How to Fold Table Napkins

Have fun learning how to fold table napkins. The step-by-step instructions and detailed illustrations will help you to transform cloth napkins into classic folded napkin designs from the Victorian Era that will add class and excellence to any table.

By learning a variety of popular napkin folds, you'll always have a source of inexpensive table decorations for any occasion. There's plenty of illustrations, so allow time for the page to load.

How to Fold Table Napkins

Mrs. Beeton's Every-Day Cookery (1912-c. 1920)

The linen serviettes or table napkins should be neatly and tastefully folded when first put on the table. In ordinary family use they are often folded smoothly and slipped through napkin rings made of silver, ivory, or bone.

In the following, we give instructions and illustrations showing a few ways of making these useful articles an ornament to the table, but when these fancy designs are not fashionable in the household, the serviette should simply be folded neatly and laid flat on the plate.

The accompanying engravings depict popular methods of folding linen napkins. It must, however, be remembered that it is useless to attempt anything but the most simple forms unless the napkins have been slightly starched and smoothly ironed. In every case the serviette folding must be exact, or the result will be slovenly and unsightly.

The usual size of these indispensable accompaniments to the dinner table is a square measuring about 20 to 30 inches. The designs in the following illustrations are worked out with a square serviette, and there is a diagram showing how each serviette fold is made and the effect that is produced in every case.

A small dinner roll or piece of bread cut thick, about 3 inches square, should be placed in each folded napkin, when such designs as "The Mitre," are used, and the appearance of the dinner table may be greatly improved by putting a flower or small bouquet in napkins folded into other patterns.

How to Fold Table Napkins: The Classic Fan

The Single Fan

1. Fold the serviette into three in the manner shown in diagram 2.
2. (Diagram 2.)
3. Pleat, open out, and place in a serviette ring or glass.

The Corner, Double Fan

4. Fold into four in the manner shown in diagram 5.
5. (Diagram 5.)
6. Pleat, open out, and stand alone at the corner of the table.

The Tiered Fan

7. Fold or pleat in the manner shown in diagram 8.
8. (Diagram 8.)
9. Pleat, open out, and place in a glass or serviette ring.

The Triple Fan

10. Fold in the manner shown in diagram 11.
11. (Diagram 11.)
12. Pleat, open out, and stand alone.

How to Fold Table Napkins: Palm, Lily, Cactus

The Palm Leaf

1. Fold the serviette into four.
2. Then diagonally across and pleat.
3. The Palm Leaf.

The Lily

4. After the serviette has been folded into four, fold across diagonally and turn two loose leaves on to either side. Pleat and pull down two leaves from either side of the center.
5. The Lily.

The Cactus

6. Fold into four.
7. Then diagonally across, as for the Palm Leaf, and pull down the four leaves.
8. The Cactus.

How to Fold Table Napkins: The Mitre

The Mitre, or Bishops Hat

1. Fold the serviette into three.
2. Then the ends (A A) over to the center line (B).
3. Fold down the corners (C C) to the center.
4. Then fold the back across at the dotted line (D).
5. Tuck the point (E) into pleat (F).
6. And the other point (G) into the pleat on the reverse side (H).
7. Complete.

How to Fold Table Napkins; The Bishop

The Bishop

1. Fold the Serviette across at the dotted line (A).
2. Then the two portions (B,B) up at the dotted lines (BB and BB) to the center parts (C,C).
3. Fold across at the dotted line (E) turning up the portion marked (D).
4. Turn down the part marked (F) on to that marked (G).
5. Curl at the base of the triangle.
6. Insert the point of one side (H) into the pleat of the other (J).
7. Pull down the pointed leaves, curl and tuck them into the pleats.
8. Complete.

How to Fold Table Napkins: The Rose

The Rose

1. Lay the serviette flat on the table, and fold at the dotted lines so that the corners (A A A A) meet at center spot.
2. Without turning the serviette, fold the corners down again in the same manner.
3. And repeat again.
4. Now turn the serviette over onto the plain side.
5. Fold at the lines so that the corners (B B B B) meet at the center.
6. Hold a tumbler firmly on the serviette at the dotted circle.
7. Pull each of the points away from underneath.
8. Complete.

How to Fold Table Napkins: The Sachet

The Sachet, or Pocket

1. Fold the serviette into three.
2. Then the corners (A B) down to the center line (C).
3. Fold the flaps (C D C D) underneath, then fold triangular parts at center line (E).
4. Turn down the folds (F F) to form a stand.
5. Curl the triangular flap round.
6. Complete.

