Storing Quilts - How to do it without causing creases

If you have been quilting for any length of time, how to go about storing quilts safely is a frequent question. And if you're like me, you have a stack of quilts somewhere in storage. I have several stacks around my house: stored in closets, displayed on shelves in a curio cabinet and in my sewing room.

Folding quilts in half and in half again (and so on) is a quick and easy way to fold a quilt. However, if you always fold it the same way, that quilt will start to think it is supposed to be that way. And then you have fold marks or permanent creases that don't lay flat when the quilt is unfolded and laid out or hung up.

So, how can you avoid the permanent creases when storing quilts? Here are several popular tips.

If it is a smaller quilt, roll it on a cardboard tube covered in acid free tissue paper. Then hang the roll up horizontally.

If you're lucky enough to have a spare bedroom, lay the quilts out flat on a spare bed. If you have more than one, go ahead and stack them up on the bed. Then cover the whole stack with a flat bedsheet to keep the dust off.

If you have to fold a quilt to store it, do not fold it in half and in half again (and so on). Try folding it in thirds in both directions. Or use a random width and fold it. It also helps to crumple up some acid-free tissue paper and stuff it in the folds. This helps the folds from going flat.

Here's an idea that I just learned about from the December 2006 Quilter's Newsletter Magazine. Fold your quilts on the bias. The author, Ann Fahl, explains that folding on an angle causes less crimping of the fabric fibers and preserves the integrity of batting fibers and the yarns in the fabrics.

First, lay your quilt out flat. Next, fold one corner into the center of the quilt. Then fold each of the other corners in, one at a time. You can continue folding in the corners until the folded quilt fits into the storage space or shipping container that you have.

I can't say that these ways will never cause a crease, because if you leave a quilt folded in one way for a very long time, it is very likely to end up with creases. But, they will help make all quilts crease-free.

Now, off with you. Go refold all your quilts and help save them for the next generation.

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