How to Make a Hanging Quilt Rack With a Decorative Shelf

A beautiful hanging quilt rack is a fitting honor to display an heirloom quilt or one that has been recently created by the hands of a skilled quilter. This project is for a basic hanging quilt rack with a decorative shelf. The steps can be altered to include shaped cutouts, such as hearts, in the quilt rack's back board. The side shelf brackets can also be scalloped and the shelf edges routed. It truly is a matter of taste and skill level, although, these basic instructions can be successfully achieved by a novice woodworker.

Things You'll Need

• 1-by-6 inch pine board, 60 inches long 1-by-4 inch pine board, 55 inches long Two 1-by-6 inch pine boards, 9 inches long One 1/2 inch diameter dowel, 56 inches long 1 1/2-inch drill bit, small bit, screwdriver bit Drill Jigsaw Two 2-inch wood medallions Wood stain Sponge brush Sandpaper Measuring tape 1/4-inch wood screws Wood glue Tack cloth Pencil

Instructions

1. Lay the 1-by-4 board on a flat work surface. Stand the length of the 60-inch 1-by-6 shelf on its side. Center the length of the 1-by-6 shelf against the length of the 1-by-4 back. You will have a 2 1/2 inch extension on each end of the 1-by-4.

2. Space and drill four small pilot holes along the length of the 1-by-6 shelf and attach to the 1-by-4 back using the wood screws.

3. Round one corner of a 9 inch 1-by-6 using the jigsaw. This is a shelf bracket for the end of the quilt rack back. The rounded corner will be the front bottom of the shelf bracket. Repeat for the other shelf bracket.

4. Stand the quilt rack shelf brackets, with the 9-inch sides flush on the work surface against the 1-by-4 quilt rack's back board. Position the 6-inch side against the bottom of the shelf. Drill pilot holes and attach screws through the brackets into the back board and through the top of the quilt rack decorative shelf into the brackets.

5. Drill a 1 1/2 inch hole through each side bracket 4 1/2 inches from the quilt rack decorative shelf and 2 1/2 inches from the back board. Insert the dowel into the holes for the quilt rack pole. Attach the wood medallions using wood glue over the drilled dowel holes. Allow the glue to dry.

6. Sand any rough edges and surfaces on the quilt rack and decorative shelf. Wipe the quilt rack and shelf using the tack cloth to remove any dust particles.

7. Stain the entire hanging quilt rack and decorative shelf. Allow to dry.

8. To hang the quilt rack with a decorative shelf, either attach hangers to the back of the rack or for the best stability, drill through the back board and attach wood screws into wall studs.

Tips & Warnings

• Drilling pilot holes before attaching screws will prevent the wood from splitting. When purchasing wood, ask to have the lengths needed cut to size. This will not cost much extra and will allow you to immediately begin construction on your quilt rack with a decorative shelf.