How to Fold a Sweater Efficiently and Cleverly: Complete Guide

Why learn to fold a sweater correctly?

Knowing to fold your sweaters properly has many advantages:

• Avoid the appearance of unsightly creases when wearing clothing
• Preserve the quality of the fabric and its lifespan
• Save space in your drawers and cupboards
• Make storage easier and easily find clothes
• Adopt an eco-responsible lifestyle by reducing your space and consumption needs

A poorly folded sweater not only takes up more space in your wardrobe, but it will also wrinkle more easily. Opt for efficient folding!
— Geoffrey, Founder of The Oversized Hoodie®

In summary, good folding saves you time, space, and protects your clothes. It’s a small gesture with a strong positive impact!

Common mistakes when folding a sweater

When you don't know the correct techniques, it's easy to fold your sweaters incorrectly. Here are the mistakes to avoid:

• Roll the sweater on itself without preparation, creating a misshapen cylinder
• The fold in half without properly aligning the seams, wrinkling the fabric
• Packing the garment without method in a drawer, damaging it over time
• Store it without checking the creases, increasing creases with use
• Press the sweater hard while folding, marking the textile

Be careful not to act hastily when putting your sweater away, as this risks wrinkling it and reducing its lifespan. Take the time to fold your clothes!

Fortunately, there are simple techniques for folding your sweaters effectively. Discover our advice in the next part.

8 Ways to Fold a Sweater

The classic method of folding a sweater

This basic technique allows you to fold most sweaters neatly in just a few steps.

1. Preparing the sweater for folding

• Start by check your sweater and look for any hair or lint. Remove them using a brush or an adhesive roller.
• Turn your garment inside out.
• Flatten your sweater completely on a flat smooth surface to eliminate existing creases.

This preparation step is crucial to obtain a clean fold and avoid unsightly creases later. Take the time to smooth out your sweater before folding it.

2. Detailed steps for efficient folding

• Fold your sweater in half lengthwise, back to back, aligning the shoulder and side seams.
• Fold the sweater in half again in the other direction, from bottom to top. The collar should be folded inward.
• Turn your sweater over and place it vertically in front of you.
• Wrap your sweater around itself, without tightening too much, starting at the bottom. Form a clean and regular roll.
• Adjust the shape if necessary to obtain a symmetrical roll.

Perform these gestures with precision and without haste. Meticulous folding is the key to avoiding unsightly creases later.
— Geoffrey, Founder of The Oversized Hoodie®

3. Tips for quick folding without wrinkling the garment

• Work on a smooth surface such as a table so as not to mark the fabric.
• Do not iron your sweater before folding it, the heat could crease the fabric.
• Avoid packing or pressing the garment hard while folding.
• Always check the regularity of the rolling obtained.

With a little practice, this classic folding technique will become child's play! Your sweaters will be impeccably folded in no time.

4. How to store the folded sweater to save space?

• Place your rolled sweater vertically in your drawer or shelf.
• Alternate the orientation of the folds (inwards or outwards) to optimize space.
• Use modular storage with dividers to easily classify your sweaters.

A sweater will take up much less space once folded neatly! This method will save you valuable space in your cupboards.
— Geoffrey, Founder of The Oversized Hoodie®

In summary, this traditional technique allows you to fold the majority of your sweaters quickly and efficiently, while preserving their quality over time. It just requires a little rigor and method.

Specific konmari folding method

Popularized by Marie Kondo, this method involves folding your clothes using simple and aesthetic techniques. Konmari folding allows you to store more sweaters in less space.

The steps are as follows:

• Lay the sweater flat to eliminate wrinkles
• Fold it in half lengthwise
• Fold the bottom upwards to form a rectangle
• Roll this rectangle on itself
• Store vertically in chest of drawers

The interest of this method lies in its simplicity and its visual appearance once the clothes are put away. It is easy to make every day!

Marie Kondo Method

Invented by Japanese storage expert Marie Kondo, this folding technique exploits verticality to save space in drawers.

