To Make a Sleeve

by Helen Marshall

Cut a piece of backing fabric 1" smaller than the finished width x 8".  This allows for a 1/4" double hem on each end and positions the sleeve 1" in from each side.  The bright blue is the right side of the fabric and the light blue is the wrong of the fabric in the following illustrations.

Fold the fabric for the sleeve in half lengthwise right sides out, raw edges together.  Finger press the fold.

Open the fabric and place the raw edges to the finger pressed fold and press with the iron.  This will be the sewing lines.

Turn the sleeve to the wrong side and sew the lengthwise seam with a 1/4" seam (right sides together).

Press the seam open and turn to the right side.

Turn in a double 1/4" seam on each of the short ends and machine stitch.   In other words, you are encasing the raw edge inside the stitched hem.

Position the sleeve with the seam facing the back of the quilt and the short ends 1" in from either side and butting up to the binding at the top.

Sleeve positioned on quilt back

Pin along the top pressed line and hem in place.  Push the excess fabric up to the binding and pin in place.  This bulge will accommodate the hanging rod. The bottom pressed line is sewn in position and the top row of pins is taken out.

The side view of the sleeve will look like this.

Sew the short ends closest to the quilt to the quilt back.

I buy a length of finished wood approximately 2" deep and cut it to the width of the hem of the binding, screw in a screw eye to each cut end.  Then, either add a string or wire as you would to hang a picture or position nails on the wall for the screw eyes to slip over.