How to Fold a Napkin
Four Methods:Goblet FanPyramidBishop's HatBasic Silverware Pouch
Add a little flair to any dinner with elegant napkin folds. Folding napkins is a time-honored tradition used in restaurants and homes alike. It's simple, classy, and easy to master. Read on for several different instructions on how to fold a napkin.
Steps
Method 1 Goblet Fan
Method 2 Pyramid
- 1Lay the napkin out in front of you. If your napkin flops down easily, ironing it with a little bit of light starch should help this process.
- 2Fold the napkin across diagonally. Turn the folded napkin so that the tip of the napkin is facing directly in front of you.
- 3Fold the right corner down to meet the tip of the napkin. Make sure that this fold creates a clean center line in the middle of the napkin.
- 4Fold the left corner down to meet the tip of the napkin, mirroring the last step. The napkin should now look like a diamond.
- 5Turn the napkin over, keeping the open end of the napkin away from you.
- 6Fold the farthest point of the diamond back over itself, creating a triangle. The tip of the triangle should be pointing down.
- 7Fold the napkin along the center seam, right to left.
- 8Prop it up like a tent. If your napkin is floppy and won't stay propped up, you may need a little starch.
Method 3 Bishop's Hat
- 1Lay the napkin out in front of you. If your napkin flops down easily, ironing it with a little bit of light starch should help this process.
- 2Fold the napkin in half by bringing the top end down. You should have a rectangle now.
- 3Bring the top right corner down to the middle-bottom of the napkin.
- 4Bring the bottom left corner up to the middle-top of the napkin. You should have a parallelogram now.
- 5Flip the napkin over and rearrange it so that the top left and bottom right edges are sticking out.
- 6Fold the bottom of the napkin up and towards the top half. The edges should all be meeting each other, except for a stray triangle at the bottom left of the napkin.
- 7Gently bring out the flap on the right so that it forms another triangle on the bottom right.
- 8Bring the top left corner and tuck it underneath the triangle on the right. The left triangle is now folded in half.
- 9Flip the triangle over so that the two points are now facing up.
- 10Fold the right edge into the left flap. The napkin should be completely symmetrical again.
- 11Push the folds in the center of the hat down so that the base of the bishop's hat is circular.
- 12Finished.
Method 4 Basic Silverware Pouch
- 1Lay the napkin out in front of you.
- 2Fold the napkin in half by bringing the top end down. You should have a rectangle now.
- 3Fold the napkin again to create a square. Move the right end over the left end.
- 4Turn the napkin around so that the open corner is facing top-left.
- 5Bring the top fold of the top-left corner of the napkin down diagonally to the bottom-right.
- 6Flip the triangle over so that the open corner is now facing top-right.
- 7Fold the right side over about 1/3 of the way and crease the fold.
- 8Fold the left side over about 1/3 of the way and fit it into the little fold created at the bottom right.
- 9Flip the napkin over again and arrange any utensils inside the napkin.
- 10Finished.
Sources and Citations
Article Info
Categories: Dining Etiquette