Comic book boards are an affordable and effective way to neatly organize your fabric stash. As my fabric collection grew over the years, and as a professional board book printing manufacturer, I realized I needed a better storage solution than the various bins and piles I had scattered around my sewing room. After doing some research, I discovered that many quilters use comic book boards to efficiently store their fabrics.
Why Use Comic Book Boards for Fabric Storage?
Comic book boards have several benefits that make them ideal for fabric organization:
- Acid-free materials: Unlike regular cardboard, comic book boards are acid-free so they won’t discolor or damage fabric over time. This is essential for long-term fabric storage.
- Consistent sizes: Comic book boards come in standard sizes, so folding your fabric around them results in uniformly-sized “mini bolts.” This allows for neater presentation and easier storage.
- Durable yet lightweight: The boards are sturdy enough to hold a few yards of folded fabric but are still lightweight and easy to handle.
- Cost-effective: A pack of 100 comic book boards costs around $15-20. Considering how long they last, it’s very affordable compared to other fabric storage solutions.
- Customizable labels: You can write directly on comic book boards to track fabric details like color, designer, etc. No need for tags that might fall off.
How to Fold Fabric on Comic Book Boards: Best Practices
Folding fabric neatly onto a comic book board takes a little practice but becomes quick and intuitive after some experience. Here are my top tips:
Choose the Right Board Size
Comic book boards come in different dimensions. I recommend 7″ x 10.5″ size boards for most quilting cotton cuts up to a yard. Mini comic book boards (5.5″ x 8.5″) work for fat quarters and smaller cuts.
Press Fabrics First
Always press your fabric before folding. It will create crisp folds and ensure the fabric lies flat for the neatest possible presentation.
Fold Selvage to Selvage
The first fold when wrapping fabric on a board should always be selvage edge to selvage edge. This reduces width and creates an evenly-sized rectangle to work with.
Wrap Snugly But Not Too Tight
Fold fabric around the board snugly so it stays in place, but not so tight that it bunches up. You want fabric folded smoothly around the board.
Use Clips for Extra Hold
Mini binder clips or wooden clothespins work perfectly to secure the ends of the fabric. This prevents unraveling without damaging fabric like pins would.
Step-By-Step Tutorial for Folding 1 Yard of Fabric
Follow these simple steps for flawlessly folding one yard of fabric onto a 10.5″ x 7″ comic book board:
Step 1: Selvage Fold
With wrong side up, fold fabric in half lengthwise matching selvage edge to selvage edge. Smooth any wrinkles.
Step 2: Halve Width
Fold again matching raw edges on one short side. Fabric should now be approximately 11″ tall.
Step 3: Fold And Center Board
Fold in raw edges again to meet at center. Place board vertically in center of folded fabric.
Step 4: Wrap Fabric Around Board
Fold fabric over board working from side to side, smoothing any lumps or wrinkles as you wrap.
Step 5: Secure The Ends
Use binder clips to fasten the wrapped fabric at both ends so it stays firmly wrapped around the board.
Storing Your Fabric Boards
Once you’ve wrapped your fabrics around comic book boards, it’s time to figure out storage. Here are some great options:
- Store boards upright in bins, magazine holders or on shelves so you can easily thumb through your fabric “files”
- Labelling the top end of the board makes identifying fabrics a breeze while storing upright
- Clear plastic totes let you see contents at a glance while protecting from dust and pets
- Slot fabric boards standing up in bookshelves for a visible, space-saving solution
However you decide to store your comic book fabric boards, you’ll love having neatly folded, visible and easy-to-access cuts of fabrics always at your fingertips!
Key Takeaways for Folding Fabric on Comic Boards
- Acid-free comic book boards keep fabric safe while providing sturdy folding support
- Consistent sizing with comic boards lets you organize lots of fabric neatly
- Always fold selvage edge to selvage edge in the first fold for easy wrapping
- Bind clips prevent loosening without damaging delicate fabrics
- Store boards on shelves or in clear containers for visible organization