Your method sounds like mine. You didn't mention the size of your sleeve. Our show requires a 4 inch finished. That means you have to cut an 8 1/2 inch piece of fabric. One other thing I do it when I get ready to whip the bottom of the sleeve to the quilt I roll the fold toward the top of the quilt about 1/4 inch. This gives some space for the rod and it allows the quilt to hang straight from the rod and not look like the sleeve is too small. I hope that makes sense.