Getting ready for the AQS show....

I was excited to find out that Starflower Cascade, would be exhibited as part of the AQS Modern Challenge at AQS QuiltWeek in Des Moines this year. I had a week to get it ready to send, which meant making a hanging sleeve to their specifications so it can be hung at the show. 

First you cut a rectangle that is 8 1/2" x the width of your quilt. 

Next you find the middle of it lengthwise and press. Then lay it out flat and press both long ends towards that center pressed mark so they meet in the middle (these pressed marks are very important!).

Hem the narrow ends of the rectangle.

Putting right sides together, you sew it together lengthwise using a 1/4" seam. Press the seam but be careful not to lose your press marks from the second step as that is what you will use as a guide to sew it on to the back. 

Turn it right side out and center the seam on the bottom. Press those original seams from the second step. They are no longer centered the same way because the bottom/seam side is now 1/2" smaller than the top edge, so it looks like a tunnel. The sleeve needs to be this way because of the hardware they use to hang it.

Using those pressed edges, center the sleeve on your quilt, 1/2" -3/4" from the top edge and sew it on.

One step closer!

I made a label using a border of the backing fabric sewn on to a printed fabric label. I like making labels this way as it's easier to sew through the fabric than it is to sew through the label.

I felt like a mama hen sending her chicks out into the world getting this quilt ready to send. It's just plain silly, I know. I'm glad it's on it's way so I can quit thinking about whether I should've done something differently! 

Bye bye...see you in Des Moines!