Socks are an important part of your wardrobe. They are worn with outfits ranging from casual to business or more formal. Yet, losing or misplacing a sock is a problem for many people. Unfortunately, if socks are just thrown into a pile or shoved in your sock drawer without being sorted and folded, you increase your chances of not being able to find two matching socks. That is why folding your socks and keeping them together is so important. While you likely have your favorite way to fold your socks, here five different ways you can fold them.
Fold Over the Top
This is your basic sock-folding method. Place one sock on a flat surface. Place the other sock flat on top of the other sock. Then fold the cuffs over. If you want to make sure the socks stay flat, you want to smooth them down and make sure that they are perfectly aligned before folding the cuffs over. If you just want to get the job done as quickly as possible, you can skip putting the socks on a flat surface and instead simply grab the two matching socks and fold the cuffs over while hold both socks in your hands.
This method works great for people who are in a hurry or if you have a lot of socks to fold. You can fold several pairs of socks per minute. Plus, your socks generally stay together well, even as you, your spouse, or your children are rooting around, trying to find the perfect pair of socks. Some people feel that it stretches out the tops of the socks, but I have never found that to be a problem.
One Inside the Other
If you have a baby or a toddler, you may want to try the tucking one sock inside the other method. This also works well with no-show or ankle socks, which may not fold as well other ways. The basic idea is that you grab both socks, and you place one sock inside the other. This is a simple way to keep small socks together. It does not work well with longer socks, and socks can get separated easier than they would with some other sock-folding methods, especially if socks are being thrown around as someone is trying to find a particular pair of socks.
Military Style
If you need a space-saving method, you likely want to try folding your socks military style. Lay both socks on a flat surface with one sock on top of the other. Smooth out any wrinkles in the socks. Then, starting at the toe, roll the socks tightly together. When the socks are completely rolled, grab the inside of the outer sock with one hand, and hold it down. With the other hand, pull the outside edge of the outer sock around the socks. If any parts of the socks are sticking out, tuck them into the sock ball. If you are unsure how to do this or how it should look in the end, be sure to check out this article on using the military style sock-folding method.
Military method best with long socks. Your socks probably would not stay together well if you tried it with no-show or ankle socks or if you tried it with baby or toddler socks.
One disadvantage to using the military style sock-folding method is that it takes longer than most methods. It probably isn't a technique you will want to use often if you have a large family. Fortunately, it is great if you need to fit your socks in a small space, such as for traveling or if you only have a small sock drawer. Plus, the socks stay together really well, even if you have a rambunctious child rifling through a sock drawer.
The Sock Roll
This method starts out much the same way as the military style. You start out with the socks laying one on top of the other on a flat surface. Then starting with the toe, roll them together. With this approach, your focus does not need to be on rolling them as tightly as you would do with military style. Once the socks are rolled, leave them that way rather than folding one sock over the other.
Like military style, this method works best with long socks. Once completed, you can put your socks in your drawer with each pair of socks placed next to another pair of sock so you can easily see each pair of socks.
The rolling method works best for people who can keep their sock drawers organized. While it will keep the socks together, they will not stay together for long if people are moving socks around, trying to find a specific pair of socks. It likely is not the best method for organizing your children's sock drawers. If, though, you are concerned about the cuffs of your socks being stretched out, this might be the right method for you since you never have to pull one sock over the other.
The Square
One final sock-folding method you may want to try is the square. This sock-folding style also works best with long socks. Lay both socks on a flat surface. The socks need to be perpendicular with the socks crossing in the middle, forming an "x" or a cross. Fold the toe-side of the bottom sock over the top sock, tucking it in under the top sock. Then fold the top part of the bottom sock over the socks. After that, fold the toe-side of the top sock over the socks. Then fold the top part of the top sock over the socks. Tuck in the top parts of the socks, which will still be sticking out. This video will show you how to use the square sock-folding method. You may need to watch it several times to get the method down.
Like the military style, this technique takes more time than most sock-folding methods. It does, though, keep your socks together well, and it does allow your sock drawer to look organized. You can stack pairs of socks on top of each other or line them up side-by-side in your drawer.
Of course, these are just a few of the great ways to fold socks. We encourage you to find your favorite sock-folding method or methods and share them with others. The important thing is keeping your socks together. After all, you don't want them to get separation anxiety, missing their other half.