How to Hang a Quilt without a Sleeve – Using large quilts as wall décor can be a fantastic addition to your home. These works of art help tie your home’s design together while also adding a warm and welcoming feel to any space. The quilt you choose does not have to be particularly ornate. Whether sewn by your great-grandmother or made by you, any quilt can be hung.
The most common method of hanging a quilt is to sew a sleeve, or long tube of fabric, across the back width of the quilt. After that, a rod or dowel can be inserted into the sleeve and attached to the wall. If you don’t know how to sew and your quilt doesn’t already have an attached sleeve, you’ll have to look for other options.
Fortunately, there are numerous methods for hanging a quilt on the wall that do not require a sleeve. For instance, you can use clamps or clips, nails or push pins, or a more DIY method with clothespins and command strips. Let’s look at all the different ways you can hang up your favorite quilt without using a sleeve.
4 Best Methods to Hang a Quilt without a Sleeve
Method 1: Using Clamps to Hang a Quilt
Quilters’ creativity has resulted in a variety of modern solutions for displaying quilts on the wall. Although they are useful, a sleeve on your quilt is not required to hang it. Quilt clamps can be used instead. These devices are ideal for those who like to change out their quilts on a regular basis.
Quilt clamps are hung on the wall, evenly spaced across the top edge of your quilt, and then pinched in place. It depends on the type; the clamp may be secured with springs (similar to a chip clip) or by manually tightening and loosening it with a screw. Both clips and clamps are available in a variety of wood finishes, and more decorative metal options in a variety of shapes to match your décor are also available.
Quilt clamps can be purchased at your local craft store or from a variety of online retailers such as eBay, Amazon, and Etsy. Depending on your preference, you can screw them to the wall or use Command Strips for a less abrasive option. They make it very simple to rotate your quilt and enjoy both sides.
Quilt clamps have the disadvantage of requiring a perfectly straight line to be lined up in order to be effective, which may be difficult for some. Furthermore, the clamps are visible when hung, which may be an issue for those who only want to see their quilt.
Method 2: Using Nails or Thumb Tacks to Hang a Quilt
Many quilters refer to this as the “lazy method.” However, we understand that there are times when you need to hang a quilt in a kid’s playroom, somewhere where it will go largely unnoticed, or you need a quick solution. In this case, you can grab some thumbtacks or nails and call it good.
To provide adequate support, place the tacks or nails in the top corners or along the width of the top edge. Although this option is efficient, inexpensive, and simple, it is not always recommended. The nails or thumbtacks may not provide enough support for extremely heavy or large quilts, and the quilt may rip. When using this method, small tack holes in your quilt are unavoidable.
However, the eternal wrath of others, particularly your grandmother, is a small price to pay for successfully hanging your quilt on the wall without a sleeve. If the color of the push pins is matched to the color of your quilt and used sparingly, you will notice that they won’t look all that bad, and your visitors might not even notice.
Method 3: Using Clothespins and Command Strips to Hang a Quilt
This is a do-it-yourself variation on using quilt clamps to hang a quilt on the wall. It enables you to display your quilt using everyday household items. You’ll only need wooden clothespins, Command Picture Hanging Strips (the narrow width), a level, rubbing alcohol, and your quilt.
The main advantage of using Command Strips over other methods is that you can easily readjust if you have trouble getting things exactly level. You can move the second piece of the strip (the one that will hold the clothespin) up and down on your wall until everything is properly aligned.
Furthermore, each Command Strip is designed to support up to 3 pounds, sufficient for most quilt wall-hangings.
Follow these steps to hang your quilt on the wall using a clothespin and Command Strips method:
- Begin by separating your strips and pressing the two matching pieces together until they click.
- Peel the paper lining off one side of the Command Strip and adhere it to one side of a clothespin. For 30 seconds, press firmly to ensure that the adhesive has bonded to the pin.
- Using rubbing alcohol, clean the wall where the quilt will be hung. This will allow the Command Strip to adhere to the surface properly.
- While the two strips are still connected, remove the remaining liner from the other end of the strip and press it strongly against the wall for at least 30 seconds.
- Repeat the previous steps for the remaining clothespins, spacing them evenly along the wall. A good rule of thumb is to put one at each end of your quilt and one or two in the center, depending on the size of the quilt.
- As you go, use your level to ensure that the pins are completely straight and adjust as needed.
- Let the Command Strips cure for at least an hour, both on the wall and on the clothespins. If you hang your quilt right away, it may fall, and you will have to start over with the clothespins on the wall.
- After an hour, hang up your quilt and enjoy!
If you don’t like the look of the clothespins, consider painting them to match your style. Plastic clothespins should be avoided because they are more prone to breaking under stress. Wooden clothespins are the most commonly used and are known to withstand much more weight.
Method 4: Using a Frame to Hang a Quilt
Another simple way to hang your quilt is to put it in a frame, just like a picture. Mini quilts and quilt blocks both look great in frames and will look great on your wall. You can even group several to create a visually appealing display of your quilting abilities. Framing your quilt is a quick and easy way to get it on display, and it takes very little time and effort.
Additionally, putting your quilt in a frame can help preserve it if it is particularly old, damaged, falling apart, or no longer usable. Simply take your quilt to a local shop that specializes in custom framing, or measure your quilt and find a frame that fits. You have the option of framing the quilt with or without glass.
On the other hand, Glass will help protect the fabrics from dust, which can cause old fabrics to age faster. On the other hand, leaving out the glass may make it easier to enjoy your quilting stitches.
Your quilt, once framed, can be hung up like a picture frame. Whether you are using a frame or not, always keep your quilt in a room that does not get direct sunlight or other harsh light. Harsh sunlight, and some indoor lighting, can cause fabric colors to fade.
Wrapping It Up
Although hanging a quilt on the wall with a sleeve along the width or in the corners is the most common method, it is not the only one. Just in case your quilt does not already have a sleeve, and you are not confident enough in your sewing abilities to make one, you can use quilt clamps, clothespins and command strips, nails, or thumbtacks or simply frame your quilt.