Methods for folding paper napkins. Napkins for table setting for a holiday, dinner party, dinner: types and options for folding paper and linen napkins, decorations from napkins, photos. How to fold paper napkins in the shape of a boat, a rose, a flower, or figures

The center of any meal is a tastefully set table. When a housewife has a question about table textiles, a tablecloth and table napkins come to mind. Why do you need cloth napkins? How to handle them during a feast?

This article is intended for persons over 18 years of age

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What is a textile napkin

They are divided into two types, based on their purpose. Place napkins are those that are laid on the table personally for each guest and on which the table setting is organized. But the most common second option is table napkins, which need to be placed on your knees and wipe your hands. These are the ones we will talk about. Moreover, you will learn three ways to fold textile napkins: the simplest, but most effective and meeting the main requirements of etiquette.

Where did the napkin come from on the tables?

During the Middle Ages, such an attribute of a feast as napkins had not yet been invented, and to wipe their hands from grease, people used the tablecloth itself. Only noble guests were given a bowl of water and lemon, which has disinfectant properties, to rinse their fingers in.
Napkins came into widespread use only in the 16th century. At first, napkins were placed on the shoulder, on the arm, or used as a bib, which was attached to the vest with silver hooks or tied at the back of the neck. Gradually the napkins “moved” to my lap. In the 17th century, when women's skirts became fuller, the size of napkins increased to 90-115 cm. With the advent of new cutlery, the size of the napkin also changed. So, as soon as the use of a fork came into practice (and this happened only in the middle of the 18th century), participants in the meal became more careful and napkins decreased in size.

Modern textile napkins: materials and sizes, style and color

According to the canons of classic table etiquette, for a banquet, lunch or dinner, table textiles should be made from natural white linen. But modern table etiquette allows us to deviate from this rule, and now there is a huge variety of mixed fabrics for table linen: beautiful, expressive, and most importantly, more practical to use (for example, Teflon-coated fabrics that are not afraid of fat, wine and coffee ). For informal dining, white table linens can easily be replaced with beige or another neutral shade. And if you want to create a certain mood at the table or maintain the style of the interior, then etiquette allows for colored or even combined tablecloth and napkins: the fabric can be checkered or striped, with a floral or any other interesting print. Choose according to your taste! A very convenient and win-win option is the use of companion fabrics, when one of the elements of table linen (tablecloth or napkins) uses a fabric with a multi-colored pattern, and the other uses a plain fabric that repeats one of the colors of the print; or two prints are combined (for example, flowers and stripes) with a choice of the same color palette.

The dimensions of a modern table napkin are approximately 40x40 cm (from 36 to 46 cm), a tea napkin is smaller in size - approximately 30x30 cm (from 25 to 35 cm).

In the modern world, textile napkins are a mandatory attribute of table setting, so every housewife should take care of their availability.

Why do we need textile napkins if we have paper ones?

People first learned about paper napkins in 1867, when their first batch was produced at a paper mill in England. The guests really liked this serving attribute, and since then their production on an industrial scale began. Paper napkins have a number of advantages: they perfectly absorb moisture, and most importantly, there is no need for washing, which every housewife will certainly appreciate.
But can they completely replace textile ones?

Linen napkins are an essential attribute of any feast; their main purpose is the comfort of guests and the safety of their costumes. However, paper napkins must be present on the table in sufficient quantities.

The main task of a textile napkin is to protect the guest’s outfit; it should be laid on your knees. A linen napkin is also used when your fingers are a little dirty. What to do if your hands are very dirty, and what to use during a runny nose? Paper napkins will save you; this is exactly what they were created for.

How to use textile napkins

All the guests, including the hosts, took their places and the meal began. The hostess is the first to start the feast - she unfolds her napkin, then the guests follow her example.

• take a textile napkin from the table and unfold it;
• fold it in half and place it on your knees with the fold facing you;
• during the feast, wipe slightly dirty fingers with the top edge of the napkin, without removing it from your knees;
• leave a napkin on your chair if you need to go out;
• if you get up from the table at the end of dinner, then place the napkin to the left of the plate. There is no need to fold it again: grab the middle of the napkin so that all the folds come together and place it on the table. When the hostess does the same with her napkin, consider that lunch is over.

Three ways to fold napkins

When we come to a restaurant, we often see napkins rolled into the shape of a Crown, French Lily, Bishop's Miter or other unusual shape. The art of folding napkins came to us from the 17th century. At the French court there were special people who folded napkins for the royal table and did it simply masterfully, but using such a napkin for its intended purpose was prohibited, as it was considered a violation of the rules of etiquette. During the Victorian era, views on table manners changed somewhat - people began to think more about hygiene. Imagine how many times you will have to touch the napkin during the folding process, and, moreover, what a crumpled appearance it will have, having been in the shape of a Fan or Artichoke! It is unlikely that any of the guests will want to wipe their hands or lips with such a napkin.

