The usual advice on how to fold a t-shirt starts with the assumption that your t-shirt is flat, but I’m pretty sure that getting the shirt flat takes me longer than folding it. My current flattening method is to grab the shirt by the insides of the sleeves to turn it right-side out, then grab the shoulder seams to shake it flat. Is there anything better?
I agree about the sleeves, but I get much better results if I grab it at the bottom to shake it out. Ideally, there are seams coming straight down the sides from the armpits; I hold it where they meet the bottom hem. Note that whether you shake from the shoulder seams or from the bottom, one hand will already be in the proper position from turning the sleeves inside it; it’s just a question of which one.
I also fold the shirt while standing, so I never actually need to lay it flat. There is a standing-only variation of the method that you cited, although I actually use a different method that begins from precisely the position that I’m in when I leave off the shaking.
In fact, the idea of actually laying something flat before folding strikes me as a greater source of inefficiency than anything else being discussed here. With practice, you can even fold bedsheets in the air.
My flattening method is to hold the shoulders and use a wrist-snap motion to snap it out, then flip it out to one side and down into the position for folding. This works really well, but has the downsides that, if done too vigorously, ① it can be really loud, akin to cracking a whip; and ② it creates a breeze that can knock over light objects, rustle papers, etc. — do not point T-shirt at other people, cluttered desks, etc.
My method is to pick it up by the sides of the color, fold the sleeves back, and then fold it in half vertically by moving the collar forward and back while putting it on the ground. I’m not sure how to explain that better. It doesn’t even touch the ground until the last fold.
It doesn’t end up that nicely folded, but it’s good enough for me.
Also, I never understood the advice you linked to. As far as I can tell, it’s not any faster than any other method.
The usual advice on how to fold a t-shirt starts with the assumption that your t-shirt is flat, but I’m pretty sure that getting the shirt flat takes me longer than folding it. My current flattening method is to grab the shirt by the insides of the sleeves to turn it right-side out, then grab the shoulder seams to shake it flat. Is there anything better?
I agree about the sleeves, but I get much better results if I grab it at the bottom to shake it out. Ideally, there are seams coming straight down the sides from the armpits; I hold it where they meet the bottom hem. Note that whether you shake from the shoulder seams or from the bottom, one hand will already be in the proper position from turning the sleeves inside it; it’s just a question of which one.
I also fold the shirt while standing, so I never actually need to lay it flat. There is a standing-only variation of the method that you cited, although I actually use a different method that begins from precisely the position that I’m in when I leave off the shaking.
In fact, the idea of actually laying something flat before folding strikes me as a greater source of inefficiency than anything else being discussed here. With practice, you can even fold bedsheets in the air.
My flattening method is to hold the shoulders and use a wrist-snap motion to snap it out, then flip it out to one side and down into the position for folding. This works really well, but has the downsides that, if done too vigorously, ① it can be really loud, akin to cracking a whip; and ② it creates a breeze that can knock over light objects, rustle papers, etc. — do not point T-shirt at other people, cluttered desks, etc.
My method is to pick it up by the sides of the color, fold the sleeves back, and then fold it in half vertically by moving the collar forward and back while putting it on the ground. I’m not sure how to explain that better. It doesn’t even touch the ground until the last fold.
It doesn’t end up that nicely folded, but it’s good enough for me.
Also, I never understood the advice you linked to. As far as I can tell, it’s not any faster than any other method.
I’ve followed those directions, but not often enough to memorize the process. It’s very fast.