Step 3: Pin the sleeve to the quilt back with the seam facing the quilt back and the extra third crease towards the top (see Fig. 2). This allows some slack in the sleeve for the hanging pole. The sleeve is generally placed just below and within the binding of the quilt.

Step 4: Stitch the upper and lower edges of the sleeve to the quilt using a running stitch. Every third or fourth stitch should go through the entire quilt. This method is not as attractive as a blind stitch, but it distributes the weight to all the layers of the quilt and will avoid stress to the quilt back and quilting stitches. For very large, heavy quilts two rows of running stitches might be better.

Cotton or cotton-covered polyester thread is recommended in the same color as the front of the quilt.