Complex folding options faded into the background and were replaced by simpler ones. Modern etiquette follows the same rules for folding napkins: minimum touching and minimum folding.

They are absolutely universal:

• they meet the requirements of modern table etiquette: a minimum of touching and bending;
• very simple: any housewife can easily master them and will spend no more than five minutes on serving, which means that the woman will have additional time to relax - this is priceless;
• spectacular and suitable for different serving styles.

When choosing a method for folding napkins, you need to take into account the occasion of the meal itself. For a formal feast, napkins with lace or the fan-fold option are certainly not suitable. But to create a warm spring mood, this is what you need.

"Petals"

The “Petals” method of folding napkins will come in handy - an ideal option for an informal, cozy atmosphere, which goes well with floral textile prints and floral decor on the table.

1. Unfold the napkin and place it on the table with the wrong side up.

2. Take the upper left corner and pull it to the opposite corner, folding the napkin in half, forming a triangle.

3. Pull the upper corner of the resulting triangle towards the left corner, but do not connect them to each other.

4. Repeat the action: fold the right edge to the left, without closing the corners of the napkin.

5. The napkin is ready! We place it on a substitution plate with the petals to the right, and place a snack plate on top. We complement the table setting with cutlery and glasses.

Napkin rings

Nowadays, napkin rings are used as a decorative element for serving. But there were times when rings served another function: they guaranteed ownership of a dirty napkin.

Historical background: Since table linen was rarely washed, textile napkins were used repeatedly. The rings served as an identification mark so that the guest could be sure that he received exactly his dirty napkin.

Rings are made from different materials: silver, wood, fabric, etc. But even in the absence of serving rings, you can easily improvise, for example, replace them with ribbon.

There are many ways to put a napkin into a ring: you can gather the napkin into unusual folds, fold it into a fan, or simply roll it into a tube, choose any one to suit your taste! Let's look at the simplest option:

1. Unfold the napkin and place it on the table inside out.

2. Take the napkin by the middle with your hand and shake it to form loose folds.

3. Place the middle of the napkin into the ring and straighten the folds. Ready!

It is convenient to place the napkin placed in the ring directly on the plate. Firstly, it will save space on the table and free up space for dishes. And secondly, the napkin on the plate will hint to the guest that he will not be able to start the meal until he spreads the napkin on his lap.

Cutlery envelope “Stripes”

A napkin envelope is a great option for formal formal dinners. Although, if you dilute the table setting with delicate decor or flowers, this method of folding napkins will also be appropriate for an informal dinner with close people.

1. Place the napkin folded in four on the table so that the four free corners are at the top right.

2. Take the top free corner and fold it diagonally inward, as shown in the photo. Align the fold.

The resulting “pockets” are very convenient for storing cutlery, thereby saving space on the table. In addition, you can put a note, flowers, a gift or even a small bun there.

A beautifully folded napkin will decorate your table. The napkin can be given a variety of shapes: from simple traditional to more intricate. Please note that starched napkins are much easier to fold. But always remember that textile napkins are an essential element of table setting; you cannot do without them by giving preference to paper napkins.

Don't neglect the rules of etiquette. Show respect to your guests by worrying about their appearance, then they will appreciate your concern and thank you in return for your warm welcome!

Try doing this. I think it’s original.

I can add a small fly in the ointment first.

The more beautifully the napkins are laid out, the worse they stretch, and when a guest takes out one napkin and then all of them are pulled out, believe me, the person feels inconvenienced, and everyone else is forced to help him instead of listening to the toast. Paper napkins are placed at the edges of the table if the table is larger than 8 people. And paper napkins are not intended to decorate the table; instead, fabric napkins are used for decoration, which, indeed, turn the table into something very elegant. Plus the dishes. Properly arranged appetizers and salads are the best table decoration.

In the first picture. Napkins should be fabric, as most often in restaurants at banquets they are placed more beautifully in a glass of champagne. And the second drawing is paper napkins. Fold it into a triangle and connect one napkin after another on your hands like a fan. Lay it down so much that the top looks like a zigzag, but the bottom is a straight line, very similar to how you walk along the circle of a protractor. Folding it differently means crumpling paper napkins, but there are fabric napkins for this purpose.





There is one simply chic method for folding napkins for a holiday table.

It turns out to be a real and very beautiful flower. However, for this you will need not only napkins of two different colors, but also wire.

But the guests will clearly be delighted with such table decoration.

Look in this video tutorial on how to make this flower.

You can, of course, arrange the napkins in a simpler way, but it will also look beautiful.

Here's a video tutorial.

And here is also a simple, but very nice option.

Maybe someone will like this option

There are a lot of ways, you can try like this, but you need to tinker.

I can also offer several more options for beautifully folded napkins not only for a holiday, but also for any table (after all, you must admit, you need to please yourself and your eyes on ordinary, seemingly unremarkable days).

