The Best Wall Quilt Hangers to Display Your Fabric Artwork without Damaging Your Walls

An Insider’s Guide to Choosing the Best Wall Quilt Hangers

As an avid quilter, I’ve hung many quilts on my walls over the years. From my experience, choosing the right wall quilt hanger is essential for properly displaying your beautiful handiwork. In this article, I’ll reveal the different types of hangers available and share my top tips for selecting the best option based on your quilt’s size, material, and where you want to put it.

The Main Types of Wall Quilt Hangers

There are a few standard styles of wall quilt hangers to choose from:

1. Wood dowel hangers: These affordable hangers come with wooden dowels and straps. They work well for lighter quilts up to 3-4 feet in width.
2. Metal rod hangers: Similar to dowel hangers but use sturdier metal rods instead of wood. Good for quilts up to 6 feet wide.
3. Hardware cloth hangers: Made of crisscrossed metal wires formed into a basket shape. Can support very large quilts of 8 feet or more in width.

Factors to Consider When Choosing

Here are the main things to keep in mind when selecting wall quilt hangers:

1. Quilt size: Choose hangers that can accommodate the entire width and length of your quilt without sagging or buckling. Overhanging edges are not good for display.
2. Quilt weight: Heavier quilts filled with batting need stronger hangers than lighter piecework quilts. Metal is more durable than wood for heavyweight quilts.
3. Wall space: Consider the area where you want to hang the quilt. Hardware cloth hangers take up more space than low-profile rod or dowel hangers.
4. Quilt material: Delicate antique quilts may need extra support and padding between the hanger and fabric. Strips of felt or quilt batting can prevent damage.

Personalizing Your Hanger Choice

I’ve faced situations where a standard hanger just wasn’t suitable for a special quilt. Here are some real-life examples:

For a king-size quilt made of fragile antique lace, I used multiple hardware cloth hangers connected together to distribute the weight evenly without stretching out the delicate material. Padding the hangers prevented snags on the lace.

A heavily- embroidered quilt was displayed beautifully on an upholstery rod mounted high on the ceiling. Suspending it from above showed off the exquisite stitching without stressing the fabric.

With a bit of creativity, you can adjust off-the-shelf hangers as needed. For example, I’ve added wooden dowel extensions to metal rod hangers to accommodate extra-long quilts in tight spaces.

Hanging Tips For a Beautiful Display

Once you’ve selected the right hanger, follow these tricks of the trade to beautifully exhibit your quilt:

1. Level the hanger: Use a leveling tool to hang it perfectly straight for a polished look.
2. Add backing: Attach felt, batting or other padding between the hanger and back of the quilt to prevent creasing.
3. Position with care: Smooth out any wrinkles before hanging. Avoid folds that may set in the fabric over time.
4. Illuminate features: Adjust lighting to highlight special details like appliqué, embroidered motifs or vibrant fabrics.
5. Rotate periodically: Sunlight can fade fabrics over months hanging in the same spot. Rotate the quilt every few months.

Accessorizing For Extra Flair

Why not dress up your quilt display with a few finishing touches?

I once added wired wall quotes related to the quilt’s theme. Color-coordinated risers lifted the bottom edge to better frame focal points.

Fresh floral sprays or foliage gathered from the yard can set a naturally beautiful mood. Just be sure plants are thoroughly dried first.

For quilts commemorating events, displaying photos together tells the whole story. Group family pictures in shades matching the quilt fabrics.

In minimalist spaces, a single stem in a small vase or tea cup adds a thoughtful accent. Less is more sometimes!

Final Thoughts

With the right hanger and a little effort, you can showcase your quilting talents in style. Most of all, have fun expressing your creativity! Your wall hanging displays don’t have to be perfect – imperfections add character and memories.

I hope these tips sort of give you a basic idea for choosing and using wall quilt hangers. Let me know if any other questions come to mind! I’d be happy to help further.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Wall Quilt Hanger

FAQ

1. What are wall quilt hangers?

   Wall quilt hangers are devices that are placed on a wall to hold up quilts or wall hangings. They come in all different styles like rod hangers, sawtooth hangers, and frame hangers. Basically they give your quilts a place to live on the wall rather than in the closet.

2. How do you install wall quilt hangers?

   Installing wall quilt hangers is usually pretty easy. Most of them can be screwed or nailed right into wall studs for the best support. However you may need to use drywall anchors if hanging between studs. It’s important to make sure the hangers are level and positioned correctly the first time. Perhaps enlist a friend to help hold the quilt straight while putting them up.

3. What type of wall surfaces can they be used on?

   Wall quilt hangers can be put on almost any type of interior wall surface including drywall, paneling, brick, and plaster. The kind of hanger and fasteners used may depend on the material. Rod hangers for instance can work on practically any wall thanks to brackets that tightly grip the rod. Frame hangers would need screws anchored securely into wood or masonry. On the other hand, sawtooth hangers require thin drywall nails or small anchors and screws.

4. How much weight can they hold?

   The weight limits on wall quilt hangers can vary significantly based on the style, materials, and how they are installed. In general, rod hangers can take about 5-10 pounds each while sawtooth hangers handle 3-5 pounds. Heavier framed quilts may require equal-spaced multiple hangers or an easel style hanger. It’s always better to err on the side of caution and not overload them. Is that a fair assessment? You wouldn’t want all your hard work to crash down!

5. What’s the best way to organize multiple quilts?

   If displaying several quilts, it helps to group them together in an orderly fashion. Rod hangers allow quilts to slide along the bar for easy rearranging. Marking the rod with tape lets you know exactly where each one goes back. Similarly sawtooth hangers positioned in straight lines maintain a neat appearance. Quilting has certain customs, so keeping related pieces next to each other honors the tradition. At the same time, don’t be afraid to experiment with layouts until you find an arrangement that astonishingly highlights each special quilt’s uniqueness.

   

6. How often should wall quilts be rotated?

   Most experts advise swapping out wall quilts every 6 months or so to preserve their beautiful colors. Natural light, dust, and aging fibers can cause fabrics to fade gradually over time with continuous display. However, some fun vintage pieces may appear even more special after acquiring a soft patina from careful use. Rotating just a few at a time also means enjoying different combinations throughout the year. It’s basically up to you and what works best for your wall space and collection! Viewers will love spotting which heirlooms you magically reveal next.

7. Any final tips for showing off quilts?

   A few last thoughts – be sure hangers are positioned at a height comfortable for viewing details up close. Clean quilts carefully before putting them on exhibit. Quotes by quilting legends or snippets from quilt history add context and spark ideas. Finally don’t forget to pat yourself on the back for your awesome quilting talents on display! Wall quilt hangers simply make it easy to share your passion with everyone.