How to Fold Table Napkins: The Flat Sachet

The Flat Sachet, or Pocket

1. Fold the serviette into four.
2. Fold up half of the front pleat to form a band.
3. Fold into eight equal leaves and close up.
4. Tuck in each of the four corners (A) of the front pleat only on both front and back, and tuck the upper triangular part that is produced into the band.
5. Complete.

To make the Single Sachet, fold the serviette into three, then after making the band, fold into six, and make the diamond on one side only.

How to Fold Table Napkins: The Pyramid

The Pyramid

1. Fold the Serviette in half and turn down the four corners.
2. Fold over the triangle parts at the lines (A,A) so that points meet at the spot (B).
3. Fold back in half at (C).
4. Tuck the corners (A,A) into the center of the Serviette.
5. Turn down the sides (D,D) of the first pleat to center (E) and repeat on other side with the other pleat.
6. Turn up the points (F,F) to form a stand.
7. Complete.

How to Fold Table Napkins: The Fleur de Lis

Fleur de Lis (A)

1. Fold in half diagonally.
2. Then fold across at the line (A).
3. Pleat as shown, and pull out leaves.
4. Complete.

Fleur de Lis (B)

5. Fold in half diagonally.
6. Turn the portion marked (B) down on to (C), and bring the other triangular leaf over.
7. Pleat, pull out the leaves, and open.
8. Complete.

Fleur de Lis (C)

9. Fold in half diagonally.
10. Then in half again at the dotted line (E).
11. Turn down the top part (F) on to (G), but do not include the triangular leaves.
12. Pleat, pull out the folds, and open.
13. Complete.

How to Fold Table Napkins: The Vase

The Vase

1. Fold into four.
2. Turn down the corners (A,A).
3. Fold down the corners (A,A) again to the perpendicular lines (B,B).
4. Fold at the diagonal lines (C,C) and turn the end portions (D,D) upwards.
5. Fold at the dotted line, and bring the portion marked (D) over on to (E).
6. Fold over at dotted line and turn (F) on to (G).
7. Fold over the part marked (H) at the dotted line.
8. Fold at dotted line, and bring the point (J) right over to (K).
9. Open out (L) and curl the leaves.
10. Complete.

How to Fold Table Napkins; The Boats

The Boats

1. Fold the Serviette into three.
2. Then fold in half.
3. Fold the ends (B,B) to the center (A).
4. Hold the plain side uppermost and tuck in the corners (C).
5. Fold down the top folds of the pointed parts at line (D).
6. Fold in half at (E).
7. Open out.
8. Complete.

How to Fold Table Napkins: The Cockscomb

The Cockscomb

1. Fold the Serviette into four.
2. Then across in half.
3. Fold down the sides (B,B) to the center (A).
4. Turn the points (B,B) underneath, and fold in half through the center line (C).
5. Pull up the four leaves.
6. Complete.

How to Fold Table Napkins: The Slipper

The Slipper

1. Fold the Serviette into four.
2. Then fold at the lines (A,A) bringing ends (B,B) to meet at the center.
3. Fold at the lines (B,B).
4. Fold through the center.
5. Then fold the portion (BB) of one of the slips at the dotted line (C) and turn underneath.
6. Take the other slip and fold down the portion (CC) at dotted line (D).
7. Insert the end of the slip (E) into the pleat (F).
8. Insert the fingers between the folds (G) and curl this part round the slipper.
9. Complete.

Note: The slipper requires much practice to perfect.

How to Fold Table Napkins: The Boar's Head

The Boar's Head

1. Fold the Serviette into three.
2. Then the ends (A,A) to the center (B).
3. Turn down the corners (C,C).
4. When this position is obtained, turn the plain side uppermost.
5. Tuck one corner (B) into the opposite pleat on the other side (A).
6. Then turn the point to the front.
7. Complete.

About Napkin Folding Techniques

Learning how to fold table napkins, formally called the art of napery, is an easy-to-learn art form. A properly folded linen napkin in one of the attractive shapes makes a classy yet inexpensive table decoration that's sure to impress.

Once folded, the dinner napkins can be placed in traditional napkin rings or within a crystal glass, while some designs are best left standing on their own to impress your most discriminating dinner guest.

All this creative hobby requires is some practice and a one-time purchase of the quality linen serviettes to bring years of pleasure. The simpler designs could also be adapted for folding quality paper napkins.