Here is an interesting idea for the New Year's table:



All other examples are universal, with or without reason. Heart:



This miter can be folded:



Flower:



And with the help of this example you can beautifully decorate any cutlery:



Sometimes, when there is enough time, the wife decorates the festive table with beautifully arranged napkins. She enjoys it, her children, grandchildren and guests enjoy it.

This is the flower she puts out of napkins into plates.

Step-by-step instruction:

Unfold the napkin and fold it as in the photo:





Turn the napkin over and fold the outer sides toward the middle again.





Unfold the napkin to create eight rectangles:



Now you need to make them twice as many, folding them like an accordion:







The result will look like a fan:



Make three-dimensional triangles from each petal, tucking the edges of all folds inside:



The extreme ribs connect.



The flower is ready.



But she likes to decorate cutlery with these ties:

There are a lot of ways, the main thing is to decide what you like. I usually don’t have time to do this and I ask my husband, he will look up video or photo methods on the Internet and lay out napkins for me in advance. If I do this, then I choose the fast + beautiful method, there are those too! I offer several methods that I liked:







To make napkins look beautiful on the holiday table, you not only need to know how to fold them, but you also need a certain skill. First, practice outside of a festive setting, just try the easiest patterns first, then move on to more complex ones, so that there is no unpleasant surprise on the holiday.

Here is a simple way to fold napkins in the shape of a Christmas tree, suitable for the New Year's table:



Also not a very complicated folding of napkins in the form of a Tent:





Looks chic on the table, this comb can also be folded from a cloth napkin.



When setting the table, fold only linen napkins, giving them a beautiful or intricate shape. Paper napkins are not folded, but simply placed in a napkin holder.

Linen napkins are designed to protect clothes from crumbs, splashes, and accidental drops of food or drinks. Use the top part of a folded napkin to wipe your fingers if you get them dirty. Paper napkins are designed for blotting lips after food and dirty fingers. It is unlikely that you will be pleased to wipe your lips with a piece of paper that someone has previously fiddled with in their hands, giving it an intricate shape. It's not even hygienic.

They will take their rightful place on the holiday table and make the table setting exclusive and stylish.

All that remains is to find out how to decorate the table with napkins in different easy ways.

Original ideas

If you want to create an indescribable holiday atmosphere and surprise your guests, prepare the appropriate amount of silk, cotton or linen napkins.

For special occasions choose a material that matches the tablecloth in color and texture. It’s good if the textiles also match the dishes.

For many table settings, white napkins are the best option. To give the fabric additional rigidity, it can be lightly starched.

Of course, you can simply fold them in four and place them next to each individual appliance, but sometimes it’s worth going a different route. Perform simple manipulations with these pieces of fabric and you will receive an exclusive table setting.

Let's look at some of the simplest ways folding napkins, which every housewife can master in just a few minutes.

Rose on a fork

Fold the napkin into a scarf shape, bending the bottom edge a few centimeters. Now form three deep pleats by placing each one between the tines of a fork.

Cute ears

The napkin should also be folded diagonally. From the long side, roll it into a tube approximately to the middle. Its edges should protrude 2-3 cm on the sides. Turn over to the reverse side, straighten the “ears”. Cutlery can be placed on this base.

Envelopes

Fold a large napkin into eight times (a larger square, and then again into a smaller one). Bend the topmost layer diagonally, and fold the sides inward.

In the resulting envelope you can put not only cutlery, but also leave a message for guests, small surprises, etc. You can fold not just one, but several layers.

If you wish, you can easily make not only a corner one, but also smooth rectangular envelope. For this:

Fold the napkin in half, bending it a few centimeters from the edge;
- turn it over to the other side, bending it to the middle and the top part;
- fold the sides on top of each other and turn your envelope over again.

Olympic torch

Make a smaller square out of the napkin and roll the top layer up to the middle into a tube. Wrap the sides inward so as to hide them and get the shape of a torch.

Compositions in glasses

Original and effective compositions can be obtained from napkins and glasses.

There are several simple ways.

For example, fold a napkin into a scarf shape. Connect the side corners and the top one together, bending the bottom part by about a third. “Assemble” the resulting structure and place it in a glass. Slightly bend the petals of the resulting flower.

The second method is even simpler. Lay the napkin on the table. Grasp its middle with your fingers, lift it slightly and begin to twist. Place the structure in the glass, straightening the edges nicely.

You can also make an original frill. Fold the napkin in half so that the fold line is at the bottom. Starting from the top, fold it like an accordion in increments of about 1 -1.5 cm. Bend it in half and slightly curl the bottom in the shape of a snail and lower it carefully into the glass so that it does not unfold

Jabot

Fold the napkin four times to make a square. Its open corners should be in the upper right corner.

Bend the topmost layer diagonally to the middle and, starting from the top, fold it like an accordion. Do similar manipulations with the next layer. All that remains is to hide the bottom part, as well as the left and right corners from view.

