How to Fan a Napkin

Folding napkins for a beautiful table has become quite an art form over the last few decades. Restaurants often create unusual designs from swans to puppies in order to add a bit of interest and whimsy to their dining room tables. Now regular people are experimenting with the art form in their own homes for elegant dinner parties, family celebrations, and holidays. One of the easiest ways to fold a napkin is the fan.

Things You'll Need

• Napkins (cloth or paper)
• Elastic bands
• Napkin rings

Instructions

1. 

   Choose cloth or paper napkins with some “body” so that they will hold the pleats of the fan both lying on the table or sitting up. Paper napkins are acceptable for casual settings, but all other events require a cloth napkin.

2. 

   Decide how large you want the napkin fan to be. The best napkin fans are folded in thirds because it gives the piece plenty of fan pleating.

3. Iron each cloth napkin, if necessary, in order to assure that the fan will not have any wrinkles. Add a bit of spray starch in the ironing process if the napkin requires extra body to make the pleats stand up correctly.

4. 

   Lay the napkin out on a flat surface and fold one third of it toward you. Fold the other third away from you. Press the napkin into place if you desire sharp pleats and creases.

5. 

   Beginning at one end of the folded napkin, start pleating the fan by folding the end of the napkin away from you at about 3/4-inch to 1 inch.

6. Flip the napkin over so that the first pleat is now underneath the napkin. Using the first pleat as a guidepost, bring the first pleat out and over the napkin, making a second pleat. Continue this process until the napkin is completely pleated from end to end.

7. 

   Secure the napkin at the end with an elastic band, allowing the pleats to fan out from end to end. Place a napkin ring over the elastic band at the end.

8. 

   Place the folder napkin down into a hard napkin ring if you want the fanned piece to stand up on the table or one a plate.

Tips & Warnings

• Fabric or flexible napkin rings work better for fanned napkins that will lie on a flat surface like a table or plate.

• Larger napkins like those that are at least 12 x 12 inches work better for napkin fans.

• Heavy napkins are better suited to half fold fan pleats.

• Lighter weight cloth and paper napkins work better when folder into thirds before pleating.

• Do not use sharp napkin rings for children's place settings.

• There is no use in attempting to fan pleat a flimsy napking. The pleats will not hold and the napkin won't lie or stand up properly.