Types of Table Napkin Folding

A napkin when creatively folded enhances the look of your table and the dining experience. There are many ways to fold cloth napkins, so choose one that reflects your style and personality. Select napkins with threads that are firmly woven such as cotton or linen because folds will hold better. You may also starch the napkins lightly to make it easier to fold.

When you don't have enough time to prepare, this is a good form to use. To create the basic rectangle form take the top left and right edges and put them softly to the middle. The form, however, is sensitive to wind.

A slightly starched napkin will make your work easier. To create this form, lay the napkin face down and fold it in half with the open end toward you. Fold it in quarters then fold it in accordion style, keeping the open ends at the top. Fold it in half and tuck it into a glass.

This style is easy to form with most napkins. To create this form, lay the napkin face down and fold it in half diagonally, then rotate it so that the open end faces away from you. Fold the right end up to the far corner, and do the same with the left side, creating a diamond shape. Turn the napkin over, making sure the open end is facing away from you. Now fold the napkin in half, making the north side tip meet the south side tip. Turn the napkin over, making the open end towards you. Then fold it along the center seam.

This form gives a decorative touch to your silverware. To create this style, fold the napkin in half, making sure the open end faces you. Fold it in three quarters, with the open corner facing toward the right. Roll the top-most layer of the napkin diagonally until it reaches the center, pressing it flat. Roll the next layer until it meets the first layer and press it, too, and repeat this step the third time. Turn the napkin over, folding the right side back one third of the way, and fold the left side back one half of the way and press it. Flip it over and you're now ready to insert the spoon, fork and knife.

This elegant form may need ironing. Fold the napkin in half with the open end toward you. From the left end of the napkin, make one-inch pleats accordion style, leaving one end with two-thirds of unfolded napkin for fan support. With the accordion folds on the outside, fold the napkin in half. Fold the unfolded corners diagonally and tuck them under the accordion folds then open the fan and stand it up.

This may be the easiest form because you don't need pressing or starching, but you will need napkin rings. Just pick up the napkin from the center and insert it through a napkin ring.