How to Fold a Sweater

Sweaters are one of those clothing items that if not folded correctly, can take up much more room than they should. If you've noticed that your sweaters have taken over your drawers and closet, we're here to help you re-organize and teach you ways to fold them that will save space, keep your sweaters in pristine condition and make your closet look like you hired a professional organizer or Marie Kondo herself stopped by. Whether you fold or roll them, store them in a drawer or on a shelf, the proper folding and storing methods will prolong the sweaters' lifespan and make getting ready in the morning so much faster. Now, let's get started!

Fold It Into a Rectangle

With this method, you'll end up with a thin rectangular shape that allows for space-saving stacking.

1. Lay the Sweater Front Down

   Place the sweater on a flat surface with the front side facing down. Remove any creases or wrinkles and smooth it out as much as you can.

2. Fold Arms Inwards

   Take the right arm and fold it over towards the left side of the sweater. Then, take the left arm and fold it over the right arm.

3. Fold Up in Thirds

   Grab the bottom two corners of the sweater and fold them a third of the way to the collar. Then, fold again so the folded sweater lines up with the collar.

Use the KonMari Method

This method makes it easy to store folded sweaters in a dresser drawer as they can stand one next to the other, and instead of a tall stack of them, they are all easily visible and accessible.

1. Lay the Sweater Flat

   The now famous Marie Kondo fold starts out the same way as every other sweater folding method — lay the sweater on a flat surface like a table or a bed front side down and smooth out any wrinkles.

2. Fold Sleeves Inward

   Fold the right side of the sweater and the right sleeve towards the center of the sweater, then do the same with the left side, folding the side and the sleeve towards the center.

3. Fold In Thirds

   Now, starting at the bottom of the sweater, fold it into thirds (so do two folds) so the folded sweater can "stand up" on its own.

Roll It Like a Jelly Roll

The rolling method is a great way to prevent wrinkles and store sweaters in a compact, space-saving way.

1. Lay the Sweater Flat

   Whether it's a chunky knit or a cardigan, lay it down on a flat surface and remove any major creases.

2. Fold the Sleeves In

   Take the right sleeve and fold it towards the left side so that the right cuff is close to the bottom left corner of the sweater. Do the same with the left sleeve — fold it diagonally towards the right side so that the left cuff is close to the bottom right corner of the sweater.

3. Roll Upwards Evenly

   Starting at the bottom of the sweater, begin to roll it like a jelly roll, evenly but not too tightly, removing any wrinkles that start to form.

How to Store Sweaters

Never hang your sweaters on hangers. They will stretch out, lose their shape, and the shoulders will be damaged.

If you're short on closet space, consider purchasing vacuum sealed storage bags to store your sweaters during the warmer months. The storage bags come in various sizes and reduce the size of clothing by up to 80%, so you can easily store the bags under the bed or inside a storage bench to clear some space in your closet.

Another way to store sweaters in the off-season is in airtight storage containers. Just like the vacuum sealed bags, they come in various shapes and sizes, and because they are airtight, there's no danger of moisture, dust or bugs getting in and damaging them.

Use dividers or bins to sort and organize folded and rolled sweaters in drawers. Many dividers are expandable to fit multiple drawer sizes and bins come in various shapes and sizes to accommodate as many sweaters as you need. This will not only make your drawers look impeccably neat, it will make it much easier to maintain the organizational system you've put in place. Every sweater will be visible and easily accessible which will make putting an outfit together so much simpler!