Quilters are always looking for something new and exciting to add to their work – new techniques, new products, new patterns, etc.

One new trend combines quilting with a craft that is even older than quilting – origami.

As you know, origami has traditionally been the art of folding and creasing paper to create clever shapes. The paper craft originated in Japan in the 1600s.

Only a few different folds are used to create origami’s many different designs.

Someone decided to try folding fabric. It worked. Why then couldn’t those folded pieces of fabric origami be incorporated into a quilt? That’s how the current trend got its beginning.

The best thing about fabric origami is that if your fold is not just right, you can iron the crease out and start again! It can be great fun for a traditional quilter who wants a new challenge.

You could incorporate your entire family into helping you make an origami quilt. Spouses and children can fold and create while you piece the rest of the quilt together. What a fun family activity!

If you would like to learn more about fabric origami, check your local library, area bookstores and quilting shops, or online merchants like amazon.com.

This folded flowers quilt is a sample of origami quilts. It was really easy to make and combined piecing with applique and origami, making it interesting to make as well! The pattern is in "Fantastic Fabric Folding" by Rebecca Wat

All the books mentioned above incorporate fabric folding into quilt patterns. Most of the fabric origami is attached in the form of appliqué, adding unique dimension to the quilt. To keep the fabric origami looking fresh and crisp, the quilt will need to be ironed after each washing.

Cut down on the ironing by tacking the origami in place when you are working on the project instead of relying on the folds solely.

Each book also gives fabric preparation methods before beginning your folding projects. Read several techniques and decide which you prefer.

Some suggest a pretreatment solution for your fabric. Others simply recommend a heavy starch to help create crisp folds and creases. The best way to know which works for you is to experiment.

If you find yourself becoming addicted to fabric folding, don’t limit it to just your quilt projects. Folded fabric makes nice embellishment for clothing items like hats, jackets and down the front or side of the legs of your jeans.

Use your fabric origami to create unusual touches on curtains and towels to dress up your bathroom. In your kitchen, incorporate fabric origami into your quilted placemats, table runner or even onto an apron.

If you are looking for a gift for a friend who enjoys fabric origami, any of the books listed above would be a great choice. Another good choice is to create squares of fabric from your own stash that can be used in fabric folding projects. Roll the fabric pieces together and tie with a ribbon. Include a can of starch or other stiffening agent and place in a small basket for gift giving.

Fabric origami would also make a great topic of discussion at a quilters’ guild meeting. If you are in charge of planning an activity, pick a simple fabric fold design and take enough supplies for your membership. Demonstrate one of the simple origami designs as everyone follows along.

Have a few of the books mentioned above on display so your fellow quilters can get ideas of how they could use this technique in a future quilt of their own.

For additional information about folded fabric quilts, check out our article: Folded Flowers Quilt

Penny Halgren
Master Quilter