Cloth Table Napkin Folding Ideas

In one form or another, napkins have been used since at least Middle Ages. Though mostly functional, they can also serve a decorative function on a table. You may have seen elaborately-folded napkins adorning place settings at fancy restaurants, but it is possible to achieve a similarly elegant look on your own table for everyday enjoyment or a special occasion. Try these folding techniques the next time you want to impress. Does this Spark an idea?

Basic triangle

The simplest of folds, the basic triangle adds an element of crispness with little effort. Start with your napkin folded in the manner of a paper napkin; fold the large square in half, then fold in half again, forming a square. Pick any corner and bring it down to match the diagonally-opposite corner, forming a triangle. Run your finger along the middle crease, and situate the folded napkin on the left-hand side of the dinner plate with pointed side facing left, away from the plate.

Silverware pouch

This folding technique provides you with a handy place to tuck your silverware when you set the table. Start again with the large square napkin folded twice into a square. On a flat surface, turn the napkin so that the open end is pointing away from you. Grab two layers from the top point, and fold them down to meet the bottom corner. Then, simply tuck the side corners behind, in an organized fashion. You are left with a pocket into which you can put silverware or chopsticks.

Scarf style

This method is not really a fold at all but more a gathering of material; you will need a napkin ring. All you need to do is lie the napkin out flat on your work surface. It should not be doubled over in any way but should be completely flat. Pinch the middle of the napkin, and pick it up from the table in this way. Then slide it through a napkin ring, letting the material fall into a natural drape. This technique works well for both formal and informal settings.

Fleur de lis

This style will make your guests think you spent a lot of time perfecting the table setting, but the secret is that this fold is not as hard to perfect as it might seem from the finished product. You will want to try this for an event at which you will have wine glasses on the table. To begin, lay your napkin out completely flat on the table. Fold it in half diagonally with the open point facing toward you. Take the open point, and fold it up so that it extends about one inch past the top flat part of the triangle. Your napkin should resemble a boat at this point. Next accordion-fold the entire napkin beginning at either the left or right side. You should now have the entire napkin folded up and gathering into your hand. Set it down, with the pointed tip up, into a goblet, and let it naturally fall into an elegant fleur de lis shape.