Efficient T-Shirt Folding: Quick, Easy, And Neatly Named Methods

There are many ways to fold a T-shirt, and the method you choose will depend on the purpose of the fold. For example, if you are packing for a trip, you will want to conserve space in your bag, so you might opt for a compact fold such as the Army roll or the Japanese quick fold. On the other hand, if you are folding T-shirts to put away in a drawer, you might choose a basic fold, a rectangle fold, or a square fold.

File Folding

• Spread the t-shirt out on a flat surface with the back facing you.
• Fold the right side of the t-shirt into the middle horizontally.
• Fold the left side of the t-shirt into the middle horizontally so it meets the other side.
• Fold the shirt in half horizontally so the two ends meet.
• Fold the shirt into thirds horizontally.

Square Folding

First, lay your T-shirt on a flat surface with the front side facing up. Smooth out any wrinkles and creases. Imagine a vertical line from the shoulder to the hem on the right side of the shirt. Pinch the shirt at the top and bottom of this imaginary line and fold it inwards, towards the centre of the shirt. Smooth out the fold. Repeat this process on the left side of the shirt, so that the two folded sides overlap slightly in the middle. You should now have a long rectangle.

Next, take the bottom of the shirt and fold it up towards the middle. Smooth out any creases. You should now have a shorter rectangle. Fold the shirt one more time, from the bottom up, to form a square. You can now store your T-shirt in a drawer or shelf, standing up like a file. This method ensures that your T-shirts are wrinkle-free and also allows you to see any designs or logos on the shirts.

Rolling

Firstly, lay your t-shirt flat on a table, bed, or any other flat surface. Make sure the front side of the shirt is facing up. Smooth out any wrinkles or creases in the fabric.

Next, you will want to create a cuff. To do this, fold and tuck the bottom of the t-shirt up by about 3-4 inches (7.6-10.2 cm). Use your fingers to create a neat crease along the small fold.

Now, you will fold the sides of the shirt towards the middle. Take the left side, and fold it inwards towards the centre, lining it up with the middle line of the shirt. Then, tuck the sleeve back so that it aligns with the edge of the shirt. Repeat this step with the right side, placing it on top of the left side so that they overlap. Flatten the folds with your hands to create a compact rectangle.

Once you have your rectangle, it's time to start rolling! Grip the collar of the shirt and begin to roll it downwards towards the bottom cuff. Keep the roll as tight as you can to make it more compact.

Finally, tuck the rolled-up shirt into the cuff you created at the beginning. Unroll the cuff and place the rolled shirt inside, then fold the cuff back over to secure it.

And there you have it—a perfectly rolled t-shirt! This method, sometimes called the Army Roll or the Burrito Roll, is ideal for packing t-shirts when travelling, or simply for saving space in your drawers at home.

The Army Roll

Step 1:

Lay your T-shirt on a flat surface, with the front side facing up. Make sure the surface is clean and smooth out any creases or wrinkles in the shirt.

Step 2:

Tuck the bottom of the T-shirt up by about 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10.2 cm). Use your fingers to create a neat crease in this small fold, ensuring that the roll is an even size across the bottom. This will create a cuff at the bottom of your shirt.

Step 3:

Take the left side of the shirt and fold it towards the centre, lining it up with the centre line. Then, tuck the sleeve back so that it also aligns with the edge of the shirt. Flatten the fold by running your hands along its length to make it more compact.

Step 4:

Repeat the previous step with the right side of the shirt. Place the right side on top of the left side, lining up the edges. Fold the sleeve back so that it sits neatly along the edge. Again, use your hands to smooth out any wrinkles. Your shirt should now resemble a long rectangle.

Step 5:

Begin rolling the shirt from the collar, rolling it downwards towards the cuff. Keep the roll as tight as possible to make it more compact. A helpful tip is to grip the collar and tuck it under your fingers as you start rolling.

Step 6:

Finally, unroll the cuff at the bottom of the shirt and tuck the rolled-up shirt into it. Fold the cuff tightly over the roll to secure it and prevent it from unravelling.

And there you have it—a T-shirt folded using the Army Roll method! This technique may take a little longer than simpler folding methods, but it is definitely worth it for the space-saving and wrinkle-reducing benefits it offers.

The Japanese Quick Fold

Lay the T-shirt flat on a table with the front side facing up. The neck of the shirt should be on your right, and the bottom of the shirt on your left.

Imagine a line running from the far shoulder, between the neck and the sleeve, to the bottom of the shirt. This line should divide the shirt into two equal sections.

Pinch the midpoint of this imaginary line with your left hand, making sure to grasp both the front and back of the shirt.

With your right hand, pinch the end of the line at the shoulder, again ensuring you pinch both the front and back fabric.

Keep your left hand in place and, with your right hand, reach over and pinch the fabric at the bottom of the T-shirt. Your arms should now be crossed.

Uncross your arms while keeping a firm grip on the pinches. Lift the shirt off the table and shake it out.

The shirt should now be folded into a rectangle with a loose sleeve at the bottom. Lay the shirt back down on the table, ensuring the loose sleeve touches the table first. Place the rest of the shirt over the sleeve to hide it from view.

And there you have it—a perfectly folded T-shirt in just a few simple steps! With a little practice, you'll be able to master the Japanese Quick Fold in no time.

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