These are just a few options that allow you to easily, but at the same time effectively transform your table setting. Use your imagination and you will be able to create real masterpieces with your own hands.

• Fan folding

Every housewife wants her holiday table to look perfect. There are many ways to make its decoration beautiful: high-quality dishes, a good tablecloth, sparkling cutlery, neat cutting of food and decorated dishes. But even before the dish appears on the table, I want to dilute the boring placement of cutlery a la “knife on the left, fork on the right” with a little zest. Ordinary napkins will help with this.

This is an indispensable attribute of any feast, be it Christmas dinner, anniversary or wedding, and works great as a decorative element. You can use any serving napkins, the main thing is to fold them correctly.

Understanding mastery: where to start?

It's no secret that the ways to give napkins an interesting shape are close to the origami technique. To beautifully fold napkins for table settings, you need to learn some universal basic techniques. The most popular of them:

• "Harmonic". It is needed for such simple shapes as a fan, butterfly or crane. The principle is intuitive, you just need to fold the entire napkin into an accordion with an edge width of 2-3 centimeters;
• "Book". A rectangular or square napkin is folded in half. Depending on the scheme, on the smaller or larger side of the rectangle;
• "Doors". The square is visually divided vertically into two equal parts, both parts must be folded inward towards the fold line;

• Triangle. Two opposite corners are diagonally aligned with each other. Fold on the front or back side as indicated in the diagram. Paper napkins in this form can already be placed in holders;
• Double triangle. The square is visually divided into 4 parts, two sides at the central points are tucked inward, forming triangles with pockets inside;

• "Pancake". It is also very simple to make: just fold each corner to the center point. The pancake can be multi-layered. Each time all the corners are connected at the central point, the napkin is turned over and the procedure is repeated;
• Tie. You need to place the napkin in front of you like a diamond, mark the center line, and align the side corners in the center.

They also sometimes include a double square, a pocket, a boat or catamaran, a “frog”, a “bird” and a “fish”, which in themselves are not yet full-fledged figures, but have common features with them. However, these forms are too complex for a beginner and are not always easy to use.

It is better to practice the technique first on paper, then on a hard starch napkin, and only then move on to serving textiles. But the practical part must be preceded by the correct choice of napkins.

Kinds

The right start to decorating a table is not in mastering origami techniques with textile materials, but in choosing napkins. Therefore, the desire to fold lilies and swallows from pieces of fabric should be postponed until later and carefully study the issue of choosing suitable napkins.

When choosing serving napkins, several criteria are important.

Size

This is the first difference between napkins depending on their purpose and the nature of the meal. So, for breakfast and tea parties, napkins measuring 25x25, 30x30 or 35x35 centimeters are sufficient. Napkins for serving for a lunch or dinner party, size 40x40cm. Sometimes there are larger options, with a square side of up to 50 cm. The most common napkins for decorating a festive table are from 50x50 to 60x60.

The size of napkins is of fundamental importance when using them for table decoration. The most suitable option is medium size. Napkins that are too small are convenient for shaping shapes, but they leave a lot of creases as if the napkin was served crumpled. Large pieces of fabric or paper are also unsuitable for complex decoration.

In the end, a napkin is needed to maintain hygiene and etiquette, and not so that starchy swans or hares take up half the table, no matter how beautiful they turn out.

Form

The classic, most common and most practical shape of napkins is a square. Square napkins are convenient for setting the table, arranging them in different ways and combining them with each other. However, there are other forms that are less amenable to decoration, but sometimes irreplaceable. These can be napkins that have a rectangular shape with sharp edges, elongated with rounded corners, triangular, round and oval.

As a rule, there are no paper ones among them. This extends to textile serving sets, often complementing a fabric tablecloth.

Colors

Color and pattern are very important. Textile napkins should be identical in tone to the color of the tablecloth. It is allowed to repeat the pattern, if any, the presence of textured details, interesting edge processing, double-sided colors. If the design idea involves two tablecloths at the same time to decorate the table, the color of the napkins should match the lower tablecloth.

Only plain napkins are folded. If they already have active decor or a themed design (flowers for March 8, snowflakes for the New Year and other popular colors), it’s quite beautiful to place them in napkin holders. Origami in this case will already look like excess. In addition, if the color is not monochromatic, it is difficult to see the fold lines.

Material type

This factor is perhaps the most important. The type of material determines whether a napkin figure will hold its shape, whether it drapes beautifully, how much it wrinkles, whether the serving element can withstand washing, or whether you will have to purchase a new set after the feast. The following materials are often used for serving:

• Linen. This material is practical, natural, easy to starch, looks beautiful and washes well. It is very convenient to use for folding napkins in non-trivial ways. There are few creases left on the fabric. Linen napkins have a pleasant base color, so they are versatile in all respects.
• Cotton. Different varieties of cotton also have positive qualities. They are easy to care for, easy to manipulate when decorating, absorb sauces and fat well, and are suitable for reusable use. Linen and cotton napkins can be combined with each other to create a beautiful decor on the holiday table.