• Start by laying the sweater flat to eliminate wrinkles
• Fold it in half heightwise, armholes one on top of the other
• Fold in half again widthwise
• Hold the fold and store it upright in the drawer

The interest is to compress the volume of the garment by exploiting the height of the storage unit. This easy method will delight you!

In her worldwide bestseller The Magic of Tidying up, Marie Kondo, a Japanese organization expert, recommends folding your clothes upright in drawers by folding them on themselves in 3 times. According to her, this technique makes it possible to compress their volume and effectively exploit the height of the drawers (1).

The rolling method

Here, the sweater is simply rolled up on itself to form a roll, without prior folding.

• Spread the sweater on a smooth surface
• Roll it firmly lengthwise, from the bottom towards the collar
• Equalize the pressure to obtain a regular cylinder
• Store upright in the drawer

An effective technique for fine knit sweaters, to be tested depending on the material of your clothes.

Also read: What is the best material for a sweater?

The Japanese folding technique

This traditional method from Japan offers folding in three steps:

• Fold the sweater in half lengthwise
• Fold this rectangle in half in the other direction
• Roll the resulting square on itself

Japanese folding makes it possible to obtain very compact clothes once stored, and to remove wrinkles easily. Adopt this ancestral art of tidying up!

Accordion folding

This involves making multiple folds in the thickness of the sweater:

• Lay the garment flat and check for creases
• Fold the sweater like an accordion widthwise, making folds of approximately 20 centimeters
• Flatten the accordion obtained and store it in the drawer

This technique is perfect for large winter or thick knit sweaters. It allows you to reduce the volume effectively.

The method for folding a sweater quickly

If you're in a hurry, it's possible to fold a sweater in just a few seconds!

• Grasp the sweater from the bottom, vertically
• Put it through the neckline, wrong side out
• Pull the armholes to obtain a regular shape

This super quick tip will save you precious time when you're in a hurry!

Vertical folding for drawers

Finally, this technique uses the height of the drawers for maximum space saving:

• Lay out the sweater and remove the wrinkles
• Fold it in half heightwise
• Roll or fold this rectangle and store it upright

Sweaters will take up less floor space when placed vertically in drawers. Adopt this smart storage!

Folding tips and tricks

Preserve the quality of the sweater

• Avoid ironing your sweater before storing it, the heat of the iron damages the fibers
• Do not hesitate to gently brush the fabric to remove lint and hair before folding
• Always fold your sweaters on a smooth, non-abrasive surface
• Do not tighten too hard while rolling, and check the regularity

Thanks to these precautions, you will preserve the appearance and quality of your sweaters for many years.

Optimization of storage space

• Choose modular storage with dividers to easily classify sweaters
• Alternate the orientation of the folds in the drawers to optimize space
• Adopt vertical folding techniques to reduce floor space
• Partially unfold the sleeves if necessary for a better fit in the drawer

A few simple tips for using all the storage space at your disposal.
— Geoffrey, Founder of The Oversized Hoodie®

Ecological impact of good folding

• Reduced folding allows you to store more clothes in the same space
• Less space occupied = less energy consumption to heat homes
• Clothes are better preserved thanks to proper folding and are thrown away less quickly

In summary, improving your folding techniques has a real positive impact on the environment!

Also read: Which sweater does not pill?

Practical case: Marie Kondo method

Julie lives in a small Parisian apartment and is seriously lacking in storage space in her bedroom. His sweatshirts and sweaters are overflowing from his wardrobe, despite his small collection. Annoyed, she decides to adopt the Marie Kondo method which promises optimal space saving.

She starts by sorting her clothes and keeping only the essentials, as recommended by the Japanese expert. Then she chooses to apply the vertical folding specific to this method. After measuring her drawers, she finds that they are tall enough to accommodate clothes standing upright.

Julie fold carefully each sweater in half heightwise, armholes to armholes. Then she folds the garment in half again in the other direction. She holds the resulting fold firmly and positions her sweaters vertically in the drawer. Her movements are precise and she ensures that each piece stands straight.

