What You Need
- Cloth napkins work best for structural folds — paper napkins work for simpler designs
- A flat, clean surface
- Lightly starched napkins hold their shape better (a quick press with an iron helps too)
Fold 1: The Classic Fan (Easiest)
- 1
Accordion fold the napkin
Fold the napkin back and forth in 2–3cm pleats, like a fan, all the way along its length.
- 2
Fold in half
Fold the pleated napkin in half, keeping the open ends at the top.
- 3
Place in a glass
Place the folded bottom into a wine or water glass. The fan will open up beautifully at the top.
Fold 2: The Pyramid
- 1
Fold into a triangle
Fold the napkin in half diagonally to form a large triangle with the fold at the bottom.
- 2
Fold in half again
Fold the triangle in half to form a smaller triangle.
- 3
Stand it up
Stand the triangle on its long folded base. Gently pull the front layer up and open slightly for a three-dimensional pyramid shape. Place on the plate.
Fold 3: The Rose
- 1
Lay flat and roll one corner
Lay the napkin flat. Roll one corner loosely toward the centre.
- 2
Roll into a loose cylinder
Continue rolling diagonally. Do not roll too tightly — you want some looseness for the petals.
- 3
Coil it
Coil the rolled napkin around itself. Tuck the end underneath. Gently open the top layers to reveal the rose shape. Place in a wine glass or on the plate.
Fold 4: The Pocket (for cutlery)
- 1
Fold into quarters
Fold the napkin into quarters. Orient it like a diamond with the open corner at the top.
- 2
Fold the top layer down
Fold the top layer down about one third of the way.
- 3
Fold the sides back
Fold both side corners behind to create a neat rectangle. Slide cutlery into the pocket at the top.