Folding Cloth napkins

The Pyramid Napkin Fold

This classy napkin folding technique is simple, fast, and can be
made easily with most napkins. If the napkin being used is thin and
flops easily then iron it with light starch prior to folding and it will
turn out perfectly!

1. Lay the napkin face down in front of you.

2. Fold the napkin in half diagonally.

3. Rotate the napkin so the open end faces away from you.

4. Fold the right end up to meet the far corner, ensuring the edge of
this new fold lays on the centerline as shown.
5. Repeat the last step with the left side, folding the left tip up to the
far corner, creating a diamond shape with a seam running down the
center.

6. Turn the napkin over, keeping the open end facing away from
you.

7. Fold the napkin in half by bringing the farthest point of the

diamond up and back to the nearest point.

8. Turn the napkin over again, this time keeping the open end facing
towards you.

9. Fold the napkin along the center seam and you have a neat,
sturdy pyramid. If your napkin won't stand neatly then you may
need a little starch.
 The Arrow Napkin Fold
This method of folding napkins is very simple and can be done with
almost any napkin without a need for starch. It adds a flowing,
elegant look to your table.

1. Lay the napkin face down in front of you.

2. Fold the napkin in half and orient the open end towards you.

3. Fold the far-right corner over to the center of the side that is
closest to you. The edge of this fold should run down the center of
the napkin.

4. Repeat the last step with the other side, folding the far-left corner
in to rest along side the previous fold.
5. Fold the right-flap out diagonally so that it's outer edge runs even
with the far edge of the napkin.

6. Repeat the previous step on the other side, folding the left-flap
out diagonally to meet the far edge of the napkin.

7. Slide the left and the right sides together, allowing the napkin to
bend at the farthest point. This will cause the flat, center part to
bow. Pretty easy, huh?
The Bird Of Paradise Napkin Fold
This is a classic and classy napkin folding technique that requires
a stiff napkin. If you don't have any dinner napkins made of stiff
linen then a light starching should fix you right up.

1. Lay the napkin face down in front of you.

2. Fold the napkin in half.

3. Fold the napkin in quarters.

4. Fold the napkin in half diagonally, creating a triangle.

5. Orient the triangle so the open tip is facing away from you.

6. Fold the right corner diagonally towards you - laying it down

along the centerline of the triangle, making a new tip pointing
towards you. An iron can make this important fold a whole lot
easier.

7. Do the same with the left corner, fold it diagonally toward you
and press it down next to the previous fold. Now you have a
diamond, you're rich! Yay!.
8. Fold the two "wings" that you just made in folds 6 and 7 under
so that you have your original triangle shape back. Once again an
iron can make a world of difference.

9. Fold the triangle in half by bringing the center seam towards

you and allowing the ends to fall.

10. This bird's almost ready to fly, but first you must give it some
feathers. While holding the base firmly to keep your folds
together, pull up the four 'flaps' created by the napkin's corners.

Pretty cool fold, isn't it? It makes you wonder if there are people
sitting around in basements performing experimental napkin
folds while the rest of us are sleeping. This fold can be difficult if
you don't use an iron or have a fairly stiff napkin so be prepared
to put a few minutes into making each one.
 The Diamond Napkin Fold
Got some really limp napkins and want something nice to
make without eating up too much time? Then this one's for
you, if you're using thick/stiff napkins then an iron will help.

1. Lay the napkin face-down in front of you.

2. Fold the napkin in half and orient the open end toward
you.

3. Fold the napkin into quarters.

4. Fold the top-most layer of the napkin in half diagonally -
up and to the left.

5. Fold the next layer of napkin diagonally up and to the left,

stopping slightly before the last fold to create an even,
staggered effect.

6. Repeat by folding up the next layer of napkin to a point

just before the last one.

7. And one last time with one last layer. Keep them as
uniform as you can.
8. Now fold both sides of the napkin under and in to create
an even, staggered diamond effect on the napkin. Press it
down as flat as possible and you're ready for guests within
60 seconds!
 The Cone Napkin Fold
This nice napkin design originated from the napkin-
worshiping indians native to Guam called the dirty-
wipey-nappies...or not. An iron will be helpful.

1. Lay the napkin face down in front of you.

2. Fold the napkin in half diagonally.

3. Orient the napkin so the open corner faces away from

you.
4. Fold the left-most corner diagonally so the point rests
on top of the far corner.

5. Repeat the last step with the right side, bringing this
fold evenly along to the last one.

6. Turn the napkin over, keeping the open ends pointing

away from you.

7. Evenly fold the bottom third of the napkin up and

press the it down well. An iron may be needed here.
8. Fold both the left and right sides back and underneath
the napkin evenly to create the finished product seen
here. That looks so nice I bet you just can't wait to
smear food on it!
 The Diamond Pouch
Here we have another variation of the silverware pouch.
Also simple to make, this design tends to look nicer
when it is pressed down almost flat. You wouldn't want
your silverware getting cold, would you?

1. Lay the napkin face-down in front of you.

2. Fold the napkin in half and orient the open end

toward you.
3. Fold the napkin into quarters.

4. Orient the napkin so the open end faces away from

you.

5. Fold the top-most layer almost all the way forward

and press it down flat.
6. Fold the next top-most layer of napkin forward
almost as far as the previous one and press it down as
well. Make sure the edges are even with the previous
fold.

7. Fold the next layer back as you did the two before it.

8. Turn the napkin over.

9. Fold both sides back and over one another (about 1/3
of the way), check for symmetry and press the fold
down well.

10. Flip it over and insert your favorite silverware.

 The Napkin Ring Fan Fold
Fan folds are always a simple way of nicely presenting
your napkins. This one uses a napkin ring to hold the
base. Ooooohhhhhhh.

1. Lay the napkin face-down in front of you.

2. Fold the napkin in half and the re-open it, leaving a

crease in the center.
3. Accordion-fold the napkin up to the crease, ensuring
that the final fold rests nicely on the crease. This will
help you keep the ends of the fan uniform.

4. Finish accordion-folding the napkin.

5. Fold the fan in half as shown.

 6. Insert the folded end into a napkin ring. It's a fan
suitable for a samurai. A hungry samurai.

f as shown.

6. Tuck the napkin into the glass of your choice.

7. Using your fingers, gently pull apart the loose corners
sticking up so they are evenly distributed. If you're flaps
don't want to stay where you put them, then ironing a
little starch into the napkin will help.
 The Rose Napkin Fold
Despite looking fairly elaborate, this fold is an easy one,
and it can be done with almost any variety of napkin.
Display small bowls or glasses on top of these, or use
them as novelty cocktail napkins.

1. Lay the napkin face-down in front of you.

2. Fold the two right corners of the napkin in so the tips

rest at the center.
3. Fold the remaining two corners of the napkin in so the
tips meet with the last two in the center.

4. Once again, begin folding the outer corners in so they

meet at the center.

5. Once all of the tips are folded you are left with a square
about 1/4 the size of the unfolded napkin.
6. Flip it over.

7. Fold the corners in so they meet in the center and then

place something sturdy in the center, or hold it with your
fingers.

8. While maintaining downward pressure in the center of

the napkin, reach underneath each corner and pull out the
flaps to create petals.
 9. Remove the center weight and your rose should look as
pictured here.

10. If you like you can reach underneath the center of each
side and pull out a second set of petals to fancy it up some
more. Place something in the center and you're done, have a
rosy meal!