How to Fold a T‐Shirt in Two Seconds
Lay the shirt flat., Imagine a line running from the far shoulder to the bottom of the shirt., Pinch the midpoint of this line with your left hand., Use your right hand to pinch the end of the line at the shoulder., Move your right hand around your...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Lay the shirt flat.
Spread the T-shirt or other short-sleeved shirt out on a flat surface such as a clean table, with the front of the shirt visible.
Stand so the neck of the shirt is on your right, and the bottom of the shirt is on your left. -
Step 2: Imagine a line running from the far shoulder to the bottom of the shirt.
Picture a line that crosses the T shirt.
One end is on the shoulder most distant from you, between the neck and the sleeve, and the line crosses the shirt in a straight line until it hits the bottom./images/thumb/b/bf/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-2-Version-4.jpg/v4-550px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-2-Version-4.jpg /images/thumb/b/bf/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-2-Version-4.jpg/v4-300px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-2-Version-4.jpg If you like, you can lay a flat ribbon or other straight, bendable object over the shirt to keep track of where the line is. , Find the point on this imaginary line that divides the shirt into two equal sections: one on your right that includes the neck and sleeves, and one on your left that includes the bottom of the shirt.
Use your left hand to reach over to this point and pinch the fabric between your finger and thumb tightly.
Make sure you are pinching both the front and the back fabric of the shirt. /images/thumb/2/2f/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-3-Version-4.jpg/v4-550px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-3-Version-4.jpg /images/thumb/2/2f/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-3-Version-4.jpg/v4-300px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-3-Version-4.jpg Don't worry too much about finding the exact middle of the line, especially before you've got the hang of this.
You do not need to measure it exactly to end up with a tidy, folded shirt. , Keep your left hand in place as you do this.
The shoulder of the shirt should be to your right, so at this point your arms should not be crossed.
Remember, the line runs in between the sleeves and the neck. /images/thumb/8/85/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-4-Version-4.jpg/v4-550px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-4-Version-4.jpg /images/thumb/8/85/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-4-Version-4.jpg/v4-300px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-4-Version-4.jpg Again, make sure to pinch both the front and back fabric.
Since this is at the end of the shirt, it should be easy to place the shirt between your finger and thumb. , Keep your first,left hand pinch in place.
Lift your right hand, while still pinching the shoulder, and move it across your left hand until it is at the bottom of the T-shirt.
Your arms should now be crossed, with your right arm over your left. /images/thumb/8/8b/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-5-Version-4.jpg/v4-550px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-5-Version-4.jpg /images/thumb/8/8b/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-5-Version-4.jpg/v4-300px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-5-Version-4.jpg Your right hand should move directly over your left in a straight line, and continue to the bottom of the shirt.
This motion follows the imaginary line. , Extend your finger and thumb so you can grasp both the shoulder (which you were already pinching) and the fabric at the bottom edge of the T-shirt.
Again, make sure you are pinching both the front and back of the shirt. , Keep a firm grip on both pinches and uncross your hands while simultaneously lifting the shirt off the surface.
You 'must move your left hand through the two folds of shirt hanging from your right hand during this uncrossing motion.
If you uncross your arms simply by rotating the shirt instead, you will end up with a mess. /images/thumb/8/89/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-7-Version-4.jpg/v4-550px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-7-Version-4.jpg /images/thumb/8/89/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-7-Version-4.jpg/v4-300px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-7-Version-4.jpg This is the easiest part of the fold to mess up.
However, once you've understood the type of motion you need to make, it will be easy and quick. , If everything worked out, a folded shirt rectangle should be hanging down from your hands with a loose sleeve dangling at the bottom.
Lower the shirt back down onto the table.
The loose sleeve should contact the table first.
Lay the rest of the shirt over the loose sleeve so it is not visible from the front. /images/thumb/2/2c/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-8-Version-4.jpg/v4-550px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-8-Version-4.jpg /images/thumb/2/2c/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-8-Version-4.jpg/v4-300px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-8-Version-4.jpg If the loose sleeve isn't completely hidden after you lower the shirt, it's easy to tuck the sleeve under the shirt by hand. , You have now completed your first T-shirt fold with this method.
If that only took you 2 seconds, congratulations! You're a great folder and a fast reader.
Even if it took you several minutes to learn this fold, you're now done with the hardest part.
Fold a few more shirts and check your time.
Once you're used to this system, you'll be able to fold a pile of short-sleeved shirts more quickly than you thought was possible. /images/thumb/5/5d/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-9-preview-Version-3.jpg/v4-550px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-9-preview-Version-3.jpg /images/thumb/5/5d/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-9-preview-Version-3.jpg/v4-300px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-9-preview-Version-3.jpg , -
Step 3: Pinch the midpoint of this line with your left hand.
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Step 4: Use your right hand to pinch the end of the line at the shoulder.
