Linen Napkin Folding: Spruce Up Your Table

This napkin fold is super-easy, but it is very visually impactful. Like in the picture, it looks best when a menu for the evening is placed on top of the napkin. Alternately, you can put large, flat placecards on top of the folded napkins. This napkin fold is super-easy, but it is very visually impactful. Like in the picture, it looks best when a menu for the evening is placed on top of the napkin. Alternately, you can put large, flat placecards on top of the folded napkins.

1. Fold a large napkin in half.

2. Fold it in half again so there are four layers.

3. Place napkin on top of plate, positioning it with the four loose corners in the upper left.

4. Pull the top layer off the rest and pull it down diagonally so it rests flat (see picture).

5. Repeat with other layers, pulling each consecutive layer less farther down. Tuck edge of each pulled layer underneath the previous layer's fold (see picture).

6. Place menu or place card on top to complete the look.

This linen napkin fold is a great classic, but it is trickier than our first fold. With a few tries, this technique is easy to accomplish.

1. Fold napkin in half

2. Make ½" accordion pleats, 2/3 of the way up from the bottom

3. Fold in the half with pleating on the outside

4. Fold upper right corner diagonally down to the folded base of pleats. Turn under the edge.

5. Place on table and release the pleats to form your fan shape.

Instructions and pictorial courtesy of Miliken Linens

1. Fold napkin in half diagonally.
2. Fold corners to meet at the top point.
3. Turn the napkin over and fold it in half.
4. Pick up folded napkin at its center and stand on the base of triangle. Place on plate.
   

The Fleur de Lis fold looks daunting, but once you understand the folding it is actually quite simple. The best part is, it will definitely impress your guests. The Fleur de Lis looks great when placed in a champagne, wine, or stemmed water glass. You can also create the fleur de lis fold and place it in a napkin ring to hold it, but this fold does not stay up on its own.

1. Fold the napkin into a triangle, with the open end facing you.

2. Fold the bottom edge back up so that it extends 1-2" beyond the long edge of the triangle.

3. From left to right, fold the napkin accordion-style.

4. Lift the napkin upright and fit its base into a glass or napkin ring. Fan out the ends of the fleur-de-lis.

Instructions and picture courtesy of Quamut