Are you stuck on the 6" ruler fold?
 

I was. Yesterday I came home with 12 yards of fabric, carefully folded it on my 6" ruler, and took it to my storage shelves. There was no way I could squeeze it in where it belonged! Do you really think I was going to get rid of some fabric? No way! LOL What to do now? Looking at my shelves I realized that they are 15" deep. So I spent the day fondling fabric while I refolded it all using my 8 1/2" ruler. Now I have room to spare. Maybe next time I'll refold it with my 12 1/2" ruler.

I have never folded my fabric using a ruler, cardboard, or any other method. I fold it lengthwise 3 times, keeping the selvedges parallel with the folds, then I fold it width-wise. That way every fabric is the same width and fits nicely on the shelf. If it's a very long cut, then I'll fold it width-wise to shorten it, then lengthwise again.

I usually ask for the cardboard, when I buy what's left on a bolt. I use them to store the longer lengths of fabric. Some folks use those corrugated (plastic?) boards, also. My "bolted" fabric is stored on a big plastic shelving unit, from Home Depot. :)

My smaller pieces are ruler folded, my mid size are on the smaller homemade bolts and my pieces larger than 3 yds are on the bolts from the fabric store. Works best for me.

I forgot to mention that the 12 yards was in 7 different fabrics, 5 pieces 2 yds each, 2 pieces 1 yd each. I don't use cardboard (cockroach food) or plastic to wrap my fabric on because it takes up space. I fold my fabric lengthwise (center to selvedge), wrap it on the ruler, remove the ruler, and stand the fabric on the shelf. When I buy any where near a full bolt I just store it on the bolt even though I hate having cardboard in my house.

I just mention this because we have so many posts about ruler folding fabric, and we always talk about using the 6" ruler. This board is where I learned it. Of course there are many ways of doing just about everything, and the ruler fold is what works for me. I don't know why it took me so long to realize I could use my wider ruler. 6" worked great when I kept my fabric in dresser drawers, but using the wider ruler I can put more fabric on my shelves and not have any that I can't see.

[QUOTE=ShirlinAZ;6304713]I forgot to mention that the 12 yards was in 7 different fabrics, 5 pieces 2 yds each, 2 pieces 1 yd each.
..../QUOTE]

That makes a huge difference! I was picturing 12 yards wound around a ruler . . . and what I was "seeing" was a roundish ball of fabric! :D

Good advice - been using the 6" ruler and am running out of shelf space. Thanks.

One can get plexiglass cut into wider widths.

When I started folding my fabric to stand up, I used my 8.5"x24" ruler. I don't use anything (like comic book boards) in the center, and it stands up just fine as long as there's enough fabric supporting it on both sides. So the goal is never to run out of fabric. ;)

I'm happy with the comic book boards and vertical mini-bolt style storage. And the extra boards have also come in handy for other projects. (extra boards? I clearly need more fabric).

My fattest long ruler is 5.5" inches wide. So far it has worked for me...but I too agree that I don't see why cardboard is necessary.

Shirlin: What a great idea, definitly under the "Why didn't I think of that" category. Thanks for the tip!

I like mine to stand up without having to stuff fabric on both sides of it. It's a lot easier to get in and out that way. Different strokes.

I"m fortunate to have a sewing room with 2 large closets. I store my yardage in those over hangers and the smaller cuts in plastic boxes on shelves. I've never done the 6" ruler fold. I guess I still have a lot to learn!

Personally, I ruler fold my fabric with a 4" ruler, it works for me and the space they need to go in.

I use the 4" ruler for smaller pieces and 6" ruler for larger pieces. I have to lay them flat and this works with the space I have.

I too have a lot of fabric but I have them bundled with the projects they will end up with in stacking drawers. I have way too many filled in this manner. I can't afford to just go and buy yardage without a purpose for them.

From OP - some of you are just quicker than I am! LOL It took me a while to realize that any ruler would work, so I thought I'd share. I've been sewing for 60 years and I'm still learning. Sometimes the electricity flows but it takes a while for the light to turn on!

Hi to all. I'm a newbe. I don't understand folding on a ruler. Can someone explain?

Welcome Happystitcher. Ruler folding is generally done with yardage, not fat quarters. When you buy fabric yardage it is folded in half lengthwise with selvedges together. Fold it lengthwise again by bringing the center (folded) edge to the selvedges. Now lay your ruler across the end of the fabric and begin rolling the ruler with the fabric on it. Remove the ruler and store your fabric in the way that is best for you. I used to put mine on edge in dresser drawers. Now I stand them on shelves. Some use plastic bins. The point is that you can see the edges of your fabric so you know what you have, and you just unroll the amount that you need (like in the fabric shop) when you are ready to use it.

