How to fold napkins beautifully: 130 photo diagrams on how to fold paper and fabric napkins on a table and into a glass with your own hands

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As a rule, the festive table is decorated with interesting dishes, beautiful glasses and cutlery, but all this is perfectly complemented by original folded napkins for guests.

Paper napkins can be folded in many different ways to make your table more elegant and make a great impression on everyone.

Here are the most interesting ways to fold paper napkins for any table and for any event:

Where did napkins come from?

In Rome there was a mention of this item of etiquette. One gentleman who loved to eat, when this happened, he would reach across the table for a napkin, but at that time it was just dough with a raw texture.

How this thing was used was to put the dough on the face, thereby causing food to stick to it, then bake it and eat it. Not very hygienic, of course, but according to the Romans, this was one of the optimal solutions of that time.

Later at dinners they brought something more similar to our napkins, these were fabric ones. When Rome fell, Europe thereby forgot to use this element; girls mainly wiped themselves with dresses or sleeves.

When such a phenomenon as the Renaissance occurred in the country of France, then along with this phenomenon, large napkins appeared, covering almost the entire table. The main drawback was the fact that it could only be wiped off together.

Over time, the napkin acquired more and more similar shapes to its contemporary. The term napkin etiquette appeared in France after 1699.

Rules of etiquette

Hundreds of years ago, napkins had a purely practical purpose. They wiped their hands at the table. Today, napkins are an integral part of the holiday table. It is better to serve with linen items.

It is better to choose cotton or linen napkins for the kitchen. They wrinkle less and retain their appearance for a long time.

Before decorating the table, the products should be washed, starched and ironed.

The rules of etiquette teach us not only how to fold napkins, but also how to use them:

Do not tuck the napkin into the collar of your clothing. It is better to place it spread out on your lap. It is recommended to do this after the food is served.
Do not wave the napkin.
Wiping your lips with a product is considered bad manners.
If you decide to leave the table, you should place the napkin near the plate or hang it on the back of the chair.

Idea - 3

Fold in two, again the same way;
The sides of the rectangle are folded down;
Turn it with the wrong side facing away from you, and twist a “bag” from the ends;
The resulting parts are connected together.

Waterfall

This method of decoration is more suitable for a table decorated in the spirit of grunge, modern or hi-tech.

The brevity of the design is at the proper level. To create a cascade, you will need to fold the napkins in half along the length of one of the sides. The result is a rectangle.

Folded rectangles must be placed in a stack. The assembled pack is placed in a bowl. The short end should be facing down. The result will be a cascade falling onto the wall of the vessel being used.

If you don’t have specialized utensils at hand, it’s quite acceptable to use a shallow cup or glass. You can be sure that the created composition will make the right impression.

Idea - 8

Fold the material in the form of an accordion into 6 strips, with the top one looking at us
The right corner at the top is laid inward, also with the other 2 corners at the bottom, and the 3 corners on the left are also laid.
Part of the figure (3rd from the left) is bent to the right side, half of the already bent part is bent to the opposite left side
The same actions as in the third are done, only on the right side. Then at the end it remains to raise the upper corners

Application area

You need to understand that napkins have found their use not only at the table; depending on the source material and impregnation, they can be used in cleaning, wiping optical instruments when servicing machines and mechanisms.

Note!

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Napkins used for hygiene procedures are impregnated with deodorizing and disinfecting compounds.

Idea - 9

The napkin is folded as follows: in two, the fold is located at the top
Corners that fold at the top to the middle part along the lines
The sides of the napkin are aligned so that the corners with the sharp part are at the bottom
Turning the figure over, bend the ends, this will be a support
Bend inward and place the finished napkin

A little history

Any cafe or restaurant uses paper napkins in its activities. In ancient times, a napkin was a handkerchief used to remove food debris from the lips - fat, sauce, etc.

In general, the history of this subject goes back more than one millennium. It began in Ancient Greece. Fig leaves were used to remove food debris. It was with them that slaves rubbed their owner's mouth. They were laid out on the table, but sometimes guests brought them with them.

Nowadays, paper napkins have become something commonplace. We use them automatically. For everyday meals we use white napkins; for special occasions we try to use colored products. Napkins are required where cleanliness is required.

Idea - 10

Place it down so that one fourth of it bends over
Turning the material over, the lower part is pulled to the top
Doubled
Fold like an accordion, making 5 equal folds
They hold the side with which they did nothing (open) and pull out the folds at the top, which are located deep in the napkins in different directions and fix them.
The last stage is to dissolve the resulting fan

By choosing any of the above methods, you can create a cozy and festive holiday atmosphere on the table. It is important, to give a complete picture, not only correctly positioned cutlery, but also beautifully and neatly folded napkins.

The color and material of the napkins depends on the holiday; for a birthday, cotton napkins are suitable; in honor of an anniversary, give preference to openwork and decorative elements; the same are suitable for a romantic evening.

The New Year pleases both children and adults, so everything here is up to you to choose from, whether it be bright napkins or ordinary blue ones with snowflakes, the main thing is that they fit into the overall picture of the table and, conversely, highlight it with the multi-colored material of the napkins.

We decorate the table - layout of napkins in plates and options for combinations with cutlery

In addition to napkins in stands, there should be napkins on the table that are laid out near each guest. They serve as a “frame” for the plate, delimit the seating area and help in serving cutlery.

Playful bow with ring

Many companies that produce kitchen utensils produce special napkin rings. Having passed through such a ring, the napkin will look much more impressive. But if you don’t do it the classic way and make an unusual shape, the table will look even more attractive.

