How to Make a Photo Quilt Wall Hanging

Whether you have wonderful black and white photos of unknown ancestors or a progression of photos taken over your child's lifetime, there are never enough ways to display them. This photo quilt wall hanging will allow you to show off many photos in one place and you won't have to purchase a frame. Sew this photo quilt wall hanging as a beautiful gift for an anniversary, birthday or special event.

Things You'll Need

• Photos Computer Scanner/printer 3/4 yard unbleached muslin 1 yard backing fabric 3/4 yard quilt batting Computer transfer paper Sewing machine Scissors Iron Straight pins Hand sewing needle and thread Measuring tape Two flat 1-inch buttons Hanging dowel

Instructions

1. Measure and cut a piece of unbleached muslin 24 inches wide by 30 inches long for the base of your photo quilt wall hanging. Lay the quilt batting on your work surface and place the unbleached muslin on top. Cut the batting out using the unbleached muslin as your pattern. Place the backing fabric on your work surface. Center the batting and unbleached muslin top on the backing and cut around 1 inch larger on all sides.

2. Scan your photos onto your computer. Crop and flip them to a mirror image. The size of the photos will depend on how many you want to add to your photo quilt wall hanging. Keep the size of your photos no larger than 5 inches wide by 7 inches long and no smaller than a snapshot. The spacing should be at least 2 inches apart to allow for ease of viewing. Follow the manufacturer's directions on the computer transfer paper and print the photos onto the paper. Cut out and trim the photos.

3. Lay your muslin fabric out on your ironing surface. Arrange the photos on the fabric with the photo side down. Have fun with your arrangement and experiment with a collage pattern. Do not place any photos within an inch of the muslin edges and make sure all the photos are straight. Iron the photos to the muslin according to the manufacturer's directions on the computer transfer paper.

4. Place the backing fabric wrong side up on your work surface. Center the batting on the backing fabric and place the photo muslin top on the batting. Fold over the side edges of the backing a 1/2 inch to the wrong side and press. Fold over a 1/2 inch again and pin over the side edge of the photo quilt wall hanging. Fold over the top and bottom edges of the backing a 1/2 inch to the wrong side and press. Fold over a 1/2 inch again, miter fold the corners and pin over the top and bottom edge of the photo wall hanging. Top stitch around the photo quilt wall hanging as close to the pinned edge as possible to create the binding.

5. Cut 4 strips of the remaining backing fabric 4 inches wide by 10 inches long. These are the hanging loops for your photo quilt wall hanging. Fold one strip in half lengthwise with the right sides together and pin. Sew both short ends and the long end using a 1/2-inch seam allowance and leaving 2 inches open for turning along the long side. Repeat for the remaining three strips. Clip the corners and turn the strips inside out and press. Hand sew the openings closed. Fold the strips in half matching the short ends and press. Space the four strips evenly along the top of your photo quilt wall hanging. Place one short end on the front and one short end on the back 1 inch below the top of the photo quilt wall hanging. Center a button over the ends of the strips and stitch through all layers to attach. Run the hanging dowel through the strips.