You might think you know how to fold clothes and household cloth items, but this book is worth perusing just to see if there might be a simpler or more efficient method than the one you’ve been using through your own trial-and-error efforts, or that taught to you by your mother, aunt or grandmother. Sometimes, there’s an easier way.

The Folding Book, by professional organiser, interior decorator and entrepreneur, Janelle Cohen, is an illustrated guide to efficiently folding whatever might need folding. There are clear and explicit, step-by-step instructions for folding many similar items, so by necessity there is quite a lot of repetition, but the reader can click on, or page to, the particular item of interest from the table of contents for a full description on how to fold that item.

It is very well organised, divided into colour-coded sections for Basic, Feminine, Masculine, Baby, Kid, Linens and Travel. In Cohen’s introduction she explains how using her technique to “file” items in drawers allows for easier finding and managing specific items of clothing.

In the sections for Baby and Linens, Cohen shows the most basic of folding, so that even a novice who has never folded a tea towel, a pillowslip, a wash cloth or a sheet may be instructed. She does make hard work of the fitted sheet, giving a far more complicated method than is necessary. But order can even be brought to a drawerful of G-string undies (thongs), should this be desired. While the title claim: Over 100 Folds That Will Change Your Life is clearly an exaggeration, this is still a handy volume for those who need it.
This unbiased review is from a temporary digital ARC provided by NetGalley and Quarto Publishing – Rock Point.

This is a great little guide to help start you on your tidying up journey. I know I struggle with folding clothes and give up quite a bit, but I feel like I will definitely use some of these tips and tricks and start tidying up around the house.

This is exactly what it promises to be -- a book on how to fold things. There are color photos showing every step of how to fold things like pants, underwear, sheets, tank tops, socks, blankets, etc.

The folds are designed so your clothes can be "filed" in their drawers instead of piled, so it's not that helpful if you don't plan to use that system. They become tiny little squares that stand up on themselves so you can see everything in your drawers at once. I get the appeal of that for some, but I don't file my clothes for multiple reasons and this doesn't work for me when I sit in the living room and fold laundry for the household to put away. This seems like you'd need to fold as you put things away so they can go right into the drawer standing up. Also, I just don't care to ever spend the time needed to fold and tuck a bikini just so, or make all my underwear look like this. Marie Kondo would be sad too, because Cohen tucks her socks (fold and then pull the cuff over the two of them). I tend to do that with just the top of the cuff too and I am not one to feel sorry for socks, but Ms. Kondo says it stretches them out and is opposed.

In many cases, the sections seemed superfluous and just designed to bulk up the book. For instance, there's a baby section, a men's section and a women's section. Each of these has pretty much the exact same kinds of clothes shown being folded the exact same way. They're just a little smaller or a different color. And there are oodles of pictures showing how to fold various types of pants that are all the exact same steps (and in every single one she explains what she calls "the bootie triangle" and how to fold it like it's the first time she's mentioned it). In the baby section we see how to fold a fitted crib sheet and then in the household section you see how to fold a fitted sheet. And so on. I just don't know how many step by step photos we need of how to fold a washcloth into a square and then how to fold a dish towel and then how to fold a bath towel and then how to fold a short sleeved shirt versus a long sleeve shirt versus one that's a tiny bit different. I did like the little tuck method she uses for blankets but otherwise I think I could have seen a one page graphic on how to fold things the way she does and all my needs would be met. But I am not particularly fold-crazy so your mileage may vary.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

This book is purely and simply about folding clothes and household items. There is very little narrative, basically this book is just a lot of pictures of steps to folding. After a while it does become rather repetitive. I thought there would have been more helpful tips and inspiring suggestions but there was nothing new in this book. Overall a disappointing book.