Happy: For me the ruler method is a way for me to store large quantities of fabric (AKA Stash) in bookcases. I fold the fabric lenghtwise in quarters then I wrap it around a six inch ruler, remove the ruler and place on end in a book case. This makes my fabric much easier to see and I frequently "design" without even removing the fabric from the shelf. Shirley suggested using a larger ruler, which uses the bookcase space more efficently and means you can pack in more fabric in a smaller space. Something I never thought of.

Shirlin: Sorry I misspelled your name.

I like to do this whenever I can but I don't have the space for bolts. Some are in a drawer and some are up on a high shelf. Some are waiting for a place of their own.:o

I store my fabric in a file cabinet on boards. I bought the first bunch, now I just make my own. Works for me.
Then I sort by color.

Sorry DD was helping me upload a photo and got the wrong one.... And I cannot get it to work. SORRY

I use my 6x24" to fold my fabrics because it works for me and my two large closets. I don't buy 12 yards of one piece of fabric. 4-6 yards of the same kind is what I usually buy.

Folding is for keeping things neat and fitting them best into the storage area where they are stored. Different storage spaces have different requirements for efficient sizes/shapes of items. Fit your space! :)

Here's a nice tutorial for anyone that needs a visual.
http://turningturning.com/tutorial-folding-fabric/

This is what I do as well. They look so neat and organized.

I had never thought of using the 8½ ruler, but it makes sense. If they aren't stacked so high, it would be easier to take out fabrics on the bottom. Thanks for the idea.

Leslie

good advice thanks for tip will have to give this try

I agree, I figured out what worked good for my shelves and then folded depending on the size of fabric. I just cant see messing with a ruler or cardboard when its faster and easier once I figured out the best way to fold for where I wanted to put them. I also had extra shelves cut so that I didn't have to stack my fabric so high on the shelves plus this allows me to color separate them easier due to more shelves.

I have used a system I saw in a magazine years ago. I fold all fabric selvage to selvage long wise. Fold again center fold to selvage and have a long strip about roughly 10" wide.
1) If fabric is 1 or more yards, fold strip into an 18" accordion pleated ( back& forth on itself) pile. That way you know at a glance how much yardage there is. . . Each fold at one end of the pile = a yard. These can be stored flat on shelves or folded in half and fit into the 12" cubes.
2) if more than 1/2 but less than 1 yrd, I accordion pleat fold into a 9" pile. I fold this pile parallel to selvage into a 9 x 6" pile. These can be stored in those little plastic baskets from the dollar store.
3) less than 1/2 yrd and FQs are folded into roughly 6 x 4" pieces and stored in shoe boxes.
I stand shoe boxes on end and lay the baskets on their side. Then put the fabric in with fold facing out and pile them up till basket/box is filled.
I find this takes less room, is easy to find fabric and requires only an investment of a reasonable amount of money. I am away from home or would include a picture to clarify.
I do my folding on my cutting mat and use these lines to measure rather than a ruler. I may place a ruler on fab to get a sharp fold but not to measure.

i use the fabric organizers that look like cardboard .....instead of a ruler [a friend gave me 3 of them ]and i have a bit more fabric than that so i folded it and removed the board and used it on the next piece .....then found a bigger piece to do my larger pieces [ you can get at U_LINE the rc plane guys use it to make airplanes ]

Starting with the width, I fold the selvedge over to the center crease which reduces the width to about 11 inches. I then fold the length to about 15 inches which is the width of my shelves. I do not use any board or ruler in folding my fabric.

My small pieces (less than .5y) is wrapped on a 3", Medium size pieces (.5y to 1.5y) are wrapped on a 5", Medium Large (1.5y to 3y) are wrapped on a 6.5", Large pieces (more than 3y) are wrapped on the store bolt. I also have a piece of plexiglass that is 12" wide. I use it when I have a group of pieces and some are large. They are folded on the 12", the smaller pieces on appropriate size, and wrapped together as stack, tied and labeled.

All of my wrapper rulers are made by me from Plexiglass sheets. That gives me the width I want but with the 24" long pieces. The guys at Lowes or Home Depot will gladly cut it for you. I think at Lowes they will make 2 cuts for free and then they are 50 cents each. I have only had one clerk charge me for extra cuts. SSOOOOO much cheaper than rulers. To make things easier the yardage amount is labels on each piece so that I don't have to think ;).

I did this too! Great minds think alike. :D