Folding Napkins Made Simple And Easy
Cloth napkins are a beautiful addition to your table's décor, and are an easy way to add a touch of unexpected elegance, particularly for holiday meals and other special occasions. While cloth napkins can easily adorn almost any table with a simple fold or by placing inside a nice napkin ring, folded napkins can make an impressive statement and really help your dinner table come alive. The art of napkin folding can range from simple to complex. The following includes a few of the most basic techniques to folding napkins that are easy to do and don't require much time or effort. The only tools required are a hot iron and perhaps a little spray starch.
One folded napkin that is easy to do is sometimes called the "rolled fold" and makes quite a display when placed upright into a goblet or glass. Start by making a horizontal fold to your napkin. Next, create a crease by ironing the folded edge. Unfold the napkin with the crease pointing upright. Next, simply roll each edge towards the center crease. Place upright into a piece of stemware. Colored napkins look especially vibrant when arranged this way.
Another unique and easy technique is folding napkins into an envelope design. Begin by folding the napkin in half to form a triangle. Iron the folded napkin to make it flat. Next fold in one side corner to the center, iron flat, then the other side to the center and iron. This should now resemble an elongated "open" envelope. You can leave the napkin as is, or use the opening to serve as a holder for a place card, flowers, or silverware. This type fold really stands out with napkins that have a border.
Folding napkins into fans is also very easy. First lay the napkin out flat. Now begin folding the napkin back and forth (like an accordion) - iron the folds as you go. Each fold should be about one inch wide in diameter. Fold the napkin in half and place inside a napkin ring. Pull apart the ironed pleats to release the fan.
You can arrange a similar fan fold upright and place into a goblet or other piece of stemware. Fold the napkin in half like a book, then iron flat. Fold accordion style from top to bottom. Turn the fan upright, fold one third of the bottom to side, and place the tucked end into the glass. Spread out the pleated fan.