As someone who currently their wardrobe either in the dryer, strewn on their bedroom chair, or haphazardly shoved in their dresser, The Folding Book was aspirational. I am in awe of the preciseness that the author has put into folding each household and clothing item and loved seeing the photos of the dresser drawers so neatly arranged. This book will be appreciated by people who, like the author, have the time and inclination to precisely fold all of their clothes and other fabric household items. They will be able to beautifully organize all of their fabric goods. Unfortunately, while the tidy part of my brain screams for me to follow this book, the impatient part of my brain tells me that it's just not going to happen.

There is one thing about the book that did, unfortunately, annoy me a bit; having the photos and folding instructions for clothing items that are virtually identical repeated for women, men, kids, and babies was overly repetitious and, if I might say, rather annoying. For me, it would make more sense to have the basic clothing items - t-shirts, pants, sweaters, etc. - in their own chapter and then having the more unique items such as bras and bikinis for feminine and boxers for masculine in their own chapters.

That all said, the photos and accompanying descriptions are very well done, making it easy to understand each step so that even an unorganized person such as myself could have dresser drawers look neat and tidy. While I know I just don't have that level of patience to wonderfully fold everything as shown in this book, I will admit that seeing my socks and underwear folded up into neat little cotton packages did make me feel immense satisfaction. Who knows, maybe this book might just inspire this admittedly messy human to at least get the clothes off their bedroom chair and into their dresser, folded neatly.

A well explained, well illustrated book to help organise your clothes, linen, etc.. It provides good ideas on how to fold and then tidy away your clothes, stacking items upright rather than in piles which never stay tidy.
Unfortunately I didn't learn anything new but I'm sure it would be of use to many people, especially those who still struggle with the dreaded 'fitted sheet'!

The Folding Book by Janelle Cohen is exactly that, a book on folding. Folding can be therapeutic and this book has all kinds of folding techniques to help you organise your wardrobe, your draws and everything in between. Starting with the basics and going through feminine, masculine, baby, kids, linens and travel. Straight forward instructions and photos to illustrate the point this is a well put together book.

Just by flipping through a few pages and seeing how nicely organized all the information was, I knew this was going to be a solid book. It has step-by-step photographs of every foldable item and it is all color coordinated by male/female/children/linens/travel. Going through the book is extremely easy and since the folding technique foundation is the same for nearly every item, incredibly easy to pick up and start using.

The book is broken down as follows: introduction; getting started; the technique; folding basics; feminine; masculine; baby; kid; linens; travel. The sections do have more than clothes: e.g., the baby section has tips on folding elastic-sided crib sheets (something I thought would always be impossible to do nicely) and the travel section discusses travel cubes. There is a nice section on getting started, the technique's foundation, how this folding style means all your clothes are nicely laid out but also easy to find and manage (e.g., you can easily see which t-shirt is in the row), and then a glossary of folding terms rounds out the extras. Each section is broken down by item type, with the Basics section covering unisex items such as tank tops, shirts, casual pants, socks.

There is a good variety of clothing types - from no-show or ankle socks to pajama sets, beanie hats to bandana bibs. The linen sections included robes, towels, comforters, aprons, tablecloths, etc. Each section is photographed on a color-coordinated background: e., the linens are all photographed on a purple background and masculine on blue. It makes it super easy to find the section you need. The entire book is nearly fully photographic with each step clearly photographed, numbered, and with concise one-sentence directions. The font is large and easy to read. It really is a snap to use the book.

In all, I am highly impressed. This is very easy to use, effective, efficient, and one of the best designs/presentations I have seen in a long time. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

A visual guide on how to Mari Kondo your clothes. The directions on how to fold fitted sheet were handy. Otherwise, nothing mind-blowing.

Did you know that folding is a thing and that it could help to organize your life? In the process, it may well help you to feel better as you will feel more in control of your belongings and surroundings. The author notes that this slow activity can be restful and therapeutic.

Following an introduction, the book includes information on Getting Started, The Technique, Folding Basics, and Editing While Folding. The book ends with a helpful Glossary.

Imagine what is in your drawers. Imagine feeling better about packing for a trip. Use the tips in this book with its clear illustrations and I am pretty sure that you will take pride in your progress.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Rock Point for thist book. All opinions are my own.