Napkin Folding,
a Festive Touch

You've slaved to find the perfect menu, orchestrated the linens, china, silver and crystal... but there's something missing you can't quite put your finger on. Get out the napkins and let your imagination choose.

Start with square dinner-size napkins made of either cloth or paper. Cloth napkins should be starched and ironed before you begin. Dramatic positioning of napkins adds visual interest and flair to your tabletop design. Napkins can be placed on the dinner plate or side plate, or next to the place setting.

To make a cone shape, fold the napkin in half with the folded edge at the top. Take the top right hand comer down to the center of the bottom edge and fold the bottom right comer over to meet the bottom left comer.

Next bring the left point over to meet the bottom right hand point. Slide your thumbs into the center of the opening at the bottom and turn the edge up and out, folding the left side slightly higher than the right side. Open the bottom and lift the top point so the napkin will stand up by itself.

To make an attractive fan, fold the napkin in half and make accordion folds about 3 1/4" wide from the bottom nearly up to the top. Fold in half with accordion pleats on the outside, and fold right comers into a triangle that overlaps by 1" at the side. Fold the overlap under to create a base. Stand the napkin up and it will fan out.

For a buffet, you can make a neat pocket to enclose cutlery. Fold the napkin twice to form a square. Hold it like a diamond with the point up. Take the two top flaps and roll them halfway down the napkin. Fold the right and left points under at the side. Tuck flatware neatly into the pocket. Standing the napkin in the wine glass lifts the eye up and gives height to your table arrangement.

To make a fan that fits into the glass, first fold your napkin in half with the fold at the top edge. Then, starting at the left, make accordion folds of about 1 1/2" wide. Hold the fan folds together and fold the bottom edge a third of the way up the napkin. Place the fold in the wineglass and open the fan out. Experiment a little, and the folds will become second nature.

Do them step by-step for spectacular results. One word of warning: don't be disappointed when your guests sit down and spoil the effect by unfolding your artistic creations!