• Silk. Rarely used due to the high cost and impracticality of the material. However, if the tablecloth is silk, napkins made of the same material are necessary. They do not drape well, figures made of smooth material with a silky surface “creep”, so either a lot of starch or the simplest possible decor is required. For example, various sachets, a lying fan, triangles.
• Synthetics. For decoration, it is considered the most suitable option, but the material itself is unpleasant to the touch, does not absorb sauces or fat well, and may lose color after washing. These wipes are suitable for one-time use. It is advisable to have paper ones on hand as an alternative.
• Blended fabrics. The most practical option for the price. In addition, mixed fabrics drape well and hold their shape, have absorbent properties, and are washable from various stains.

• Paper. It is not customary to fold them into complex shapes. Paper napkins are needed for quick use. The most practical way is to place them in napkin holders on the table or in an accessible area. The modern assortment allows you to choose them to match textile products, made of thick or thin paper, with or without texture.
• Parchment, PVC and bamboo. All three types are designed to protect fabric tablecloths, and they also serve as a stand for plates and cutlery and, as it were, limit the person sitting at the table within the limits of their size. This is very important for situations when a large number of guests gather at the festive table. You won't be able to fold such napkins. The maximum is to roll it into a beautiful roll. But their practicality is very great - such attributes can be easily combined with decorative napkins.

For example, a bamboo hard napkin under the plates looks beautiful in combination with figures made from red napkins. This has the harmony, conciseness and beauty of the oriental style.

Practicality

We must not forget that the decorative function of napkins is not paramount. They are necessary on the table for hygiene and convenience of guests. If you really want to amaze everyone with your skill, then in addition to complex fabric lotuses and boats, there should be ordinary paper napkins on the table, which are convenient for wiping your mouth or fingers if necessary. The same applies to starching fabric napkins. Of course, they hold their shape better, but it will simply be impossible to use these standing napkins for their intended purpose.

Methods: step-by-step guide and diagrams

There are a lot of options for how to fold napkins. Among them are universal geometric shapes (triangles, envelopes, double squares, sachets and others), romantic flowers, themed figures (Christmas trees for the New Year's table, rings for a wedding celebration, Christmas snowflakes, ties, handbags), animals (for a children's party or symbol of the year), non-trivial forms.

They master techniques from simple figures to more complex ones.

Fan folding

A fan is a classic table decoration. There are several variations of it. The first involves the use of auxiliary materials, in addition to a napkin: soft cardboard and beautiful braid or ribbon.

To get a fan with a holder, you need to place a square napkin in front of you like a diamond, so that the corners are in a vertical line. Fold the diamond in half, iron the fold with your fingers, leaving a noticeable line, and unfold. Then, from the center line, in increments of 2-2.5 cm, fold the resulting triangles into an accordion. The resulting fan is inserted into a cardboard holder.

The holder is prepared as follows: an oval 3-5 cm wide and 6-10 cm long is cut out of soft cardboard (or velvet paper). The length and width depend on the splendor of the fan. Holes are made with a hole punch at a distance of 1 cm from each rounded edge of the oval. A ribbon, braid or lace is inserted into the holes. A fan made from a napkin is placed in the resulting holder, the lace is tightened and tied with a beautiful bow or knot. You can decorate the holder with inscriptions for the celebration.

The second common option is a standing fan. It's called "Peacock's Tail".

The napkin needs to be laid out on a flat surface, face down, folded in half into a “book”. Turn the narrow side towards the edge of the table and start forming folds from there. Not along the entire length, only to the middle of the napkin. The ideal fold width is the thickness of your index finger.

When the assembly is completed, holding all the folds one on top of the other, you need to bend the napkin in half widthwise. It turns out to be a rectangle with a gather at the bottom and a free edge at the top. The upper left edge needs to be folded diagonally into a triangle and tucked between the folds.

Then the fan can be opened, and the resulting triangle will serve as a stand for it, like a photo frame.

The “Asian fan” looks aesthetically pleasing on the table. The sequence of actions is as follows:

• Place the napkin face down on a flat surface.
• Bend the top edge inward by one-fourth of the width of the napkin.
• Turn over to the front side.
• Bend the bottom edge inward by one third of the width of the already rectangular shape.
• Fold the resulting rectangle in half along a horizontal line.
• From a strip of fabric, gathering it along the width of the rectangle, fold an accordion of 5 identical folds.
• Hold the bottom edge of the accordion with your hand, and straighten the inward edges of the top edge.
• Unfold the fan. If the napkin is starched and stiff enough, it will press the supporting part of the figure with its weight. If not, then the folds need to be secured with a clip, then the napkin will acquire a purely decorative function.

Flower

The “floral” theme in folding napkins is very popular. Flowers look beautiful, do not require special skill to execute, and are appropriate for almost any celebration.

