Attaching Velcro

There are various methods of attaching Velcro.

Method 1:

Below is the method that Catherine McDonald uses to prepare quilts for exhibition.

• Ensure the quilt is show ready
  • Wash if necessary or spot clean
  • Get rid of any animal hair etc
• If a rectangle or square make sure sides are even
  • use a ruler to square up or
  • block the quilt
    • Dampen the quilt
    • Pin it out square (stretch if required)
    • Let it dry – Steam iron in place if necessary before unpinning
  • If you haven’t added a border yet then measure through the middle and ease outside edge to a border of that size. Do not take it from the outside measurement
• Make sure your bindings are
  • Neat
  • Full of batting
  • If need be hammer the corners to flatten – it breaks down the fibres
    • Put a bread board under the quilt and hammer gently on top of the quilt – works a treat
  • Add a hanging sleeve
    • Often these days you are asked to add the hook side of Velcro onto the hanging sleeve and to provide the soft side to protect the quilt when not hung. A good way to do this is to make it all in one as follows:
      • Cut out hanging sleeve fabric 19inches x width of quilt plus one inch
      • Turn in half an inch on one side and press
      • Fold inside out and press in half
      • Stitch down unfolded side then across the width of the sleeve
      • Turn out right side and stitch along the open folded edge – this means you have a hanging sleeve approx. 9 inches – does not need to be exact
      • Fold sleeve at about 4 inches so you have a 5 inch side and a 4 inch side
        • Stitch along fold line
      • Sew hook Velcro half an inch from the top of the sleeve on the 5 inch side
      • Sew soft Velcro at the bottom of the 4 inch side (Both Velcro same side of fabric) – about an 1/8^th of an inch form bottom
      • Hanging sleeve is made
    • Attach sleeve to quilt
      • Sew hook Velcro end to quilt approach half an inch from the top of the quilt
      • Fold soft Velcro up and attach to hook side – this should fold along the stitched line
      • Use the stitched line as your guide to sew the bottom of the sleeve to your quilt
    • When the quilt is hung the soft side of the Velcro and sleeve will lie flat at the back of the quilt
    • When the quilt is not hung the soft side is attached to the hook side to ensure this quilt and others are not damaged by the Velcro
      

      sleeve attached and open with hook side of velcro at the top.	sleeve with hook side covering velcro.	close up of corner	Showing how sleeve can be used as a hanging sleeve for a rod with the velcro still attached but covered.

  • Ensure you put a label on your quilt on the bottom left hand corner stating name etc
  • Put your quilt in a cloth or strong bag that is named with your name and name of quilt – it’s a good idea to attach a matching piece of fabric or a photo of the quilt to the bag

Method 2:

Below is a description of the method Shirley Sparks uses to attach Velcro to quilts.  This is designed to be easy to remove. With this method, quilts are to have the hook side of a Velcro strip stitched to the back of the quilt along the top so the quilt can be hung. This should be ½ inch in from the top and sides of the quilt. A strip of soft Velcro at least as wide and long as the hook Velcro must be included and this needs to be labelled with the quilter’s name.

a. Cut calico 2 and half inch wide and 1 inch shorter than quilt width. Press in ends. Press raw edges to meet.
b. Place velcro over raw edges and machine stitch around it.
c. Pin close to top of quilt. Use a double thread for a running stitch along both edges. Make sure each end is secure with a back stitch…I do two. This is to ensure the hand stitching does not give way when the other layer of velcro is pulled off. (Note the photo shows a sleeve on the quilt, this is not necessary for this challenge)