How to Fold a Napkin Decoratively

Carefully folded napkins should be part of a formal dinner setting.

A perfectly decorated dining table creates the look of a formal dinner. Flowers, fine china and folded napkins are placed on a table to make it look exquisite. Cloth napkins can be easily folded to make decorative table arrangements. They can be placed on or to the side of the plates or in the glasses. Use cloth napkins in different ways to complement any table setting.

Things You'll Need

• Iron
• Cloth napkins
• Napkin rings

Instructions

1. Iron all of the cloth napkins making sure that all of the wrinkles have been removed.

2. Place a napkin on the table. Fold it in half lining up the edges of the napkin at the bottom.

3. Starting at one end, make 1-inch pleats. Continue to pleat the entire folded napkin from top to bottom.

4. Holding the pleated napkin with one hand, place the napkin ring on the bottom of the napkin. Slide the ring up the cloth napkin, stopping at about 3 inches.

5. Spread the pleats to form a wide fan. Fold the bottom of the napkin at the top of the napkin ring. Insert the fanned napkin into a goblet.

6. For a variation, place a flower in between the cloth napkin and the napkin ring and lay the fanned napkin on top of the place setting.

7. Glue the place card to the napkin ring and then place the cloth napkin on to the place setting if seating has been arranged.

Tips & Warnings

• Use raffia, ribbon or beads in place of a napkin ring.

• Use water to dampen napkins when ironing.

• Make sure to use a dry, clean surface when folding cloth napkins.