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Dad • 05/11/04 • 11:45 PM:

Amazing! It looks like slight of hand. I haven’t tried it yet, but don’t leave us in suspense, Dan. How did it go? Is this the way you’re going to fold your shirts from now on?

Also, how do you explain your finding this site? You were interested in learning how to fold shirts so you googled it?

Dad • 05/12/04 • 9:47 AM:

OK, I tried it, and it works pretty well. But that imaginary line has to be at the exact mid-point of the shirt. Also, what about all those motions to lay the shirt flat before you begin? That’s the real reason we don’t like folding shirts. I say the novelty of this approach wears off real quick.

Dan • 05/12/04 • 5:49 PM:

Yeah, I tried it too. The idea is great, and I imagine it’s easier if you’ve practiced. But the pain in the neck part is the preparation. You gotta lay the shirt pretty flat and that takes time. Also, I can’t get the shirt to fold symmetrically. But that comes with practice too. Anyway, I’m already bored with it.

Patrick • 05/13/04 • 9:12 AM:

In response to the first line of your post, I think I’m a better t-shirt folder than Mom is, but even I don’t compare to whoever does the t-shirts for sale at stores! How do they get them so exact?

I found out one day a couple of years ago at (of all places) Yellowstone. Karina and I were in a giftshop and there were two people folding up t-shirts to put on the racks, and guess what! They were using a folding board to guide them. I talked to them a little bit and got a lesson on how to use the thing. So now I’m reminded of that and I want to buy one for myself. The older I get, the more maniacal I get about order. Even while my academic training (in the essay form) steers me clear of objectivism, my tendencies drive me more and more to order my little corner of the world neatly.

p.s. I haven’t yet tried the method shown in the video.

Dad • 05/15/04 • 9:59 AM:

This is already getting more ink than it deserves (or if not ink what?), but I thought of another reason to deplore this method. Of course, it is non-symmetric. Sure, the top surface of the shirt looks neat, but underneath the sleeves maintain a most irregular shape. One of them is twisted into some odd, unimaginable position in the first flourish, the other lays relatively flat, sticking out from the edge before the final fold. If you’re not going to be symmetric about it, why bother folding at all?

Wait, I just tried it again and found that I’m totally wrong! It is symmetric, except for the fact that the sleeves lay on opposite sides of the shirt body. Goes to show you how memory can fool you, and spacial manipulations in the brain can go awry. And I thought I was good at geometry.

Dan • 05/15/04 • 10:21 AM:

Pat, I’ve seen you fold laundry. It takes you two hours. Mom takes 5 minutes. That said, I’ve never cared about how long it takes for mom to fold my clothes. Oh, and I’ve never cared how well my clothes are folded either.

Point: Mom

I saw the folding board idea a long time ago on Mr Fad, the TV show that featured kids and their inventions. Some kid apparently “invented” his own, though I’m pretty sure his mom worked at a clothing store…And Mr Fad was the guy who invented the sticky rubber octopus you throw on windows and watch flop downward slowly. How dumb. I wish I had one.

Yeah, it’s symmetric in the video, but try to get it right on your own. Dad, I still think you’re good at geometry!

Patrick • 05/15/04 • 12:30 PM:

So why do you care how long it takes me to fold my clothes? If your aim is quickness, then you shouldn’t bother to fold your t-shirts at all; just throw them on the floor. Oh, wait. That is your method.

Anita • 05/16/04 • 8:38 PM:

These are some interesting (and fun to read) comments, which just goes to show there’s a lot to say about even the most ordinary things. Am I the only person to hang their t-shirts on a hanger? I’m terrible at folding them and don’t even try anymore. Anything that can go on a hanger, goes on a hanger. T-shirts, tank tops, even nightgowns. That’s always been my solution.

Dad • 05/16/04 • 9:24 PM:

Anita, you must have lots of closet space. How much I hang vs. how much I fold (or my wife folds, if she’s in the mood) is a function of dresser to closet ratio. Hanging is preferred, but my closet has been full for as long as I can remember. Lately, my drawers are full too, so floor space is beginning to enter the equation. I realize I should get rid of some of those shirts that I haven’t worn since Nehru jackets were in style, but that takes time, and you never know when Kathleen is going to go on another “retro” kick and need to borrow my clothes.

Anita • 05/16/04 • 10:14 PM:

I have one large walk-in closet, with room to spare. I’m not real big on clothes — I go for the basics, so I guess that helps with the space. I also don’t like to shop (hmmmm, maybe I’m the only person who hangs up t-shirts and the only woman who hates to shop). And lastly, I’m very good about giving clothes to the Goodwill. Once or twice a year I go through my clothes, and if I haven’t worn it in at least 2-3 years, out it goes (usually).

David • 05/19/04 • 10:37 PM:

Pat, you’re so right about Dan’s method. Dan doesn’t use a walk in closet or hangers. He uses what’s called the ‘bed drawer’ or ‘bed closet’ or ‘bed hanger’ or ‘pile it on the bed that’s super huge’ - take your pick. I, on the other hand, never do this. What I could never understand (maybe this means something) is why people (read: MOM) would fold underwear. Who cares? First, it doesn’t really get wrinkly, and if it did, who cares (an aside: there once was a time when I didn’t understand why people changed their underwear).

Mom is the ultimate folder of clothes. I’m possibly the worst (when I actually do it - sometimes I’ll just lay them down nicely and hope they don’t wrinkle).

Dan, you never mentioned how you found out about that site. It does raise interesting questions. Hmm.

ps. whoopty freakin’ do

Patrick • 05/20/04 • 9:00 AM:

Whoa, David. Watch that profanity there! I think Anita has a good system of donating clothes, but maybe Mom will make more money long run. When all those clothes she’s got saved in the basement and in my and Dan’s closets come back in style, she’s got the vintage threads! In fact, they may be back in style now! Hurry, Mom and Dad, sell those clothes on eBay!

By the way, Anita, Dan used to have his t-shirts hanging in his closet. He also had everyone else’s t-shirts there, since Mom never knew who had worn their Notre Dame “The Shirt” that week. Dan ended up with four or five copies of each.

Dan probably found that site through a link on Coudal.com or another gathering place for interesting links to strange things. Nothing psychoanalytical about it. Right, Dan?

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