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Message |
    
Lucy Smith
Citizen
Username: Lucy123
Post Number: 96
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 1:06 pm: | 
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After my father died three years ago, my mother took his favorite clothes and set them aside. For christmas this year she presented each of us with a beautiful blanket she had made with his clothing.
My husband and I are not sure what to do with this precious gift...we have two cats and are afraid to keep it on the couch, bed, etc. since the jeans frayed as she made it and the kitties would LOVE to mess with it!
What we would like to do is use it as a wall hanging. some of our questions are...where is the best place to go to get this done? can we do it ourself without too much effort? would a frame be better (to preserve-although we really don't want to frame it-the wonderful part of the blanket is to be able to touch the clothing and have a tangible piece of my father-not quite the same effect in a frame).
So......my fellow MOLers....has anyone ever used a blanket as a wall hanging and what is the best way to go about doing this? Right now it is folded in the closet and we would really like to get it out and add some of my father to our home! Any advice/help is greatly appreciated! |
Pippi
Supporter
Username: Pippi
Post Number: 2046
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 1:08 pm: |
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I have no suggestion to offer, but wanted to say that this is a lovely idea!! what a thoughtful and special way to remember a loved one
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Lucy Smith
Citizen
Username: Lucy123
Post Number: 97
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 1:10 pm: |
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Thanks Pippi! I agree! I lost my father fairly young (he 50 and myself only 22) and it truly is a wonderful thing to have. |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 3200
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 1:14 pm: |
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my sister-in-law took a velvet patchwork quilt and put a backing on it along with 2" fabric loops. She bought a pretty brass curtain rod and hung it on the wall. Wasn't that hard to do and it looked great - you just need a friend with a sewing machine. |
finnegan
Supporter
Username: Finnegan
Post Number: 319
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 1:14 pm: |
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Run a Google search on "Quilt hangers," and you'll see lots of options, both wall mounted and free standing (which might still attract the kitties.)
Here's just one: http://www.robinsonswoodcrafts.com/
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doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 1324
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 1:16 pm: |
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I love the idea too...along the same lines, I am saving the baby clothes I am most fond of & will someday make (have made?) a blanket for each of them & one for us (backing with their baby blankets, most likely)...
What about something like this (I'm sure there are other styles - this is first that came up when I googled "quilt hanger"): http://www.artinapinch.net/ |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4234
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 1:17 pm: |
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Bed Bath and Beyond (and other similar stores) have quilt and tapestry rods made specifically for this purpose. |
Bailey
Citizen
Username: Baileymac
Post Number: 212
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 1:21 pm: |
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You might ask Krista at Classic Design Framing in Maplewood, she might offer some suggestions. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2892
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 1:21 pm: |
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There are a couple of kinds of blanket hangers that I have seen. Some are bars that you drape the blanket over. Some are called either clip or compression.
This place seems to have some examples of both:
http://www.gwizpro.com/
We actually used both in our kids' rooms. One has an infant sized quilt hanging from quilt clips (both came from Pottery Barn Kids). For the other quilt we used a quilt rack or bar, but instead of draping the quilt over the bar we attached metal curtain hangers to the back of the quilt (which was not an heirloom so we weren't concerned with it ripping) and hung it on the bar. I would expect this can be done with a curtain rod as well which might hold more weight.
There are also quilt stands if you don't have space to hang it, but watch out for those kitties!
http://www.thecompanystore.com/product.asp?product=XK8201OSBLAzz&dept%5Fid=3714
Good luck! |
Lucy Smith
Citizen
Username: Lucy123
Post Number: 98
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 1:36 pm: |
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Thanks everyone for the great suggestions! I can't wait to look into these! My mother is coming to visit in May and we want to have it up before she arrives. Thanks again!  |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 1482
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 1:43 pm: |
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We got some beautiful handmade quilts when my daughter was born, and wanted to do the same. We ordered a pair of wall mount curio shelves with quilt hanging bars below from one of the catalog stores (maybe crate and barrel or pottery barn?), and have the quilts folded on them. Not as big a display, but didn't require attaching anything to the quilts.
Best of luck |
Spqr
Citizen
Username: Spqr
Post Number: 81
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 - 2:26 pm: |
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My parents have an antique quilt hung up using a hanger similar to the hangers shown in the link of Doulamomma's post. They are designed to hang antique quilts by holding an edge of the quilt between two pieces of wood that are then tightened through a compression fitting. If you use one like this, you don't have to worry about damaging the quilt by attaching anything to it or putting holes in it. If you decided at some point that you wanted to use the quilt on a bed, it just comes out of the hanger with a couple of turns of the compression fitting. |
Jenny D Wasyliko
Citizen
Username: Jwasyliko
Post Number: 1
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, April 6, 2006 - 9:52 am: |
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We hung a beautiful hand sewn quilt a few years ago with some drapery clip rings and a cafe rod. This is also a great option for hanging curtain "squares" rather than sewing tabs etc... at the top.
You cand find the drapery clip rings at Bed, Bath and Beyond, Linens n Things, Target etc... Or, if you like, I have an extra package of (14) 1" diameter silver clip rings that you can have. They didn't work for my project, and I forgot to return them almost a year ago! PL me if you're interested and I'll drop them by. |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 1497
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, April 6, 2006 - 10:51 am: |
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Quilter here. If I made your quilt I would want you to bring it to a quilting shop so they could determine how best to hang it. Likely you will need to sew loops or add slits in the back to hold the hanging rod (over time clips can rust and damage the fabric). A professional quilter will know what your particular quilt would require. Bringing it in for advice won't cost you anything. And if you need a store, post here - there are a few quilters on this board.
Good luck!
Lynn |
Barb
Citizen
Username: Flannery
Post Number: 214
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 8:50 am: |
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If you don't want to physically alter the piece, I would agree with the previous poster on taking it to Krista at Classic Design Framing in the village. She's framed several pieces for me and does beautiful work.
Your piece is an irreplaceable part of your father. If it were mine, I would protect it at all costs... |
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