By optimizing space, she manages to store twice as many sweaters and sweatshirts in the same drawer! The Marie Kondo method literally makes her gain precious centimeters. Now she can finally close her drawers easily and quickly find each clothing.

Also read: Why put a sweater in the freezer?

Conclusion

In short, knowing how to fold your sweaters efficiently saves time and space on a daily basis. From the classic folding method to the Japanese rolling, explore different techniques and find the one that suits you. With a little practice, you will be able to fold quickly all your sweatshirts and sweaters, even the bulkiest ones, to save space in your closets. Don’t hesitate to watch video tutorials on YouTube to practice!

Folding Method	Description	Advantages	Advice
Classic	Folding in two then rolling on itself.	Simple and quick.	Do not overtighten when rolling.
Konmari	Fold in half, then form a rectangle and roll.	Optimizes space, pleasant visual appearance.	Store vertically in the chest of drawers.
Marie Kondo	Fold in half heightwise, then roll.	Compresses the volume, exploiting the height of the drawer.	Preserve the quality of the fabric.
Rolling	Simple wrapping of the sweater on itself.	Effective for fine knit sweaters.	Equalize the pressure for a regular cylinder.
Japanese folding	Fold in half in each direction then roll.	Compact clothes, easy to smooth out wrinkles.	Adopt this ancestral art of tidying up.
Accordion	Accordion folding widthwise.	Ideal for large sweaters, reduces volume.	Flatten the resulting accordion and put it away.
Fast	Quick vertical folding in seconds.	Time-saving, practical and quick.	Grab at the bottom and pass through the neckline.
Vertical for drawers	Folding and vertical storage in the drawer.	Maximum space optimization.	Use drawer height effectively.

FAQ

How to avoid wrinkling your clothes in a suitcase?

To avoid wrinkling your clothes during a trip, here are some tips: roll your sweaters instead of folding them, use vacuum bags, insert absorbent paper between each item of clothing, and place the most delicate ones at the very top of the suitcase.

How to fold a large wool sweater?

Heavy wool sweaters can be folded like an accordion widthwise before being rolled or folded in half. This helps reduce bulk and prevents wrinkling of the fabric. You can also roll it directly on itself from the bottom.

How to store your sweaters to save space?

To optimize space in your cupboards, alternate the orientation of the folds in your drawers and store your folded sweaters vertically. Japanese or Marie Kondo folding methods are very effective for saving space.

What is the Marie Kondo method?

The Marie Kondo method suggests folding your clothes standing up in the drawers by folding them on themselves in 3 steps: in half heightwise, then widthwise, before rolling the square obtained.

How to fold a long-sleeved sweater?

First fold each sleeve of the sweater on itself before proceeding with the classic folding in half lengthwise and widthwise. You can also roll the sweater directly on itself starting from the bottom.

How to fold a sweatshirt?

Lay the sweatshirt flat on a smooth surface, fold it in half lengthwise, then fold it in half again the other way. Then roll the resulting square onto itself, starting at the bottom.

How to fold a t-shirt or t-shirt?

For a quick fold, start by folding the t-shirt in half vertically, armholes over armholes. Fold in half again in the other direction. Then roll the resulting square on itself

How to fold pants?

Flatten your pants inside out. Fold it in half lengthwise, knees on knees. Fold in half at the waistline. Roll the bottom of the pants onto itself to form a regular rectangle before storing upright.

Sources

(1) KONDO, Marie. The magic of storage. Paris: Marabout, 2017.

(2) Apartment Therapy. “How To Fold and Store Sweaters To Save Drawer Space”. Apartment Therapy Blog, 2016.

(3) BIRGES, Anita. Unleash Your Inner Tidy. MiseEnPlace Blog, 2020.

(4) HOWELL, Danielle. How to Fold Sweaters Like Marie Kondo. The Spruce Blog, 2022.

(5) SHAVER, Ruby. “How to Fold Sweaters to Save Space”. Apartment Therapy Blog, 2021.

(6) McCULLOCH, Emily. “How to Fold Sweaters and Bulky Clothes for Compact Storage”. The Kitchn Blog, 2020.