How to Fold a Quilt for a Quilt Ladder

Quilt ladders are a great way to display your finished quilts in your home. They allow you to display several quilts in a small amount of space and you can easily change them out with the seasons or when you want to display your most recent finish. When you’re ready to start styling your quilt ladder, you may wonder how to properly fold your quilts to display them. Today’s post will give you a quick tutorial on how to fold your quilts for display on your quilt ladder.

How to Fold a Quilt for a Quilt Ladder

Step 1: First, you need to decide what part of the quilt you want to display. You might choose your favorite block or if your quilt has an all-over design, you can choose the center of the quilt. In my example, I am displaying a basic patchwork quilt. Because my quilt has no focal point, I will fold it with the center showing.

Step 2: Measure the length of the rung of your quilt ladder. This will be the measurement that we need to fold the width of our quilt to.

Step 3: Lay your quilt flat on the ground with the front facing down.

Step 4: Fold in the sides of your quilt until the width matches the length of your quilt ladder rung. You may need to fold your quilt in fourths if your quilt is very large or if your ladder is very narrow.

HELPFUL TIP: Lint roll the front of your quilt at this point before you hang in on the ladder. It’s a great way to catch any loose threads or hair if you have a furry friend! I find it to be easier to lint roll when the quilt is on a solid surface instead of when it’s hanging on the ladder.

Step 5: Drape your folded quilt over the ladder rung. You can adjust how much of the quilt hangs in the front of the rung to get your desired look. I generally like to hang my quilts so the same amount of fabric is hanging in the front and the back of the rung.

Step 6: Repeat steps 3-5 until all of the rungs of your ladder are full.

Remember to Rotate your Quilts Regularly

Be sure to change out your quilts periodically if you are using a ladder to display them. Because you are folding the quilts on the grain, creases will develop and they can be very difficult to get rid of if you keep them folded the same way for a long time. 

I suggest changing out your quilts (or refolding them) a few times each year. You can easily remember to do this by changing your quilts with the seasons. 

When you are not displaying your quilts, you should fold them on the bias for storage. This will help prevent those deep (and sometimes permanent) creases that come from folding your quilt on the grain.

Protect your Quilt from your Ladder

If your quilt ladder does not have a smooth finish, the rough wood may damage your quilt. If your ladder is not smooth, I recommend placing a cotton cloth over the quilt rung before placing your quilt on the rung.

If your quilt ladder is not sealed with a poly coating, you should also take extra care to cover the rung before placing your quilt on the ladder. The stain may seep into your quilt fabric if you don’t place a protective barrier on the ladder rung. A piece of cotton fabric should work perfectly for this. My DIY quilt ladder is sealed with a stain/poly mix and has never transferred to my quilts!

Choosing a Quilt Ladder for your Space

Quilt ladders are my favorite way to display quilts because they easily can fit into any home decor. Quilt ladders range from modern to traditional and depending on what style you choose, they can be the perfect addition to your sewing space or living room.

For a more modern look, try a black metal ladder like this one.

For a farmhouse style, try a chunky wooden ladder with a rustic finish:

For a boho style, try something like this bamboo blanket ladder:

They are also super easy to make if you want to try a fun DIY project. Mr. Stitches made mine in an afternoon and it turned out great! Here’s the tutorial he used if you’d like to try it yourself.

HELPFUL TIP: If you choose to stain your finished DIY ladder, be sure to seal your project so the stain won’t accidentally transfer to your quilts.

This quilt folding tutorial will help you style your quilt ladder with ease. I’d love to see your quilt ladders on social media, so tag me @haileystitches on Instagram so I can see your display!

Join my newsletter for more quilting and cross stitch tips and tutorials!

xo, Hailey