To think this is normal? (lighthearted!)

[mrsmalcolmreynolds]

I was putting away some laundry the other day that MIL had done for us (v grateful for this as life is crazy busy at the moment) and commented to DH that she pairs socks by just lying them on top of each other, rather than folding them round inside each other so they form a sort of ball. DH then said that before he and I met he had never come across the "ball" approach to sock pairing.

I was slightly flummoxed by this (and also how we've managed not to have this conversation in 17 years!) as surely if you don't fold socks into each other all the pairs get separated? It had never occurred to me that people wouldn't do this with their socks but I thought I'd check here in case I've been committing an odd sock faux pas my whole life and have dragged DH into it too (he does plenty of sock folding and does it my way)?

I used to ball them. Dh folded them, which seemed easier so I switched.

Now dc put away the socks and they do neither.

My solution is to have all socks identical.

Definitely ball them. Anything else would result in sock chaos.

Pananny but aren't you depriving your odd socks of the chance to make their way into the alternate dimension in which they can meet the biro lids that are their true soul mates?

I make a ball now, but growing up my mum would fold them in pairs (she still does). I remember my friends mum putting them into balls and being very impressed!

A balled sock is truly a thing of beauty and I find much easier and more satisfying to do a drawer throw with...anything else wouldn't land with the required thud in the target! HTH

Just the tops here. Never fall apart but quickly to do and undo than a ball, for me.
Here’s what I mean!

QuickER

I used to completely ball them, but now just semi-ball the tops.

I have seventy billion pairs of varying degrees of washed-outness black socks with various types of finish on the elastic, all which need to be paired appropriately.

I have still managed to go to work with one black and one bloody navy sock!

It's completely exhausting.

If by some miracle a sock still has a pair when they come out of the wash of course you ball them thus something in the household is not in chaos but a perfect union. Over the last few weeks I have discovered the joy of the service wash. I dropped off a massive bag today that was a weeks worth of dark washes. 2 hours later picked up perfectly folded clothes (which will not need ironing) and all socks balled for just under £10!

Balling socks = baggy socks.

I make a loose-ish ball, DH used to ball them up so tightly it would stretch the outer sock so I had to train him!

Balled up socks are useful for throwing at family members who aren't looking in your direction, then I blame it on someone else. Family member then throws socks back at the wrong person, then a full-on sock fight ensues. This can not be done with flat or folded socks, they will come apart and need sorted again. The sock fight is the best part of owning socks.

Yes Piglet, which is why I go for the fold over top semi balling method!

Don't bother. Odd socks is the way to go, only have to grab any 2 and you have a pair.

How can you have sock fights from behind the sofa cushion fort on a rainy day if the socks are not balled? Hm? You strange sock folding people you.

Balls all the way you can't pair them without balling them

I just fold the tops, when I cba to even do that.

Mrsmalcomreynolds I am pretty sure the socks, biro lids and teaspoons have some pretty wild parties most nights. I was given a rather special Raspberry gin for Xmas and have had a few glasses. Just to get one and there is a tiny dribble in the bottom.
No other explanation. I have discerning socks and teaspoons.

I don't pair socks, life is too short

I make sick rabbits, I also hate it when I have 2 black socks that aren't actually a pair because of different blackness. I keep them for a couple of weeks and then chuck them. I only buy black socks with coloured heels or toes so matching is easier but I still end up with odd ones . I feel sorry for lone socks.

Sick rabbits - sock rabbits

I sock rabbit and they always stay together. DP puts the ankle end of one inside the other so they come apart as soon as you blink. Drives me nuts. Why go to all the extra effort of pairing them when they don't stay. Not like it is any easier!

I ball them. Although DH has got lots of them annoying loafer socks that don't ball very well

I ball the top and leave the bottom out. Also in patterned ones I have one sock inside out so when I fold over the top you can see the pattern otherwise it just bugs me.

Crikey - I started this thread half afraid I wouldn't find anyone at all interested in sock etiquette, but as ever MN has exceeded my expectations. There are degrees of sock folding sophistication out there I hadn't dreamed of . Bed calls but I'll be interested to see night owl sock input in the morning ...

I completely ball dhs and just do the tops on dss otherwise I can’t tell what belongs to who when it comes to putting them away , one black sock looks much like another .