Hey everyone. Today we're making a bold wall hanging, and you'll learn how to frame a strong print with simple borders and a clean hanging sleeve.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric
This is Black Charcoal Concrete, from Hammer Down.
It comes from Hoffman California Fabrics.
It is a cotton quilting fabric.
And it runs 43 to 44 inches wide.
It is sold by the yard.
So you can buy just what your project needs.
The colors are black and charcoal.
That dark, moody mix feels strong and modern.
It reads like concrete, plain and simple.
That texture gives it a workshop feel.
The listing also tags hammers in this collection.
So the whole line leans into tools and work.
The listing calls this a Hoffman digital spectrum print.
That printing helps the concrete look stay crisp.
You get shading and depth, not a flat gray.
We're not reinventing the wheel here.
A bold fabric like this wants room to breathe.
Give it a big center panel.
Just like that, the fabric does the talking.
The project: a wall hanging
We are making a simple framed wall hanging.
Our example finishes at 24 by 32 inches.
That is a nice size for a sewing room.
It also suits a workshop, office, or den.
The center is one big piece of this fabric.
Then plain borders frame it like a picture.
Why does this fabric suit it?
Quilting cotton presses crisp and sews easy.
It stays flat against the wall, too.
The black and charcoal hide dust and scuffs.
That matters in a busy work space, y'all.
And a large print gets lost in small cuts.
One big panel lets the concrete texture shine.
Super duper fun, and super duper simple.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Materials
- 1 yard of Black Charcoal Concrete Hammer Down cotton for the center panel
- 1/4 yard of a solid black cotton for the inner border
- 1/2 yard of cotton for backing, plus extra for the hanging sleeve
- Cotton batting, 28 by 36 inches
- 50-weight cotton thread in charcoal or black
- Size 80/12 needle
- Wooden dowel or flat stick, about 22 inches long
- Rotary cutter, ruler, and clips or pins
Brief steps
- Cut your center panel first. Cut it 20 1/2 by 28 1/2 inches, keeping the print straight and centered.
- Add the inner border. Cut two strips 1 1/2 inches wide for the sides, then two for the top and bottom, and sew with a 1/4-inch seam.
- Add a wider outer border if you like. Cut strips 2 1/2 inches wide, sew them on the same way, and press away from the center.
- Layer it up. Place backing wrong side up, batting in the middle, and your top right side up, then pin or baste well.
- Quilt it simply. Stitch in the ditch around the borders, then add a few straight lines across the center, about 2 inches apart.
- Trim the edges even. Square up all four sides with your ruler before you bind.
- Bind the wall hanging. Use 2 1/2-inch strips, sew them on, and fold them to the back to finish by hand or machine.
- Make the hanging sleeve. Sew a tube about 4 inches wide, stitch it to the top back, and slide your dowel through.
Practical tips before you sew
First, keep your quilting calm and simple.
About 8 to 9 stitches per inch works well.
That is around a 2.5 stitch length.
Straight lines suit this concrete look best.
Echo the border once if you want more texture.
That is ruler work or just careful freehand.
Completely up to you.
Second, press as you go, folks.
Press each border before you add the next.
Flat seams help the whole piece hang straight.
Slow down at the corners when you bind.
Slow down or the layers can shift on you.
Just ease through and let the machine work.
Third, you have options here.
Skip the outer border for a smaller piece.
Make it wider for a long, low wall.
Add a name or date on the back, too.
My preference is this clean, framed look.
But your wall, your space, your call.
Completely up to you.
And hear me on this one.
It does not have to be perfect.
If a border sits a hair off, let it be.
You are your own worst critic.
Nobody is checking your corners with a ruler.
They are looking at that bold, handsome fabric.
Take your time. It's not a race.
Alrighty. Thanks for sewing along with me today.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Black Charcoal Concrete Hammer Down 43"/44" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
