How to fold a Shirt properly : Save space and reduce wrinkles

When shirts are left unfolded in the wardrobe, it is ok; it is your prerogative. But be prepared for a lot of wrinkles and a cluttered wardrobe space.

There are many pain points to not folding clothes – The folded clothes take up a lot less space in the cupboard than unfolded clothes. When clothes are left in a heap unfolded, wrinkles set in, which makes ironing them a pain later.

So how do we deal with all those shirts – how to fold them, so that they can be stacked neatly inside your wardrobe?

fold the shirt to stack them inside a wardrobe neatly

If there is space in your cupboard to hang shirts, that is very well. But if that is not the case you can fold them easily- the process of folding a man’s shirt is nothing complicated. You may already be doing it the same way but I love to give unsolicited advice, so here it is. 

how to fold shirts

How to fold shirts to save space

For symmetrical folding you can use a cardboard piece or a magazine as a template. Cut up a cardboard piece 8 inches wide by 11 inches long or use an old magazine.

Lay the shirt in front of you, back side up.

Keep the cardboard by the middle of the shirt on top of the collar – center the magazine exactly and slightly raise its top above the collar.

carboard or magazine kept on the back

Make a lengthwise fold along one edge of the magazine.

fold the shirt arm over the magazine

Fold the sleeves back.

how to fold a shirt

If it is a long sleeved shirt and the sleeves are longer than the hem, you will have to fold the sleeves like this.

fold the arm parallel to the left fold

Do this for the other side also.

do the same with the other side

Fold up the shirt by the middle.

fold the bottom side up

Turn the shirt to the front; remove the magazine/ cardboard – it just slips out.

Your shirt is nicely folded.

folded shirt

How to fold shirts to save space or for travel

fold shirt to a small size to keep inside luggage

Sometimes when storing space is at a premium you may want to fold and keep the shirts so that they are folded into a small bundle. This is especially needed when you are packing for travel.

shirt laid out flat

Bring the sleeves crossed to the other side.

bring the arms to the front to fold shirt for travel

Bring the side to the middle, over the button stand.

fold the left edge to the middle

Bring the other side over this.

Do the same folding for the other side

Fold the top and bottom edge a little to the middle, as in the picture below.

Bring the top edge down and bottom edge up

Bring the top edge again.

Fold again

Fold the other edge over this. This can be stacked one over the other.  

Final fold for packing the shirt neatly in a suitcase

Related posts : Clothes organisation tips

Updated on October 23, 2022 by Sarina Tariq

author-sarina

Hi, I love sewing, fabric, fashion, embroidery, doing easy DIY projects and then writing about them. Hope you have fun learning from sewguide as much as I do. If you find any mistakes here, please point it out in the comments.

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