My inventory of quilts has gotten just WAY too big! I estimate that I have 250 in the house. Granted, some of them are only 5 x 7, but most are poster sized or larger. Of course, they’re not all master pieces, but they’re still nice enough to hang as art. So, I decided to give away some of them, starting with my nieces and nephews. I let each of them pick one and started prepping the hanging gear.
This is my dining room table now, (at the end of several days of work.)
Each quilt has a hanging sleeve on the back and I cut a wooden slat to fit into it. Typically the quilts are hung with 2 nails. The slat and the sleeve have corresponding holes. The slat shown below fits into the white quilt that’s face down. (Oops, I drilled an extra nail hole.)
Once inserted, I feel around for the hanging holes and cut corresponding “wounds” in the sleeve.
It all hangs very nice and flat on the wall.
But, sometimes a different method is called for. For instance, some of these are going to apartment dwellers, who can’t use nails in their walls. In that case, I still use a sleeve and slat. But, this time, I staple half of a Command Strip through the sleeve and slat. The staples go through far enough to make it all secure, but not so far as the protrude out the front. The corresponding half of the Command strip is velcroed in place and it’s ready to go.
Once the hardware is handled, the quilts are rolled onto pool noodles, right sides facing out. I wrap them in fabric and they’re ready for shipping. (Although in this case I’ll be hand delivering five quilts. Three are wrapped together in the brown roll. Those recipients live near one another.)
It’s very satisfying to see them all prepped and ready to go. I’ll see my nieces and nephews at an upcoming family reunion and I’m looking forward to handing them off.
I’m feeling good about this.
Is your inventory growing? What do you do the not-quite-show-worthy ones?
Ellen Lindner