So, just what is a quilt hanging sleeve, and why would we want to add one to our quilts?   A hanging sleeve is simply a tube of fabric that is sewn to the back of a quilt into which a pole can be inserted—thus allowing you to hang your quilt for display, both at home or a quilt show, without the undue stretching or distortion that other methods can cause. 

We've Got Your Back!

Once you have finished your beautiful quilt top, it is time to choose your backing.  The backing of your quilt should not be an afterthought.  The backing is the part of the quilt that lies against your body, so you should, of course, select a high-quality backing fabric that will last for generations to come.

On October 28^th during a Facebook Live recording, Terry demonstrated a technique she calls intentional piecing.  So, just what is intentional piecing?  Short answer:  It’s a method that saves fabric, thread, time, and effort by eliminating nearly all unproductive sewing!  

While the quality of fabric has improved over the years, many fabrics still bleed.  As discussed in the blog post from 16 October 2020, To wash or not wash your fabric, that is the question!, when fabric is washed, some of the excess dye will leach out, particularly from fabrics that have rich and vibrant colors, such as reds and purples.  If you do not pre-wash your fabrics, when you wash your completed quilts for the first time, you might fear that dye will bleed from some fabrics onto adjacent parts of the quilt.   This is a legitimate concern, but fear not, there are products that can aid in fixing or catching excess dye, during washing, preventing it from staining other parts of your quilt.  This blog post will discuss the differences between three of these products: Retayne, Synthrapol, and Color Catchers.

Should you wash or not wash your fabric before you begin your quilting projects?  You will find quilters on both sides of this debate, which is what we discovered when we surveyed our Lone Star Quiltworks Community Facebook group. 

Even though straight pins are some of the smallest and simplest items in a quilter's toolbox, they are an absolute necessity for successful quilting.