A laconic and elegant option is calla lilies. This simple-shaped flower is performed step by step:

• Fold the square shape into a basic triangle shape, placing the triangle with the single corner facing up.
• Take the upper corner of the triangle by the edge and wrap the entire napkin in a narrow bag with a diameter of no more than 1 cm.
• Turn out the wide part of the bag so that its narrowest part is inside the open bowl of the flower.
• Place the resulting flower on a plate.

It is done as follows:

• Fold the napkin into a basic triangle shape and turn it over with the base facing up.
• Bend the top of the triangle to the center point of the base from bottom to top. In appearance, the figure resembles a simple schematic boat.
• Fold the left and right edges of the “boat” down, slightly overlapping each other, so that the tongue of the triangle’s apex appears in the middle between them. Now the figure looks like two isosceles triangles superimposed on each other, the vertices of which point in opposite directions to the right and left. The horizontal line between them (can be marked visually, or marked with a pencil) is the fold line. Along it, the lower corner of first the upper, then the lower triangle is bent upward.
• The tulip is already visible, all that remains is to tuck the protruding left and right corner behind the “back” of the figure and tuck one end into the other so that the flower does not unfold.

The lily is made a little more difficult. The first step is the same as when forming calla lilies - you need to fold the square into a triangle and place it in front of you. The left corner is point A, the top is B, the right is C. The edges of the napkin need to be turned inward so that the vertices of corners A and C coincide with the vertex of corner B. You should get a rhombus. It needs to be folded in half horizontally, and the top of the upper triangle be bent to the bottom edge. All that remains is to place the napkin on the table or plate and bend the side “petals”.

There is also a more complicated version of the lily - royal. It requires napkins that hold their shape well, otherwise the petals will not be visible. The actions are performed sequentially:

• Fold the square napkin into a basic pancake shape (repeat twice).
• Press the second layer of “pancake” with the bottom of the glass (corners connected in the center).
• Turn the bottom edge of each square outward to form a petal.
• Hold the glass a little so that the napkin takes its shape, remove it and place the lily on the dish.

“Artichoke” is similar to the royal lily, but more original. To get this shape, a square napkin needs to be folded three times with its corners towards the center, turning over each time after all the corners are connected at the central point.

Then, as in the case of the lily, you need to draw out the bottom of all four resulting triangles. It is advisable to hold the middle of the figure with your hand or a handy press in the form of a glass. There is no need to pull out the lower “petals” much. They should rise up slightly. Under the flower you get a square napkin backing. The artichoke is ready.

A common and beautiful way is to fold serving napkins into a rosette.

The procedure is as follows:

• Fold the fabric napkin into a basic triangle shape.
• Starting from the base of the resulting triangle, roll it into a loose “sausage”, leaving the top edge 7-10 cm free.
• Twist the “sausage” from left to right into the snail, tuck the very edge inside the snail so that it does not unwind.
• Take the corners of the protruding triangle and straighten them to the sides.
• The lower petals are formed, you can turn the rose over and put it in the designated place.

All the same shapes can be easily repeated using thick paper napkins.

In the form of an animal

The theme of animals becomes relevant on the eve of Easter (chickens and rabbits) and New Year (the symbol of the coming year in the form of a dog, horse, rooster and other animals). A napkin in the shape of a bunny, fox or raccoon will appeal to children at a children's party.

A simple and accessible figure is a bunny or rabbit. To do this, first of all, you need to fold the napkin in half twice along the same side to a rectangle. Then repeat the following steps:

• Having marked a vertical line in the middle of the rectangle, bend the narrow edges of the rectangle inward so that the upper edge of the right and left sides passes through this vertical line. You should end up with a shape that looks like a blank for a paper airplane with beveled top edges.
• Bend the left and right corners of the base of the figure inward to form a rhombus.

• The previous fold lines formed a straight vertical line down the center of the diamond. Focusing on it, you need to bend the left and right sides of the figure in half so that the lower left and lower right edges of the rhombus coincide with this vertical. The shape now resembles the basic "tie" shape, only it expands from the bottom up instead of the top down.
• The “tie” needs to be turned “backwards” towards you. At the top right and left there will be two most protruding points. They form a horizontal fold line along which the upper triangular part of the “tie” needs to be folded down.
• Turn the figure over to the front side again. It should look like a triangle, upside down. A pocket is formed at each corner of the base.
• The triangle is folded with the edges inward, one edge is hidden in the pocket of the other.
• The figure is turned over from top to bottom and from the front side to the back. At this stage, the “muzzle” and “ears” of the hare are already visible. All that remains is to straighten them with your fingers and place the figure on the plate.

It is also possible to make a rabbit or hare from paper napkins, but without adding volume to the figure. It is not necessary to place such a napkin; you can simply place it on a table or dish. Flat figures are obtained faster, wrinkle less, and the features of a particular animal are easier to discern in them.

