How to Hang Antique Quilting Frames

Displaying your quilt in an antique quilt frame will make any room look better.

Hanging a quilt on the wall is the perfect way to display the beauty of a quilt. A skillfully constructed quilt can easily become the focal point of any room. Quilting was once done out of necessity but has evolved into an art form that many fabric artists are attracted to. A quilt frame is the most protective way to display a quilt. Mounting the quilt on an antique quilt frame is not difficult but does require extra care to protect the quilt, as well as the frame, from damage.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Yardstick
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Quilt frame
• Square of cotton cloth the size of frame
• Staple gun
• Staples
• Picture hangers
• Nails
• Hammer
• Sewing needle

Instructions

1. Measure the perimeter of the frame. Determine that the quilt edges will lie just inside the inner edge of the frame. Measure the cotton cloth and if necessary, straight stitch two pieces of cloth together so that it completely covers the back of the frame. Lay the frame, face down onto the floor and place the piece of cloth over it.

2. Staple the cloth to the back of the frame, inserting a staple every five inches all the way around the frame. Stretch and smooth the cloth over the frame as you go so it will be taut when finished.

3. Cut the excess cloth from around the frame. Attach two picture hangers to the underside of the top of the frame 10 inches in from the right and left sides. Adjust the previous measurement if necessary so that when the quilt is hung the weight will be evenly distributed.

4. Attach the quilt to the frame and cloth by hand sewing zigzag stitches vertically, at parallel intervals, across the width of the quilt. The stitches can be large; approximately three inches long per zigzag.

5. Measure the length of the mounted quilt. Measure down from the junction of the floor and ceiling, marking the point on the wall you want to hang the quilt. Measure the same distance on the left and right side of the initial mark. Mark these points and draw a faint pencil line connecting the three marks. Step back to make sure the line looks level.

6. Measure the distance from the center point of the quilt frame to where the picture hangers are. Measure out the same distance from the center point marking on the wall and make a mark at these points. Hammer two sturdy nails into the wall at these points.

Tips & Warnings

• Hanging quilts should be taken down periodically and laid out flat due to the stress that develops from being hung.

• A piece of Plexiglas that is cut to fit inside the frame can be used to further protect the quilt.

• Do not hang your quilt in direct sunlight.

References

• Quilting How To: Quilts: An Introduction

Resources

• Quilting 101: Quilt Display