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Step 5: Move your right hand around your left to the bottom of the T-shirt.
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Step 6: Use the hand pinching the shoulder to also pinch the fabric at the bottom of the T-shirt.
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Step 7: Uncross your hands and pick up the shirt.
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Step 8: Finish the fold by lowering the shirt over the loose sleeve.
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Step 9: Fold a few more shirts if you want to get faster.
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Step 10: Finished.
Detailed Guide
Spread the T-shirt or other short-sleeved shirt out on a flat surface such as a clean table, with the front of the shirt visible.
Stand so the neck of the shirt is on your right, and the bottom of the shirt is on your left.
Picture a line that crosses the T shirt.
One end is on the shoulder most distant from you, between the neck and the sleeve, and the line crosses the shirt in a straight line until it hits the bottom./images/thumb/b/bf/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-2-Version-4.jpg/v4-550px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-2-Version-4.jpg /images/thumb/b/bf/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-2-Version-4.jpg/v4-300px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-2-Version-4.jpg If you like, you can lay a flat ribbon or other straight, bendable object over the shirt to keep track of where the line is. , Find the point on this imaginary line that divides the shirt into two equal sections: one on your right that includes the neck and sleeves, and one on your left that includes the bottom of the shirt.
Use your left hand to reach over to this point and pinch the fabric between your finger and thumb tightly.
Make sure you are pinching both the front and the back fabric of the shirt. /images/thumb/2/2f/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-3-Version-4.jpg/v4-550px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-3-Version-4.jpg /images/thumb/2/2f/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-3-Version-4.jpg/v4-300px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-3-Version-4.jpg Don't worry too much about finding the exact middle of the line, especially before you've got the hang of this.
You do not need to measure it exactly to end up with a tidy, folded shirt. , Keep your left hand in place as you do this.
The shoulder of the shirt should be to your right, so at this point your arms should not be crossed.
Remember, the line runs in between the sleeves and the neck. /images/thumb/8/85/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-4-Version-4.jpg/v4-550px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-4-Version-4.jpg /images/thumb/8/85/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-4-Version-4.jpg/v4-300px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-4-Version-4.jpg Again, make sure to pinch both the front and back fabric.
Since this is at the end of the shirt, it should be easy to place the shirt between your finger and thumb. , Keep your first,left hand pinch in place.
Lift your right hand, while still pinching the shoulder, and move it across your left hand until it is at the bottom of the T-shirt.
Your arms should now be crossed, with your right arm over your left. /images/thumb/8/8b/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-5-Version-4.jpg/v4-550px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-5-Version-4.jpg /images/thumb/8/8b/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-5-Version-4.jpg/v4-300px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-5-Version-4.jpg Your right hand should move directly over your left in a straight line, and continue to the bottom of the shirt.
This motion follows the imaginary line. , Extend your finger and thumb so you can grasp both the shoulder (which you were already pinching) and the fabric at the bottom edge of the T-shirt.
Again, make sure you are pinching both the front and back of the shirt. , Keep a firm grip on both pinches and uncross your hands while simultaneously lifting the shirt off the surface.
You 'must move your left hand through the two folds of shirt hanging from your right hand during this uncrossing motion.
If you uncross your arms simply by rotating the shirt instead, you will end up with a mess. /images/thumb/8/89/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-7-Version-4.jpg/v4-550px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-7-Version-4.jpg /images/thumb/8/89/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-7-Version-4.jpg/v4-300px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-7-Version-4.jpg This is the easiest part of the fold to mess up.
However, once you've understood the type of motion you need to make, it will be easy and quick. , If everything worked out, a folded shirt rectangle should be hanging down from your hands with a loose sleeve dangling at the bottom.
Lower the shirt back down onto the table.
The loose sleeve should contact the table first.
Lay the rest of the shirt over the loose sleeve so it is not visible from the front. /images/thumb/2/2c/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-8-Version-4.jpg/v4-550px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-8-Version-4.jpg /images/thumb/2/2c/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-8-Version-4.jpg/v4-300px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-8-Version-4.jpg If the loose sleeve isn't completely hidden after you lower the shirt, it's easy to tuck the sleeve under the shirt by hand. , You have now completed your first T-shirt fold with this method.
If that only took you 2 seconds, congratulations! You're a great folder and a fast reader.
Even if it took you several minutes to learn this fold, you're now done with the hardest part.
Fold a few more shirts and check your time.
Once you're used to this system, you'll be able to fold a pile of short-sleeved shirts more quickly than you thought was possible. /images/thumb/5/5d/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-9-preview-Version-3.jpg/v4-550px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-9-preview-Version-3.jpg /images/thumb/5/5d/Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-9-preview-Version-3.jpg/v4-300px-Fold-a-T%E2%80%90Shirt-in-Two-Seconds-Step-9-preview-Version-3.jpg ,
About the Author
John Stevens
Enthusiastic about teaching crafts techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
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