Step-by-step creation of a bow:

unfold the napkin. Then fold it diagonally;
Fold the corner a little so that it doesn’t stick out from under the bow. Fold the napkin from the long side to the folded corner;
Visually divide the resulting strip of napkin into 3 parts. Fold the 2 outermost ones onto the central one;
fall carefully, the bow is still “alive”, pass the napkin through the ring;
straighten the bow loops and pull the ends down. The playful table decoration is ready!

Step-by-step photo instructions for making a bow

“Butterfly” with satin ribbon – dress code for the table

This option for folding a napkin will appeal to avid needlewomen and craftswomen. It requires a little more effort than a similar option with a ring. In addition to the cloth napkin, you will also need ribbons. You can also use various braided cords and twines and decorate the butterfly with beads.

How to tie a bow tie for your plate:

fold the edges of the napkin towards the center;
fold the napkin in half again so that the edges remain inside the fold;
mentally divide the resulting strip into 3 parts and fold the outer 2 onto the central one;
tie the middle of the “butterfly” with a satin ribbon or other braid. A strict but very cute “butterfly” is ready!

Forming a “butterfly”

Heraldic lily blossomed in a plate

For the classic decoration of the holiday table, it is necessary to select the appropriate design and method of decorating napkins. After all, not only the color and tone of the elements must match. Cut, style, model and design undoubtedly play an important role. The voluminous fleur-de-lis is a form that will look great not only in the classical style, but also in the Gothic style, Art Nouveau style, and even Scandinavian style.

To create a lily, in addition to a special napkin ring and the napkin itself, you will need a little time and patience. This is not the easiest element to perform.

Step by step instructions:

fold the napkin in half;
then bend the upper corners towards the center;
Now repeat the procedures with the lower corners and bend them towards the central corner. You should now have a diamond shape;
the upper edges that were folded last time must be bent back 1/4 of the entire diamond. Thus, blanks for a fleur-de-lis are obtained. In order for the flower to 'open', you need to put a napkin ring on it. This must be done from the bottom of the workpiece. Afterwards you can straighten the petals a little. And the flower is ready!

Beautiful lily in 4 movements

One move, but how stylish - a “tie” for a fork

This option is more reminiscent of a playful decoration for cutlery than a serving of napkins in the classical sense. This design of plates and forks is more suitable for a modern stylistic solution for the design of a festive table. A couple of light movements and the grunge style decor is ready.

We knit a beautiful “tie”:

Unfold the napkin and fold opposite ends from center to middle;
fold the rectangle in half so that the free edges remain inside;
fold the napkin in half again, but with the short edges facing each other;
At the bend of the rectangle, a loop is formed into which the free edges must be threaded. And the main thing is not to forget to put a fork, knife or spoon in a bundle. This will create a “tie” for the device. Stylish, simple and very original!

The napkin turns, the napkin turns... into a stylish tie

An envelope or something from a restaurant on your table

This method will fit perfectly into almost any stylistic direction. In addition to its beautiful appearance, it also carries a functional load. You can put cutlery in it and thus arrange their serving. You can also add a name card, fresh flowers and other decorative elements.

Instructions for creating a pocket:

unfold the napkin. Fold the top right corner and the bottom left corner towards the center. But note that the top corner should be folded slightly less than the bottom;
carefully place the right half (from the center) on the left;
then bend the lower left corner;
Fold the napkin in half again. Only this time from the bottom up. At the same time, be extremely careful - the corners that were bent should remain that way. You should end up with a square with beveled corners at the top left;
turn the square face down. Fold it in half - from right to left;
turn the product over again. As a result, you will get a rectangle with beveled cuts into which you can insert cutlery or a sprig of lavender or olive. And please your guests!

Step-by-step instructions for creating an envelope

Photo of beautiful napkin folding

Choosing fabric

In shops and markets, textile products of different sizes, types, and price categories are sold for table setting. But it will be more effective to make cute napkins with your own hands. This is quite easy to do. The first stage of production is the choice of fabric. The fabric should be light, dense, wear-resistant. It must withstand a large number of washes and not lose its original appearance after several uses. Three types of fabric meet all of the above requirements. They are described in more detail in the table.

Fabric Advantages, disadvantages Cotton As an everyday textile, this is an ideal option. The cotton is not easily soiled, it is dense. It retains its shape and does not wash out. Can last for a long time. The cost of such material is acceptable. Mixed fabrics A practical, inexpensive option. These are fabrics consisting of synthetic and natural raw materials. The percentage of component input may vary. Thanks to mixing, the fabric combines all the advantages of natural and synthetic raw materials. It is wear-resistant. After washing, the material does not shrink. Linen is a natural, beautiful fabric. It has good absorbency and easily retains its shape even after ten washes. Flax is susceptible to starch. The product can be folded into various fancy shapes.

Decorating models

Tablecloths and napkins can be sewn from thick natural fabric with light lace inserts with flowers added around the entire perimeter. A good addition to the models would be embroidery or appliqué.

You can find many accessories for napkins on sale.

The model with the addition of organza is luxurious, will beautifully decorate the table in the dining room, and will be an appropriate addition to a romantic dinner.

When choosing fabric for napkins, use pieces of material left over from making other products, for example, after making tablecloths.

We will show you how to quickly sew a tablecloth from organza or decorate napkins served on the festive table with it.

Even novice needlewomen of a young age can make such napkins with their own hands.

Organza inserts are usually sewn into the center of the tablecloth or used to decorate the corners of the overhang. A pattern with organza flowers will perfectly complement festive textiles.

Do-it-yourself napkins are most valued.