I was having problems with one of my quilts bulging out at the bottom when it was hanging up. I asked Dena if she had any ideas on how to fix it. This is what she suggested:
Try this trick, Ruth:
Lay the quilt down flat, but don’t try to smooth it down. Don’t force it to do anything it normally would not do.
Get the bottom edge to lay as flat as possible, even if it means the upper parts are all scrunched up. Draw a chalk line from one side of the quilt to the other about 2-3 inches above the bottom edge. Draw a straight line, regardless of how crooked the bottom edge may be.
Then, from that chalk line, measure straight up the quilt at about 3″ intervals, to an equal distance above the chalk line. Say, for example, you measure up 58″. Make a chalk mark for each vertical measurement up from the chalk line that you make towards the top of the quilt. Make these chalk marks all across the top of the quilt.
Here’s the important part: When measuring, smoothe the quilt down all the way up, each time you measure – along the line of measurement.
What you are doing is to force the extra material from the middle of the quilt up to the top of the quilt.
Then, draw a straight line through the chalk marks at the top. THAT is where your sleeve should be sewn. Even if that line appears to be crooked, because it is running parallel to and equidistant from the bottom chalk line, there’s no place else where the excess fabric in the quilt can go but UP!
Reposition and resew the sleeve in place; then try hanging the quilt again. Of course, you may have to move the sleeve higher on the quilt in order not to have the top flopping over, but always do that so that the sleeve placement line is parallel to and equidistant from the bottom chalk line.
Let us know how this technique works for you. It’s the best way I can think of for solving such a problem AFTER the quilt is made.
This afternoon I took the bull by the horns and had a go. The quilt had been “resting” on the floor in the cellar for a good 36 hours to get used to being flat again. I found I had to move the hanging sleeve down on both sides by about 1/8 – 1/4 inch. It is now hanging again and although not perfect it is certainly a big improvement.
Thanks Dena! When you think about it, it’s obvious, but I admit I hadn’t thought to measure up from the bottom to make sure that you get the hanging sleeve in the correct place.
