Super Easy Hacks: How to Fold Skirts

1. Lay skirt down

Lay the circle skirt front side up on a flat surface like a table, countertop, or bed.

2. Fold right side

Fold the right side of the circle skirt, roughly one third of it, inward toward the center of the skirt.

3. Fold left side

Fold the left side of the circle skirt, roughly one third of it, inward toward the center of the skirt— smoothing it out as you go.

The circle skirt will now be roughly in the shape of a rectangle.

4. Fold bottom up

Fold the bottom one third of the circle skirt upwards starting with the hem.

5. Fold top down

Fold the top third of the circle skirt downwards starting with the waistband.

6. Fold once more (optional)

Fold the circle skirt in half one additional time whenever you’re working with a longer circle skirt.

How to fold pleated skirts

Pleated skirts are so pretty to wear, but they can look like a total pain to fold. They have so many extra seams to worry about, after all. 

Luckily, folding a pleated skirt doesn’t have to be an impossible task. We’ve broken it down step-by-step to show you how to fold pleated skirts at home and keep them looking great until the next time you pull them out:

1. Lay flat

Lay the pleated skirt front side up on a flat surface like a table, countertop, or bed.

2. Fold inward

Fold one side of the pleated skirt, roughly ⅓ of it, inward toward the center of the skirt.

3. Fold the other side

Fold the other side of the pleated skirt, roughly ⅓ of it, inward toward the center of the skirt. Carefully smoothing out the pleats as you fold. The pleated skirt will now be in the shape of a long rectangle.

4. Fold the bottom

Fold the bottom ⅓ of the pleated skirt upwards starting with the hem.

5. Fold the top

Fold the top ⅓ of the pleated skirt downwards starting with the waistband.

6. Fold again (optional)

Fold the pleated in half one additional time whenever you’re working with a longer pleated skirt.

How to fold hoop skirts

Hoop skirts look the trickiest to fold by far, so you may be tempted to leave this staple out of your wardrobe entirely.

However, hoop skirts are amazing additions to formal dresses and the very best costumes out there. You may find yourself owning a hoop skirt you just can’t bear to part with, after all.

Because of this, we’ve made it our mission to help you out. Here are our best tips for how to fold hoop skirts like the experts:

1. Hold upright

Hold the hoop skirt upright in the air with one hand holding the top of the hoop skirt and the other hand gently grasping the boning at the bottom.

2. Gather layers

Starting with your bottom hand, slowly collect the layers of material as you work your way up to the top hoop then push the tulle up into the hoop.

3. Lay on a flat surface

Carefully place the entire hoop skirt onto a clean, flat surface. While still holding the hoop and layers of fabric bunched in one hand.

4. Gather layers

Use your other hand and thumb to collect the layers of material on the other side of the hoop skirt. Start from the boning at the bottom and working your way up to the top.

5. Tuck

Carefully take both sides of the hoop skirt into one hand and use your other hand to tuck the remaining tulle into the bones of the hoop skirt.

6. Fold

Slide both hands about ⅓ of the way down the hoop skirt then fold one end of the hoop onto the other end so that it’s folded in half.

7. Tuck

Tuck any loose tulle back into the hoop skirt.

8. Keep in storage bag

Slide the folded hoop skirt into a storage bag and close it, so that the hoop skirt does not pop back open again.

Then, store the bag in a dresser drawer or bin.

How to fold skirts to save space

Learning how to fold skirts to save space is an art that anyone can master.

Even the puffiest or longest skirts can be folded down to fit neatly in a small space like a dresser drawer, closet storage bin, or in a storage tote under your bed.

Here are some things you should keep in mind while folding skirts:

• Be sure to follow the directions carefully to avoid finding a wrinkled mess the next time you pull your skirt out of storage.
• Fold your skirt tightly. A loose skirt will not fit easily in storage, and it’s more likely to wrinkle.
• Smooth your skirt out after each step of the process.
• For purposes of space, fold your skirt as compactly as possible. 

How to store folded skirts

The best way to store skirts is to fold them and stack them vertically in your storage container.

This maximizes the use of available storage space, but it also keeps your drawers tidy and keeps your skirts from getting wrinkled, creased, or snagged. 

In addition to dresser drawers, closet storage bins, and under-the-bed storage totes, you can also stack folded skirts on open shelves in your closet or armoire.

How to fold skirts

Do you have skirt-folding tips that you’d like to share? If so, drop them in the comments below! I love to hear from you all.

Check out my post on How to Fold Clothes Military-style.