Gatherings at community centers, churches and homes for women to create quilts and socialize in years past were referred to as quilting circles. Some of the quilts took prizes at fairs and craft shows or were auctioned off to raise money for charities. Quilts are a true art form showing creativity and sewing skill. The stitching holding the quilt together ranges from straight lines to intricate patterns such as shells, fans or feathers. Quilts become family heirlooms passed from generation to generation and are proudly displayed in homes.
Hanging Quilting Racks
Hanging quilting frames are suspended from the ceiling using ropes. The frame is lowered to a height above the floor for quilting comfortably from a chair. When not in use, the frame is raised toward the ceiling and the lifting ropes are secured on a cleat, clearing the room for other uses.
The long sides of the frame are 2-by-2 or 2-by-4 lumber 96 inches long for full size quilts or 120 inches if quilting king size quilts. The cross members are four to six feet and secured to the sides with c-clamps. Eye bolts screwed into the frame at each corner for the lifting ropes to tie to. Eye bolts screwed in to the ceiling joist for the ropes to thread through to the wall cleat.
The long sidepieces of the frame have a strong fabric tube stapled the full length to attach the quilt to with basting stitches. The quilt rolled downward onto one of the sidepieces, leaving the first section of the quilt ready to begin quilting. As quilting completed, that section rolled readying the next section to quilt.
Quilt Rack on Sawhorses
This type of frame uses the long side sections, the same as for a hanging quilting rack. Use two sets of folding sawhorse frames and make the cross member for the top of the sawhorse from 2-by-4 lumber, 5 feet long. Make the legs of the sawhorses a comfortable height from the floor when sitting in the chair. Cut a notch in each end of the sawhorse top to accommodate the dimensions of the long sidepieces. Attach one end of webbing that is 16 feet to 18 feet long to the sawhorse cross member. The webbing is pinned to the quilt with large safety pins, wrapped around the cross member of the sawhorse and pinned to the ends of the quilt. Wrap and pin 5 to 6 inches apart to hold the ends of the quilt smooth and taut.
Quilt Rack on Floor Stands
Sturdy stands are built with 2-by-4 lumber for the upright section. Four supports (feet) are attached to the bottom of the stand for stability. The stand has a notched top to accommodate the sidepieces. The stand resembles a footed hall tree when completed, and the stands are at a height for working comfortably seated in a chair.
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