How Do I Fold My Fabric (Quilting Organization Tips)

Hey friends - the description box has a TON of info for you - click the 'Show More' or 'Read More' to reveal all the fun stuff I've typed up in the description box...just for you!
✸ A B O U T T H I S V I D E O ✸
I store my fabric on Billy bookcases purchased from Ikea - and absolutely love that this method (1) allows me to see each cut of fabric I have; (2) provides me easy access to the cut I want...when I want it; (3) makes it easy to cut all of my fabric (FQ, yardage, etc.) the same way! Join me in this video for a demonstration of how I fold fat quarters, half yards, and yardage!
✸ C H A P T E R S ✸
0:00 Introduction
0:36 Folding Fat Quarters
2:48 Folding Half Yard Cuts
4:18 Folding Yardage
8:29 Closing
✸ C O N N E C T ✸
➝ Website: www.sewbecca.com
➝ Email: [e-mail]
➝ Text Alerts: Send SEWBECCA to 844-833-1712
➝ Happy Mail: 12849 Galveston Ct. #401; Manassas, VA 20112
➝ Instagram: sewbecca
➝ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@sewbecca
➝ Facebook Group: groups/sewbeccafriends/
✸ A F F I L I A T E L I N K S ✸
(Note: if you purchase something using these links, your costs will not change, but I may receive a small compensation!)
➝ Sew Yeah Quilting: bit.ly/30Sx8Dj
➝ Fat Quarter Shop: bit.ly/3rhH83t
➝ Reb's Fab Stash: www.rebsfabstash.com/?ref=sew...
➝ Connecting Threads: bit.ly/3AuOMu4
✸ S U P P O R T ✸
The best way you can help me grow is to subscribe, watch the videos, and share this channel with a friend! If you're interested in supporting financially, you can buy some merch (located next to/below this video), buy something with an affiliate link, or check out ways to make donations here: www.sewbecca.com/donate.
#organizationtips #quilting

[@sewbecca]

You can pick up comic boards here: amzn.to/33Y8UJ1

[@marlenehinton5749]

In the days when I wore pantyhose to work, I saved the boards the hose were wrapped around for the same purpose. My stash grew to crowd the shelves it was stored on, so I kept a pair of the shiny boards to place on either side of a new fabric to slide between the others. Then I pulled out the boards from between and filed them at the end of the shelves for future finds.

[@conqueringmountscrapmorewi2509]

After a long but happy day, I get to sit with my hand sewing and watch you work. I hope you have a fabulous week ahead! Thank you for sharing this video as well as your time and talent.

[@carolyngarrison5004]

Do you realize that your glasses are reflecting the light. Love all of your videos .

[@cheryl8280]

I'm not terribly fussy about the comic book boards so have bought foam core from the Dollarstore and cut it into 10 pieces per sheet. It's stronger and lasts longer. I don't know if it's any cheaper, but I like it.

[@wheezybreezy4394]

I was, literally, sitting in the middle of a fabric mess wondering how to fold and organize it all when I got the notification for this video. Impeccable timing!

[@sewbecca]

Way to go, KZbin!

[@patphares6258]

Great tutorial…

[@cynforrest]

GMTA, Becca. My system is almost identical to yours. Tip for larger pieces: after aligning-ish the selvedge edges, I throw the long part away from me across table. This adds a touch of tension to the fabric as I roll it onto the boards. I took all my mini bolts apart to pack up in boxes. Soon the re-do begins. Lol. FYI: Opposite of Parallel to selvedge (straight of grain) is CrossGrain or WOF.

[@sewbecca]

Oooh, GREAT tip! Someone also mentioned using the longarm frame to wrap long pieces and have been doing that as well!

[@juliescott4390]

I've got a bunch of yardage--3-5 yards of some. It's going to be a challenge, but I like this idea. NOW I need to get myself a shelf to put all of my neatly folded/bolted fabric.

[@debrastocks7051]

Great demo Becca. I have never had a system for folding the fat quarter or 1/2 yards and I will be putting this tip into practice. I do fold my yardage the same way, except I don't use the comic boards but instead use my 6 1/2" ruler and lay my fabrics on their side. I like the other way but doesn't fit as well in the storage unit I have available right now, but maybe one day.......... Thanks for the tips.

[@judygovotsos7916]

Great demo showing folding fabric for storage.

[@jeanielipskey1272]

Thanks for the great tip. I sure wouldn't mind shopping in your stash either! LOL

[@lindaprice9242]

Thanks for the info Becca

[@sewbecca]

You are so welcome!

[@gardenstatesowandsew]

I just purchased comic boars. I’m so glad I’m seeing this. Thank you

[@sewbecca]

Glad I could help!