You can decorate a holiday table for children or a family for the New Year without much effort by folding a napkin according to an origami pattern with a dog, tiger, rooster, horse or other animal.

Decoration with various shapes

In addition to the universal colors and the occasional use of different animal patterns, there are a large number of figures suitable for completely different celebrations. These can be napkins in the form of candles for the New Year's table, rings for a wedding celebration, tuxedo figurines for a bachelor party, Christmas trees, snowflakes, ties, palm trees, boats and much more. If you use paper napkins rather than fabric ones, you can use absolutely any origami pattern as a basis. Several trainings, and figures of varying degrees of complexity will be obtained in one minute.

If you don't have time to train, then It’s very easy to make a candle without any preparation. With its help, you can beautifully set the table for conservative events.

You will need a square napkin folded into a basic triangle shape, or a triangular napkin. You need to roll it up starting from the base of the triangle. The “sausage” should be made from nine-tenths of the triangle, and the very last part - a small triangle - remains free. Now the “Sausage” is folded diagonally, not strictly in half, but so that one end rises slightly above the other. The fold must be wrapped with the remaining triangle so that the candles do not fall apart.

In this form they can be placed in a glass or napkin holder. The finishing touch is to pull the sharp corners of the “candles” up a little so that they become shaped like a flame above the wick. It is more convenient to twist a single candle from small napkins.

A popular way to celebrate Valentine's Day is to set a table for two using heart napkins.

Step-by-step action plan:

• Fold the triangle with the base at the bottom, smooth it out well so that the corners of the top coincide as accurately as possible.
• First, connect the right and then the left corners of the base with the top to form a rhombus.
• The upper right edge of the diamond is visually divided in half. From the midpoint, draw a perpendicular line to the middle of the opposite side. This will be the fold line. Only the triangle is bent, the rhombus below remains intact.

• Along the fold line, the upper part of the triangle needs to be turned inward, as if hidden in a pocket. Repeat the same steps on the left side. A schematic heart can already be seen against the background of the rhombus.
• Now you need to turn the figure “backwards” towards you. It looks like a diamond without additional lines. This rhombus is bent horizontally in half.
• Turn the figure over to the front side again, and you can place the finished heart on the plate.

It is impossible not to note the figures for the most beloved winter holiday - New Year. Its symbol, of course, is the Christmas tree.

It is correct to start creating this figure with a basic “book”. Then it is folded in half vertically. It turns out to be a rhombus, the lower part of which is turned away into a pocket in 4 layers. Each layer is folded in turn from bottom to top. The new top should move 1-2 cm away from the top of the previous layer. Then the figure is turned over with its back up, face down. The left edge is folded to the right side, the right edge to the left, resulting in a “tie” that tapers towards the bottom. The “tie” unfolds again with the back down, face up.

The shape of the Christmas tree is already visible; it is formed by triangles, the corners of which are directed downwards. One by one, starting from the very first, they need to be folded upward. The corner of the first one remains free - this is the top of the Christmas tree, the rest are tucked under the previous layer.

There should be a total of 4 tiers and a crown. It can be decorated with a bead, bow, star or other themed accessory.

Not too pretentious and complicated, but at the same time original ways to fold a napkin exist to create an envelope with one pocket or several. They are in demand for formal and semi-formal events. These can be all celebrations related to marriage, events where people who do not know each other meet, corporate parties and business meetings.

A horizontal sachet is made up of a basic “book” shape turned horizontally into a rectangle. The rectangle should open from the top.

Having placed it in front of you (the front side is inside), you need to bend the top layer of the rectangle down by one third of the width. Then fold both sides inward so that the edges meet in the middle. Fold the resulting figure inward again and turn it over so that there is a solid pocket on the front side. This pocket holds cutlery.

An envelope sachet with a guest card and cutlery is simply irreplaceable at public events where most guests do not know each other.

Actions are performed in the following sequence:

• Fold the napkin into a book and then in half vertically to make the same blank as for the Christmas tree.
• Place the diamond-shaped blank in front of you with the free edge down. Alternately bend all the free layers from the bottom up, retreating from the previous vertex from 0.5 to 1.5 cm.
• Fold the bottom edge 2-3 cm and iron it with your thumb.
• Fold the edges towards the center of the napkin, tucking one under the other so that the sachet does not fall apart. A card with the guest's name is inserted into the smallest bottom pocket; cutlery can be placed in the top pocket or nearby.

An envelope sachet with a pocket for a guest card without cutlery can be compared to a bag. Performed step by step:

• Make the blank as for a Christmas tree, but place the free edge of the diamond on top.
• Bend the top two layers from top to bottom with an indentation of 1-2 cm.
• Turn the napkin so that its back is facing you.
• Lay the corners of the rhombus on top of each other, tucking the edge of one under the other.
• Return the napkin to its original position. The top pocket is for a name card.

