How to Fold a Pleated Fan Napkin

Here's a clever way to fold a napkin--like a work of art that comes with its own easel stand. You can create a table setting that becomes a real scene-setter for your special celebrations.

Things You'll Need

• Napkins

Instructions

1. Fold the napkin in half. Starting at one end, make accordion (zigzag) pleats, about 1 inch wide.

2. Keep folding until you reach the napkin's halfway point.

3. Fold the end with the pleats in half so the pleats are on the outside of the fold.

4. Fold the napkin's unpleated end so the napkin makes a right-angle shape. To do this, lay the napkin down with the open end of the pleats facing away from you. Fold the unpleated section of the napkin at a 90-degree angle so the top edge of the napkin meets the edge of the pleats. The tail end of the unpleated section should be pointing away from the open end of the pleats. This is the stand for the fan.

5. Fold the tail end under the napkin. Turn the napkin so the fan opens toward the top and the stand supports the fan.