[@SandySowell]

Thank you Becca, great way to organize my stash

[@sewbecca]

You are so welcome!

[@TiffanysQuiltingLife]

I fold FQs 2 ways for the ways I store them. Half yards differently too again the way I store them. But yardage the same way you do 😊 Great video as always my friend 😊

[@mariacrodriguez617]

Thank you so much for this video 💓

[@sewbecca]

You are so welcome!

[@marlamclaren8106]

Thanks Becca! Simple to follow directions plus great results. I am heading to my sewing room right now to start this project.

[@sewbecca]

It takes a while - so, be prepared!

[@quilterkitty]

I just found your videos after I received my first sew sampler box from FQS and your instructions are so easy to understand. I’m in the process of organizing my fabrics and you have given me some great ideas. Love your videos!!

[@sewbecca]

You are so welcome! I'm glad the videos are helpful!!

[@nancysandstrom859]

Hi Becca, I to, use the comic boards since I watched Jean Truelove do it and found it to be very clever. But when I have more then a yard, I lay it out on the back of my longarm . Boy does that help because I was struggling to get 2 or more yards on the board and I’m no youngster anymore to be crawling around on the floor lol...

[@marshaturner9935]

Thanks for the tips on folding fabrics. Looks easy to do and it's so pretty on the shelves. Your sewing studio is gorgeous!

[@sewbecca]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@nancyguss6739]

Great tips Becca. I've been using comic boards about 3-4 years and I love it. Works great to display fabrics on shelves in my small space and easy to find what I'm looking for.

[@sewbecca]

I love it!

[@joannebock2885]

Love using the comic book boards. I was holding off and I finally purchased the boards. Fabric looks so great on my shelves. You do the best video on this subject, easy to understand. Some folks talk way too much. Keep up the good work.

[@sewbecca]

Thank you!

[@deetorres424]

Thank you!!!

[@KarenShirey]

New subscriber here. Thanks for sharing the folding tips. I am new at quilting and this is so very helpful!

[@sewbecca]

You are so welcome!

[@angelastoutenger7944]

Thanks for your tips Becca. I fold fat quarters the same way but now I have to check how I fold the half yards. I definitely need to buy comic boards for yardage. I don’t see the link. Can you provide…not sure what size to buy. Well looks like I have an organization project ahead of me. Will be rearranging fabric so it looks pretty! See you next time.

[@hanaah1111]

Holy! That’s alorra alorra fabric! I have that problem right now n looking to find the best solution for me. Thnx 4 sharing your way

[@sewbecca]

My pleasure 😊

[@karenraabis5296]

When I started using the comic book boards I folded it more. However, now I do it exactly like you. As I use some of the other I will redo them. I had wanted to be able to see my fabric. I guess making it easy to cut is even more important. Thanks

[@sewbecca]

To me, being able to lob off a bit of the fabric from my mini bolt is most important - closely followed by being able to see *all* of my fabric pieces. The truth is, when I pull fabric from my stash, I don't often use the entire piece that I have - I just need a bit of it. So, I fold it in a way that allows me to get just the bit I want, without having to unfold & refold!!

[@trishkaking]

Hi Becca, I'm new to your channel thanks to Karen from 'Just get it Done Quilts', I just wanted to say how pleased I am to have found your channel & how much I'm enjoying watching your KZbin videos from here in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. (& I'm very envious of your beautiful studio!😁) Thanks for sharing your skills & tips & tricks.

[@sewbecca]

Hi! Thanks for checking me out…glad you’re enjoying the videos!!

[@catherinesofikitis179]

Thank you so very much

[@sewbecca]

You're welcome - thanks for watching!

[@dianab9267]

I bought the comic board last year and loved them! They take up less room then the foam board and you don't have to cut them. They come 7x10 1/2. I bought them for $11 last year (the purple front ones) they are now $17 from Amazon, but still worth it. I have room for more fabric now!

[@sewbecca]

Wow! They went up in price!

[@terriemmons5078]

I want to come play in your sewing room 😀

[@patstrawhouse4005]

Wow! I reorganized my stash last year, and the smaller cuts are folded and sorted on edge in divided drawers..After watching your method, my future additions will definitely be folded without raw edges. 😊 FYI You’ve gone a step above with the Chapters section! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Snowy Muskoka ON 🇨🇦

[@sewbecca]

Thanks! Those chapters are going to be something I strive to do in all my videos starting this year. May even go back and add them to the livestreams since they’re so long

[@shirltotos1839]

What a great tip Becca. It will be easier to find if it's not crammed in a box. Thank you.

