Hanging System How To:
Hang Quilts and Fiber Art the Easy Way with Your Art Hanging System
Artwork by Deirdre Haynie
With Increasing Attention Being Paid to Quilts and Fiber Art, the Time is Right for Better Hanging Options
The past few years have seen quilt exhibitions at venues like the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the prestigious Hauser & Wirth Gallery, while fiber arts are being featured at New York's Museum of Modern Art and the Tate Modern in London.
The trend prompted the New York Times to say, "in an age when we spend much of our time touching the flat surfaces of screens, this tactile art form feels newly seductive to makers and viewers alike as both a contrast with and a culmination of modern sensory experience."
Fortunately, there are economical new options for hanging quilts and fiber art, that combine the convenience of picture hanging systems and picture rail molding hooks with hanging hardware specifically tailored to the needs of quilters and fiber artists. These components are easy to install from scratch, or add on to existing hanging systems
Preparing for Hanging
Most quilts and fiber artworks look best laying flat against the wall, and a rod or dowel is typically used across the top of the piece for this purpose.
Quilters usually attach a sleeve or loops to the back of their works to accommodate the rod or dowel, and some tips on how to do this are available from The American Quilter's Society here.
Rectangular fabric artworks can use a similar approach; other shapes may require some creative thinking. Discreet metal or plastic rings can provide attachment points for hanging, as can strategically placed rods or drapery hooks.
Using Art Hanging Systems with Dowel or Rod Hangers
Dowels and rods up to about 3/4-inch in diameter can be easily hung on an art hanging system or picture rail molding hook with Gallery System Craft Hooks, which are specially designed for the purpose.
Simply attach the Craft Hook to any compatible Steel Cable or Clearline hanger, and lay the dowel or rod in place. Single Craft Hooks can support up to 13 lbs (6 kg), while a pair can support 26 lbs (12 kg).
Adjustable Quilt Hangers: A Flexible New Alternative
A new development in quilt hanging, which will be of particular interest to people with multiple quits they want to display at different times in different places, is the Hang It Dang It adjustable quilt hanger. It offers a beautifully simple, fabric-safe way to display quilts, wall hangings, and textile art.
The patented single-point leveling clip-and-rod design makes it effortless to keep your quilt hanging straight and looking its best — whether you’re setting up a studio display, preparing for a quilt show, or simply decorating at home.
Two adjustable sizes suit a wide range of quilts. The Small accommodates quilts from 21 to 35 inches, while the Medium: extends from 35 to 63 inches.
While these quilt hangers work with conventional hanging nails, both pair seamlessly with Gallery System Pushbutton Hooks for a clean, adjustable, gallery-style display on any Gallery System track or Picture Rail molding hook and hanger. Just slide the leveling clip onto your pushbutton hook for endless flexibility in your display.
Complete Wall Display Kits
Our complete Quilt Hanging Systems are an all-in-one solution that delivers a clean, damage-free display with sleek, gallery-quality presentation.
For quilts up to 35 inches wide and 13 pounds, choose the basic Adjustable Quilt Hanging System with a Clearline hanger; for larger quilts up to 63 inches wide and 40 pounds, use our Heavy-Duty Quilt Display Kit with a Steel Cable hanger. Both include Pushbutton hooks for instant tool-free adjustment.
Like all Gallery System Kits, they ship FREE in the Continental US!
Quilt and Fiber Art Hanging from Gallery System
See our complete line of accessories that make displays easy for quilters and fiber artists, and collectors who cherish their work.
