Nine Napkin-Folding Designs For Flawless Holiday Dinner Tables

Fancy folded napkins add pizazz and panache to any table setting, particularly during a holiday season. How can you achieve professional-quality results at home? Try these nine designs, and you will be ready for company anytime!

The Basic Silverware Pouch - Square or Triangle

Beauty and utility combine, as you create these two simple napkin pouches. Each of these two designs offers a traditional and tidy look on your dining table. This folded napkin design is also ideal for a buffet party. As host or hostess, you can offer an entire place setting of silverware in a neat package for your guests to pick up quickly, as they proceed through your serving line in your dining room or kitchen.

The Square Pouch

Lay a fabric napkin flat, decorative side down, on a counter or table.

Fold the napkin in half, left to right, so that the fold runs up and down on your left side and the selvages (edges) are on your right.

Fold the bottom edge upwards about 3" to 4" (depending on the size of your napkin).

Fold it up again 3' to 4" to form a pocket across the front.

Turn the left- and right-hand edges under, tucking one into the other to secure them together. It's as simple as that!

The Triangle Pouch

Lay a fabric napkin flat, decorative side down, on a counter or table.

Fold the napkin, bottom towards the top, placing the lower edge 2/3 from the top. Crease along the new bottom edge.

Fold the top 1/3 down over this section. Crease along the new top edge.

Fold lengthwise, left to right, to locate the centerline. Open out again.

Fold the left end down, along the centerline, and crease. Repeat this with the right end as well. The left and right edges will meet at the centerline, forming a little log cabin shape.

Carefully flip the entire napkin over, being careful not to unfold any of your work. Place the point facing away from you.

The top triangle will leave a small strip of surplus fabric along the bottom. Fold this up over the bottom of the triangle area. At this point, your napkin will look like a little pirate hat. (If you are having a pirate themed party, you may wish to stop at this point.)

Fold the left and right corners toward the middle. Tuck the edges of one into the other to fasten them. That's it!

Place the entire folded package on your dining table or buffet. Stick a place setting of silverware, a fresh or silk flower, a candy cane, a sprig of spruce or holly, a place card or another appropriate party favor into the pocket.

The Arrow

This simple, but elegant design offers a softer look than the crisply pleated ones.

Lay a fabric napkin flat, decorative side down, on a counter or table.

Fold the napkin in half, horizontally, from top to bottom. At this point, the fold will run across the top, with the selvages (edges) running left to right close to you.

Fold the napkin in half again, horizontally, to locate the centerline. Unfold it again.

Take the top left corner, and bring it to the center of the selvage edge (close to you). This will form a triangle, with the inner edge following the centerline you just located.

Repeat the process with the top right corner, bringing the corner to the center of the selvage line (close to you). Its inner edge will also follow the centerline.

At this point, you will have a triangle, with the point facing away from you and two inner triangle flaps meeting on the centerline.

Lift the left flap, and fold it back to the outer edge of the napkin. Repeat this with the right flap as well. Your napkin will now look like the beginnings of a traditional paper airplane, or perhaps a formally tailored shirt collar.

Hold the top point of the napkin in one hand. With the other hand, gently lift the bottom edge upwards, sliding the left and right sides of the napkin together underneath. This will give the napkin a bowed arrow effect. Release the top point, and let it pucker under a bit. There's your arrow!

The Diamond

This super-simple design is quick and easy to learn. Also the diamond fold is an ideal choice, if you have napkins that are beginning to look a little wilted. You can press them flat after folding, and they will not be required to stand upright.

Lay a fabric napkin flat, decorative side down, on a counter or table.

Fold the napkin in half, top to bottom, with the selvages facing you and the fold across the top.

Fold it in half again, side to side, so it has been folded in quarters.

Fold the top layer diagonally, corner to corner.

Fold the second layer diagonally, but stop a bit before the top corners, to create a new level of points.

Follow this pattern with the third corner, stopping just short of the preceding one.

Complete this sequence with the final corner. Try to keep your spacing fairly even with each level.

Turn the napkin, so that the lowest fold faces you and the points face away from you.

Fold both side points under to form a diamond shape. Use an iron to press the entire package for a finished look.

The Goblet Fan

The goblet fan is quite possibly the most popular folded napkin design of all. Restaurants and banquet halls seem to favor this traditional style, probably because of its simple elegance. On the other hand, these steps are simple enough for children to master, allowing them to create lovely place settings for a family gathering.

Lay a fabric napkin flat on a counter or table.