[@noemir8262]

This is exactly how I fold my fabric but I store board wrapped fabric in storage cubes that fit in square cubby shelves. I inherited my kid's nine cube toy storage as she got older. I keep talking myself out of buying more comic boards because what I really need to do is SEW up the stash! I have to shop my stash (quilting cotton, apparel wovens/knits, home decor, etc) However, I think I should watch Sew Yeah re-runs so I don't buy during a Live 😂

[@sewbecca]

You can watch the live show, just watch on a few minute delay, LOL

[@faithsmith7431]

Great video, Becca. I have used 300 comic boards so far. An estimate is that I will need another 900 commic boards to get the fabric in my sewing room folded. This does not include fabric I have down stairs. My stash is far out live me.

[@sewbecca]

Wow! That’s a LOT of fabric!!

[@trishduarte3404]

I'm an OCD retired engineer, so when I wrap the fabric around the boards, I always make sure the selvage information is visible. For my solid color & batik fabrics, I write the fabric info on a removable label and place it on the fabric-I stole that idea from the S.Y. brothers grunge box. (Those whites can really look the same until you get them in a quilt.) I have been folding my fq's & 1/2 yds like you do for a long time. Also, when you store them with the thickest fold out, you know how many you have. Your new studio looks great.

[@sewbecca]

Labeling these is a genius idea, and now I want to go through my entire stash and do JUST THAT. Dang it.

[@amandamacdonald5358]

Can you do a review of the Missouri star acrylic bolts?

[@sewbecca]

Sure can! I’ll order them today

[@bethcarter3737]

Hi! Your video is great. Your answer to my question is probably that you seldom or never buy a 1/4 or 1/3 yard lol but any advice on folding those? Thanks!

[@sewbecca]

Hi Beth - I told anything at, or less than, 1/2 yard a little differently. Basically, I fold selvage to selvage and keep folding in half until my fabric bundle measures about 5-6" wide. For FQ or F8, this will likely be 4 layers - while a cut that's WOF is more. Once it's folded like this, I just fold it in half so that my folded fabric is basically around 9.5" long by ~5.5" wide. Then, I just stack them on a shelf with the folded side facing me. I hope that makes sense. I'm still looking for other opportunities to fold/store myself smaller cuts. While this looks nice...it's a little messy when I need a single piece taht's at the bottom of the pile!

[@quiltnewbie5432]

Silly question but if you have fabric that has been washed and all wrinkled to you usually press it before you fold it? Also, how do you incorporate odd shaped pieces into the folding?

[@sewbecca]

Oddly shaped pieces, if they can’t be folded to fit a fat quarter shape, they go in my scraps bin. If I washed fabric, I’d press it (with Mary Ellen’s) before folding

[@nancylaventure1403]

I have a ?? for you… I do not have a shelving unit like you… Not even a smaller one what I have are sterile light drawer systems in my walk-in closet. I am wondering if you have any idea how I could organize my huge stash of fabric when I don’t have the shelves to display like yours are displayed ?? I absolutely love your organizing! I would really love to hear your thoughts on this as I live in a very small two bedroom home one bedroom being my sewing room so the closet with sliders is where my fabric is stored. If you have any ideas I would surely love to hear them !! Thanks Becca once again a wonderful video

[@sewbecca]

Ooooh, thats something I need to chew on! Hmmmm… :)

[@nancylaventure1403]

@@sewbecca TY. Let me know if you think of something

[@mariacrodriguez617]

I have similar issue. No shelving. Plastic containers.

[@beckyhenning448]

Do you mark how much yardage you have on the comic boards? I like the folding idea!

[@sewbecca]

I actually don't, LOL. Which, admittedly, can be a bit of a problem. I do know the boards are about 6.75" wide - so each full wrap is about 13" of fabric (approximately). So, if I really needed to, I could count the number of full wraps around the board and then multiple it by 13 to get the number of inches I have (approximately, it'll usually end up underestimating my yardage, but it works).

[@brendasue2278]

I can’t find the link in the comments for comic book boards. Maybe because I’m on my phone?? Thanks!

[@sewbecca]

amzn.to/33Y8UJ1

[@Gina041500]

Thank you for this information and now I need to organize my fabric. Plus I need the lady’s name so that I can donation some fabric I don’t want.

[@sewbecca]

I sent you her FB profile link. I don’t have contact info for her - just her fb name. I talk to her on FB messenger.

[@Gina041500]

@@sewbecca Thank you. Heard back from her and at this time she has enough fabric. Looking for machines and notions

[@noemir8262]

@@Gina041500 Sometimes Robin from RSIslandcrafts will take some fabric. She should have her contact info on her KZbin videos description boxes.

[@bina64]

Where do you get all your fabric? How did you get such a big “stash”? Just curious.

[@sewbecca]

Hi Robina - I’ve bought fabric from a variety of places. Missouri Star, Fat Quarter Shop, Sew Yeah, several quilt shops and some of it from my own wholesale distributor.