How to Build a Quilt Ladder
Quilt ladders are a great way to display your quilts. You can either prop a quilt ladder up against a wall or use support brackets to hang it from the wall. Either way you choose, it keeps your quilts neat and easy to see, especially antique quilts that are for decoration only. Some quilt ladders look like A-frames, but this particular pattern is very simple so you can easily make your own quilt ladder. Make it as big or as small as you want it by adjusting the measurements.
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- 1 piece of 2-by-2 pine
- Chop saw
- Sandpaper
- 2 1-inch dowels
- Drill with bits
- Wood screws
Instructions
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1
Take measurements and make marks on your 2-by-2 pine board with the measuring tape and pencil. Make a mark at 4 feet to divide the board in half.
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2
Cut the pine with the chop saw, or any other appropriate saw you already own, to make the legs of the ladder.
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3
Sand the ends of the 2-by-2 pine to make the edges smooth.
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4
Make marks on each leg at 12-inch intervals for the rungs of the ladder.
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5
Drill holes in the legs of the quilt ladder where you made marks for the rungs.
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6
Use the saw to cut the dowels into 12-inch lengths. Make sure they are all exactly the same length to prevent the quilt ladder from looking crooked.
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7
Change the bit on your drill and put the screws through one of the legs of the quilt ladder.
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8
Hold one of the rungs in place where there is a screw. Fasten the one end of the dowel to the screw and the leg. Repeat with the remaining dowels.
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9
Attach the other leg of the quilt ladder. Lay the first leg on its side and hold one dowel still while you partially insert the screw. Continue to partially insert the other two screws into the other two dowels.
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10
Check to make sure the both legs and all three rungs line up properly. Finish inserting the screws so they are tight.
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11
Finish your quilt ladder by staining or painting as desired.
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Tips & Warnings
Give you quilt ladder an antique look by adding crackling paint. Follow the directions on the paint can when painting your ladder.
Round off the edges of the legs of your quilt ladder with a router, if desired.
Fit an extra rung onto your quilt ladder by starting at any given point lower on the legs of the ladder and spacing the rungs out a little closer.
