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Bettesworth Construction
cardboard projects

How to Make a Cardboard T-Shirt Folding Jig

Make a cardboard T-shirt folding jig with either a fixed four-piece template or a six-panel board sized to your preferred folded shirt.

By Bettesworth Construction Team 3 min read
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Make a cardboard T-shirt folding jig by joining flat panels with tape hinges. Choose either a published four-piece template with fixed metric measurements or a six-panel layout sized to your preferred folded shirt; their dimensions are different designs, so do not mix them. You’ll need cardboard, tape, a ruler or measuring tape, and scissors or a sharp knife.

Choose a layout before cutting

Design Panel layout and sizing Best fit
Four-piece template One 72 × 35 cm panel, one 72 × 25 cm panel, and two 40 × 25 cm panels, following the diagram for orientation and hinge placement. A fixed metric plan you can follow as published.
Six-panel board Six panels, each cut to the desired finished shirt-fold dimensions. One DIY example uses six 25 × 30 cm rectangles in two rows of three; those measurements are an example, not a universal size. A board tailored to the width and length you want.

The four-piece measurements and assembly details are from the Goethe-Institut-hosted WDR T-Shirt Folding Board template. The customizable six-panel method is described in a Make: project excerpt and a DIY guide. A separate ThriftyFun design calls for main panels at least 22.25 × 13.75 inches and recommends increasing the dimensions for larger shirts; it is a distinct plan, not a substitute measurement set for the WDR template (ThriftyFun instructions).

Gather materials and set the finished size

  • Corrugated or other suitably stiff cardboard, large enough for your chosen panel layout.
  • Adhesive tape or duct tape to make flexible hinges.
  • A ruler or measuring tape.
  • Scissors or a sharp knife.

For the six-panel design, first fold a shirt by hand and measure the finished rectangle. Cut each panel to that target size, as advised in the Make: project. A guide’s 25 × 30 cm example may not suit every shirt or preferred fold. Use a stable cutting surface and take care when cutting; the cited plans do not require specialized hardware.

Build the four-piece template

  1. Cut the four pieces to the listed dimensions: 72 × 35 cm, 72 × 25 cm, and two pieces 40 × 25 cm.
  2. Before taping, mark the contact edges on the main panel and use the template diagram to verify each piece’s orientation.
  3. Position the side panels 8 cm below the top and 5 cm from the left and right edges, then tape the left piece to the main panel.
  4. Tape the right and lower pieces to the front and back as shown in the diagram. The template text places the lower panel 41 cm from the top edge and 31 cm from the lower edge; confirm its orientation in the diagram before fixing the hinge.

Build the six-panel customizable board

  1. Cut six matching rectangles to the finished fold dimensions you measured.
  2. Lay them out in two rows of three, keeping a narrow gap between adjoining panels so they can flex. One DIY guide recommends a gap of up to 5 mm.
  3. Tape across each joint to form hinges. The cited guide describes taping both faces of a joint; keep the tape flexible enough for the panels to fold.

That spacing and hinge approach comes from the DIY six-panel instructions. Keep the six-panel dimensions separate from the four-piece template: the two layouts are alternatives, not parts of one combined pattern.

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Geniusidea Shirt Folding Board T Shirt Folder for Adults Laundry Room Tough PP Plastic Folding Tool 27.16"x22.44" Easy to Fold Clothes into a Uniform Size, Blue
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Shirt Folder Board Mini Clothes Folding Board Durable Plastic Tshirt Folder
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  • Suitable for almost size clothes: For larger sizes, please fold the portion that extends beyond the clothes folder toward the center
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Fold a T-shirt with the jig

  1. Lay the board flat and place the shirt on it back-up, with the collar at the top.
  2. Fold the left side inward over the board, then fold the right side inward.
  3. If the shirt’s bottom extends beyond the board, fold the hem inward as needed.
  4. Flip the lower middle panel upward to bring the bottom of the shirt over the folded sides.
  5. Remove the board. The sequence—centering the board, folding the sides and sleeves, then folding the shirt lengthwise and removing the board—is also reflected in Foot Locker’s vendor folding standard.

Adjust the board if the fold is not the size you want

  • Finished fold too wide or narrow: Change the panel dimensions in a six-panel build to match the target rectangle. With the fixed four-piece template, follow its specified layout rather than borrowing measurements from another design.
  • Shirt is larger than the board: Fold the bottom edge inward before flipping the lower panel, or choose larger panels when making a custom board. The separate ThriftyFun design specifically recommends increasing its main-panel dimensions for larger shirts.
  • Panels catch instead of moving: Check that adjoining edges have a small hinge gap and that the tape joint can flex. The DIY example allows up to 5 mm; the exact gap depends on the board and tape.

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