How to Make Pig Shapes Out of Napkins

Turn cloth napkins into delightful works of art with napkin origami.

Folding napkins into animal shapes, also known as napkin origami, is an easy and enjoyable project. It's also a clever way to decorate a dinner table. Perhaps you want to delight dinner guests with an entertaining place setting, or amuse kids at a child's birthday party. Maybe you just want to impress loved ones with your origami skills. No matter the reason, napkin origami is sure to perk up any meal. The pig shape is a common and simple design that practically anyone can make.

Things You'll Need

• Large rectangular cloth napkin
• Small rectangular cloth napkin

Instructions

Instructions

1. Lay flat the large napkin horizontally and tightly roll the left and right sides to the center.

2. Turn over the napkin and fold it in half from top to bottom. You should now have two rolls on top and two on bottom. Pull the corner of the napkin out of each roll.

3. Hold the left side's top and bottom corners in one hand and do the same with the opposite corners in the other hand. Pull them apart. Fold the napkin in half into a 'sitting' position so you have two rolls on top and two on bottom -- these are the legs of the pig. Set the napkin aside.

4. Fold the small napkin in half from left to right. Fold the left side over again, about a half inch. Rotate the napkin 90 degrees, putting the folded edge at the top.

5. Bring the top corners down toward the center to form a triangle. Fold the point of the triangle behind the napkin about an inch. Roll the sides in tightly toward the center. Turn it over and rotate the napkin 180 degrees.

6. Pull down one layer from the top to make a forehead. Adjust the corners to make ears. Place this napkin on top of the larger one for a completed pig.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash and dry your napkins just before doing this activity, making them easier to fold.

• Cloth napkins are best to use because they won't tear when you fold and pull on them, as paper napkins will.

• The small napkin should be about half the size of the large one.

• Place black felt circles on the finished product for eyes and nostrils, if desired.

References

• Do-It-Yourself Towel Animal Theatre

Resources

• Origami Resource Center