Fold it in half, horizontally, to form a vertical rectangle, with the fold on your left and the selvages (edges) on your right.

Fold the napkin (through all thicknesses) in 1" back-and-forth zig-zag pleats, like an accordion, from the bottom to the top. Iron your pleats, if you wish.

Holding the pleats closed in your left hand, fold the entire package in half, right side under left side.

Place the entire fan, folded end down, into an empty wine goblet or other stemware. Gently open the pleats at the top to create the fan effect.

With a little practice, this design becomes extremely simple and speedy to accomplish.

The Pocket

The Pocket is super easy to accomplish, but it offers a traditional and tidy look on your dining table. This folded napkin design is also ideal for a buffet. As host or hostess, you can offer an entire place setting of silverware in a neat package for your guests to pick up quickly, as they proceed through your serving line.

Lay a fabric napkin flat, decorative side down, on a counter or table.

Fold the napkin in half, left to right, so that the fold runs up and down on your left side and the selvages (edges) are on your right.

Fold the bottom edge upwards about 3" to 4" (depending on the size of your napkin).

Fold it up again 3' to 4" to form a pocket across the front.

Turn the left- and right-hand edges under, tucking one into the other to secure them together.

Place the entire folded package on your dining table or buffet. Stick a place setting of silverware, a fresh or silk flower, a candy cane, a sprig of spruce or holly, a place card or another appropriate party favor into the pocket.

The Rose

What could be more elegant than a lovely rose? This fancy folding design appears intricate and complex, but it truly is not.

First, lay a fabric napkin flat, decorative side down, on a counter or table.

Fold each corner into the center, so that all the points meet in the middle.

Again, fold the new corners into the center, so that their points also meet in the middle.

Now, flip the entire napkin over, being careful that you do not allow any of your folds to come undone.

Fold your new corners into the center, so that their points meet in the middle.

Place one of your hands (or a small weighty object) on the center of the folded napkin.

Carefully reach under each of the four corners of the napkin, and pull the corners out to form the rose petals.

If you wish, you can reach under the napkin again to pull out another layer of four corners. This will give your rose additional petals and fullness.

Place a rose in the center of each place setting on your dining table. You might set it atop a charger or dinner plate for added drama. Add a tiny candy dish, a simple bud vase (perhaps with a rose), a small ornament or another trinket atop the napkin for a delightful and festive look.

The Sail

This is quite possibly the simplest folded napkin design of all. However, it works best with stiffer fabric napkins. For optimum results, napkins should be pressed and starched before folding.

Lay a fabric napkin flat, decorative side down, on a counter or table.

Fold the napkin in half, horizontally, from top to bottom. At this point, the fold will run across the top, with the selvages (edges) running left to right close to you.

Fold the napkin in half again, horizontally, to locate the centerline. Unfold it again.

Take the top left corner, and bring it to the center of the selvage edge (close to you). This will form a triangle, with the inner edge following the centerline you just located.

Repeat the process with the top right corner, bringing the corner to the center of the selvage line (close to you). Its inner edge will also follow the centerline.

At this point, you will have a triangle, with the point facing away from you and two inner triangle flaps meeting on the centerline.

Fold the entire napkin in half again to form a smaller triangle. If you wish, iron the entire design to ensure your folds remain crisp and intact.

Open the last fold enough to stand the napkin upright. Now your sail is ready for service!

The Standing Fan

Lay a fabric napkin flat on a counter or table.

Fold it in half, horizontally, to form a vertical rectangle, with the fold on your left and the selvages (edges) on your right.

Fold the napkin (through all thicknesses) in 1" back-and-forth zig-zag pleats, like an accordion, beginning at the bottom. Stop folding when you have pleated 2/3 of the napkin. Iron your pleats, if you wish.

Holding the pleats closed in your left hand, fold the entire package in half, right side under left side.

Now hold the doubled pleats in your left hand. Fold the top left corner (unpleated) in half diagonally. The squared edge will stick out about 1" past the underside. Tuck this under, as it will form the stand for the fan design.

Place the folded ends on the table. Arrange the pleats gently to form the arched fan.

With a little practice, this design becomes simpler and much quicker to do.

Helpful Hints

Generally, napkins made of stiffer fabrics form the neatest folds. Brand-new napkins always look sharp. Laundered ones should be ironed and starched for the best effect. Check the settings on your iron to match the fabric content of your napkins.

For most designs, high-quality paper napkins may also be used, once you master the technique, but cloth ones really do work the best.