so how do you fold 2 or more yds of fabric so the selvages meet correctly - I hate the V effect when you rotary cut & they aren't lined up right.

I have been trying to reorganize and fold my fabric before I put it in my closet - small pieces are no problem - HOWEVER the longer ones have just about pulled my back out.... So I know there has to be a trick/secret that I haven't heard before.

Any hints???

I let it dangle over the railing of my second story deck. do you maybe have a stair well?

No hints but that is a ggod question. I can feel your pain having been there myself. It seems like such a little thing but in practice it can be unweildy at best.

sometimes the selvages don't meet evenly due to the grain of the fabric. what you want is the grain to be hanging straight. not the selvage edges.

I don't pay much attention when I fold for storage. When I pull out yardage, I leave the bulk on my table and only handle the front part that needs to be cut. I jiggle the selvages until the piece hangs straight. Then I double fold, smooth it out, trim the edge square and cut my strips.

One thing I found works better for me (read that somewhere):
If I need 4 strips @2.5" each, I do the math how much that is total. In this case, I cut one strip at 10" and sub-cut that into my 4 strips. It DOES make a difference.

I do the same thing as Mad Quilter. Works great.

I too do the same as MAD

Sorry - live in FL - one level home - but if I had an upper deck, that is a great idea.

That's what I mean - but I guess I am not phrasing it correctly. If you have a yard of fabric, before cutting it, I iron it and hold it out so the selvages meet and there is no wave in the fabric - hopefully it is cut semi straight so there is not a lot of loss - but how do you line it up when using more than a yard of fabric?

Thank you! That sounds like such a wonderful tip! One of those light bulb moments. :) LOL

Love these tips! Another "light bulb moment" for me! Thanks, MAD ♥

Sounds like a good solution. Only cut off for the amount of fabric you'll be needing. You may need to prepare in sections.

Pam M

I generally tear my fabric off in sections that are multiples of the strips I need to cut. Then I open the fabric up and iron it with Best Press. When I fold it selvedge to selvedge it's a lot easier to get it straight. You'll lose an inch or so to cut off the ragged edge but it's worth it to have nice straight strips.

I don't bother lining up anything just to store it. I fold it the best way.
I line up the fabric, when I need to cut. Grap the selvages, hold it up and look at the bottom where the crease is....if is is crooked...move the selvages with your fingers until the crease lines up nice...then put it on the tabe and cut the offending piece off and you piece will be straight for you to cut from.

I have the same problem. I usually fold it in half (or quarters) the other direction first. If it's a really big piece, that can still be hard to do. If DH is around sometimes he helps, but I also drape it over the upstairs railing, or over the cutting table or ironing board or whatever is handy. It is so much nicer when the fabrics are all evenly folded, and it really is easier to cut when the first fold is down the center lengthwise, as it was on the bolt, but sometimes I just can't make that happen.

I drape over the back of the couch. It doesn't slide and helps to straighten.

I drape over the back of the couch. It doesn't slide and helps to straighten.

Unless I need to cut long strips, I usually tear down to a yard or less. If I really need to keep it long, I'd probably extend my dining room table and get my hubby to help.