How to Fold a Quilt on the Bias January 04 2021 16 Comments

If you are like me, you fold your quilts in pretty rectangles and stack them to store them or lay them on a bed or couch much like the picture above. But, did you know that overtime, if you continue to fold your quilts on the straight of grain, fibers will break and eventually cause permanent damage?

I was recently reminded of this as I prepared the studio's sample quilts for long term storage now that quilt show 'season' is over for the first half of the year. As the months passed, I began to notice wrinkles that became harder to iron out before hanging in the booth each show. Worse yet, I saw some beautiful competition quilts that hung with unsightly creases down the middle that could have been prevented.

Fortunately, the girls in my quilt guild shared a simple technique that will save you a lot of grief down the road.

This tutorial will focus on how to fold a quilt on the bias to preserve your beautiful quilt that took months and a small fortune to make.

The Timepiece Quilt used in this tutorial measures 56 inches by 70 inches, but this method can be used on any size quilt.

Step 1: Lay your quilt on a bed, table or other flat surface.

Step 2: Fold the lower right corner up toward the center of the quilt making sure the fold is on the bias.

It doesn't matter with which corner you start as long as the fold is on the bias.

Step 3: Fold the lower left corner up toward the center of the quilt making sure the fold is on the bias.

Step 4: Fold the top left corner down toward the center of the quilt making sure the fold is on the bias.

Step 5: Making sure the fold is on the bias, fold the top right corner down toward the center of the quilt.

Your quilt should now look like an envelope. You can stop here if the quilt envelope or package is the desired size. Continue on to Step 6 to make the quilt bundle smaller.

Step 6: To make the bundle smaller to fit on a shelf or perhaps in a mailing box or package, fold the quilt envelope up on itself parallel to previous fold lines.

Now your quilt is ready to stored or to be shipped, and any wrinkles can be removed with the light touch of an iron!

I would love to hear from you...do you have any folding or hanging horror stories? Do you have a preferred technique for storing or shipping your quilts?

Comments

Ruth McKinley on September 17 2021 at 06:43AM

I lay mine across my spare beds-no folding.

Debbe Meade on February 21 2021 at 09:33AM

I have mine in my blanket chest at end of my bed. It’s a huge chest and all my quilts fit. I gave to family members all quilts I made before I started spending big bucks for fabric. They all got cheap fabric to learn how to take care of a quilt themselves. I live in Gulf coast of Texas. I love that folding technic I am getting in my chest now to refold. Thank you so much for that tip. I will pass it on to all my quilter buddies too !

Nancy Frye on February 21 2021 at 09:33AM

It has been many years since I have seen
this way of folding a quilt. Thanks for the
reminder. My husband makes quilt ladders
I have several, many of my quilts are hung
on them. I have been debating though
about putting swim noodles on the round
spindles. Not sure if that would help. I also
lay several quilts on my spare beds.
Thanks for the reminder, appreciate that.

Nancy on February 21 2021 at 09:32AM

We have a guest room. I take turns laying them on the bed to give them a rest from being folded. I do several at a time.

Laurie W on February 21 2021 at 09:30AM

I roll my quilts on a pool noodle and tie fabric strips around them. For large quilts, you can connect pool noodles together by inserting a small dowel in one end and sliding on the second noodle to make it longer.

shirley BEYER on February 21 2021 at 09:29AM

very good-I knew about the bias but not as precise and neat as this layout. Right now I’m using swimming pool styrofoam noodles to wrap several quilts around. These can be put under the bed or stored upright in a closet. No folds at all.

Theresa A Baxter on February 21 2021 at 09:26AM

Thank you for sharing how to fold our quilts.
I might add that I store my quilts in pillow cases.

Janis on February 04 2021 at 09:02PM

Very good info, never knew there was a special way to fold quilts when storing. Thanks

Aarona VanWinkle on February 04 2021 at 09:02PM

Thank you for this information. I too would like to know the best way to store quilts safely.

Phyllis Claspille on February 04 2021 at 09:03PM

Thank you very much, I didn’t know that! I will re-fold all of my quilts and pass on the good advice, thanks again.

bonnie nolan on February 04 2021 at 09:03PM

To help keep them clean, can they be put inside a pillowcase after folding?

Charlene C. Holten on February 03 2021 at 02:15PM

Thank you for the pix. On today’s agenda is to retold all my quilts.
What do you store them in? Mine are currently in plastic tubs which I know is a no-no.

Charlotte on February 03 2021 at 02:15PM

Thank you. I am now refold all my great grandmother’s quilt. They were all made in the late 19 teens and early 1020s. Ma quilted other peoples quilts, by hand, for a living and never finished her quilt tops. Somehow mum had them all and they were finally quilted in the late 2010s when I took care of my mother. I now have the quilts and am slowly giving them to those I know will care for them.

Sharon Draper on February 03 2021 at 02:15PM

Very helpful,hopefully knowing the bias of quilt.

Linda O'Neill on February 03 2021 at 02:15PM

Thank you

Mary Shank on February 03 2021 at 02:15PM

Wow! Love it. I have a window seat full of quilts to try it on! Thanks so much!

I wonder if, somewhere along the end of the process, these could be rolled? I like how I get more in my clothing drawers when things are rolled and I just wonder if this would apply to quilts.
Again, thanks so much!!!! Really enjoy following you on email!!
Mary