(aka chuppah, chuppa, huppah, hoopah, hoopa, etc.!)

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Hang 'Em High

             SOMETHING has to hold your chuppah in the air. Serendipitously-located trees, and wires hung from specially-retrofitted ceilings, are approaches that quilters have described to me.  But in most wedding locations, neither an option. So here are some more likely ideas:

            1. If you have four strong, brave, fit chuppah holders, and a smallish quilted chuppah, the only support you need is four poles―closet rods available at the home improvement center work (Around here, they're 8' long and cost $8 each.). Strong, thick, bamboo poles; thick tree branches (or thin tree trunks), and even PVC poles (over 1" thick) can work too.  While short (2-3 foot) poles are sometimes used, I think they're awfully tough on your chuppah-holders' arms. Cut the poles to about 7' tall, or more if your chuppah has an overhang. Drill holes sideways through the top of the poles, and use wire to secure the chuppah. Or, an eyehook sunk deep into a strong wooden pole works, too.

    Leave the poles plain if they're nice. If the poles are PVC,  find  plastic-friendly paints; and/or wind them with ribbons, fabric strips, vines, etc. 

              2. If your chuppah holders aren't terribly strong, or you just want to minimize the stress on their arms, it's a better idea to plant the base of the poles for extra support.  Plant them in:

•  Deep  baskets or flower pots, filled with sand, sand bags, gravel, or rocks. (Flowers on top will disguise the contents); 

•  Plastic outdoor umbrella bases (available at the home improvement center, they're filled with water or sand to stabilize, though you may also need to wrap the bottom of your poles in some duct tape, or towels, so they'll be gripped firmly).  They cost about $10 each.

•  Heavy decorative  cast iron outdoor umbrella stands. (High-quality ones have an adjustable screw to hold the pole securely, regardless of diameter.) These run about $25 each, more or less.  

• Christmas tree stands. I kid you not. Very interfaith, and $2 apiece at my local thrift shop.

• Tips on supporting chuppah poles with cement-filled pots: http://www.do-it-yourself-weddings.com/wedding-chuppah.html.

     In all of these cases, your chuppah-holders might serve as extra insurance that the poles don't fall over and smash the cup before that part of the ceremony.

   Any of the four-poled systems described above will also require some extras on your quilt. Here are some possibilities:

• Buttonholes, grommets, or rings. You can sew a buttonhole in the corners of your quilts, through all the layers Ribbon or wire can then be strung through the holes to the support the quilt. Grommets are hammered into holes in  the fabric (you can find a grommet kit in your fabric store)  Wire or ribbon  is slipped through the grommet, and around or through the top of the pole. Metal rings can also be affixed to the top of poles. Downsides These options can stretch the corners of your quilt, and some people don't want holes or metal in their quilt.

•   Fabric or ribbon ties. This is my preference. I sew them on with a zig-zag stitch, just past the binding, and  remove them with a seam ripper after the ceremony ( My motto: Never go anywhere without a seam ripper). With poles, you only need ties at the four corners. If you have a frame that circles the circumference of the chuppah, sew ties every foot or so.   A 24" strip folded in half makes two 12" ties.  Machine stitch through the center.

THE FRAME GAME

 If you have no chuppah holders, or your chuppah-holders are challenged in the upper body strength department―or,  if  you have a large quilted chuppah (over 45" would be my estimate), consider a free-standing frame.   Along with four vertical poles, a horizontal support around the top will help prevent sagging.

 Before you whip out the power tools, call your florist and ask if they have a chuppah frame. You may be surprised. Jewish bookstores and supply stores often rent them, as well. Ask the dimensions, and the florist will help you figure out how to make it work. 

If you have no florist, or no Jewish supply store, or you say "chuppah," and your  florist says "gezundheit!" (also try the words "wedding arch" and "wedding canopy,"), you can make a chuppah frame yourself, with basic carpentry skills and tools.. 

Finally, if you don't have a strong chuppah holder, you cannot build a frame, or your chuppah quilt isn't done in time, there's another option: Use an unfinished single-layer top of a quilt. You can baste a temporary backing to it, if the back is messy. It will be light enough to be held up by thin poles held by non-iron-pumping friends or family. Then, finish it as a quilt later, after the wedding. (The permanent backing can be set out on a table for guests to sign---see  'Group Projects').

The wedding is in a month―you are determined to make a chuppah―you have a job, a family, and need occasional sleep. What should you do?

* Take an lovely old family quilt, tablecloth, etc., sew ribbons to the corners,  purchase four poles, and you're done. If you don't have a lovely old family textile, go to a fabric store or an antique or thrift shop and acquire one from someone else's lovely old family.  Later, when the wedding is over, you can figure out ways to turn that textile into an heirloom quilt.  
  
*  If you are NOT the bride or her mother, and don't have a zillion other things to do for this wedding, you can think about completing a chuppah quilt in time. If you like stars, proceed directly to the Six-Pointed Stars.  With the easier approaches on that page, you will be able to pound out a simple star-littered quilt top in about a week (assuming a day job, and some sleep). And you'll have a great time doing it.  You don't have to put backing or batting on this quilt before the wedding..  The lighter weight also means you won't have to worry about building a strong frame. 

*  If you're better at drawing than sewing, consider an appliqué quilt. Appliqué means cutting things out and sewing them down. You can design a simple Tree of Life;  a picture of the couple's new house―whatever! Select a background fabric (about two yards at least), plus fabric for the colors you'll want in the foreground . Buy a couple of yards of medium-weight paper-backed fusible web at the fabric store. Following directions, iron the webbing onto the back of any colorful fabric you like. Cut your shapes, and iron to your backing fabric. Zigzag or stitch around the edges of each shape. Finish the edges of your quilt top, add loops, and voila, your huppa is done, just in time. You can add a permanent batting or backing later, if you like, or just leave it as a banner-like wall hanging.

EXTRA CREDIT:

Nice article on creative chuppot and their makers: http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/18759/edition_id/377/format/html/displaystory.html