You need to start folding the “bag” for cutlery from the wrong side (in this case, double-sided napkins or options with a pattern look interesting). Fold the napkin into a basic “book” so that the design or front side is inside. Then fold it widthwise into a square again. It turns out the already familiar base for the Christmas tree and sachets for the cutlery.

Unfold the diamond-shaped base in front of you with the free edge facing up. Bend the first three layers from top to bottom with an indentation between layers. Turn over to the other side and bend the corners of the diamond inward so that the edges meet in the middle and you get a “tie.” Turn over again to the other side. The bag is ready, all that remains is to put in the cutlery.

Examples and options

You can decorate a table with napkins in different ways. However, it is important to follow a few simple rules when choosing shapes and materials:

• Napkins must be of high quality;
• The figures unfold without difficulty for the guest;
• Plain napkins always look better than tacky ones;
• Napkins can be of different colors if guests are seated at several tables, but the fabric and design should be the same, as well as the shapes that are made from them;

23 photos

Ideas for designing napkins need to be coordinated with the reason for the feast. Complex paper figures (snowflakes, three-dimensional flowers and animals) will be appropriate as decor for home and children's celebrations. In addition to them, full napkin holders should be freely available. Textile strict sachets are an attribute of business meetings and official events.

Replacing the napkin holder with a small vase or serving them, for example, in a glass is also a way to decorate the table in an original way. Some shapes (roses, candles, types of fans) look much better inside a transparent glass than on a plate, and are guaranteed not to unfold.

For large celebrations (anniversaries, weddings), there is a more expensive option that justifies its price due to its aesthetic qualities - a napkin ring. Among them there are products made of metals, wood, glass, ceramics, textiles, paper (disposable). They are made in a wide variety of styles and organically complement both a simply airy, fluffed napkin and any shape, from a double tube to a flower.

Click on point No. 2 in the table of contents below, where 12+ schemes with photos are described in detail.

Quick navigation through the article:

Four ways to lay out a napkin holder

The main answer to the question of how to beautifully fold paper napkins into a napkin holder is to make a corner out of each napkin. Look at the photo below: what do you see? Single and double fans, which were lined with paper napkin corners.

So simple and so convenient! Any napkin can be easily pulled out without destroying the ensemble, and the most ordinary napkin holder looks like a solid holder for a festive composition.

Single and double fan

What are we doing:

• When folded, bend each napkin diagonally.
• We fill the holder with the resulting corners.

Option 1 - lay out two fans towards each other.

Option 2 - lay out one fan from the center to the sides.

Bird with a colorful tail

Another option is to fold the napkins into elongated trapezoids that will become the bird's tail. For the tail details, bend parallel corners and fold the napkin in half. A bright and unusual tail will be provided by blanks made from napkins of contrasting colors. The head and neck of the bird are a napkin folded into a flat tube with a bent tip. The creative solution is described in step-by-step photos below:

Such a bird fits perfectly into the New Year's table setting, if the Rooster rules the year, or for any spring holiday - as a symbol of the return of warmth and migratory birds.

Both methods - corners and birdie - are shown step by step in a short video:

Double-sided waterfall in a cup

The fifth option is non-standard: instead of a napkin holder, we use dishes.

• We need a stable ceramic cup with a small height.
• We unfold each napkin once and fold it in half (or in half twice, depending on the original size).
• We lay the resulting strips on top of each other and bend them in the middle.
• Place the middle of the stack into a cup. Voila! Easy to work with, homely, creative and very attractive.

Now let’s turn to step-by-step diagrams for the most effective and simple solutions on how to beautifully fold napkins on a festive table.

12+ eye-catching patterns for napkins at the plate

Having decided to diversify the serving with napkin folds, we will take into account 2 rules:

1. We need square napkins with a side of 35–50 cm depending on the complexity of the figure (in this article we limited ourselves to simple ones);
2. Each place at the table must have a chosen figure, otherwise the hospitable harmony of the feast is disrupted.

Flower and fan in a glass

Folded, rolled, slightly loosened the top and slightly bent the “petals”, placed in a glass. A clear photo is the best instructor! Below are three options for roses - for every taste.

You will have to work a little longer with a fan (or accordion):

• We unfold a regular napkin once - so as to get a long and wide strip.
• We fold the strips like an accordion in increments of no more than 2 cm.
• We bend the accordion in half and place it in a shot glass or glass, as shown in the photo.
• We keep the same principle for fabric napkins.

Three folds for a ring and a scarf for a fork

Rings are a win-win option for beautifully folding napkins on a festive table. They also open up a new horizon for ideas. Look at the step-by-step photo below how easily an ordinary soft napkin turns into a lush, elegant bow:

The second seemingly obvious option with a ribbon is not without its classic charm. Light patterned fabrics for the theme of a particular holiday and a plain satin ribbon for the middle are ideal for such a bow:

The third option for a ring is a classic flower from Victorian England. It looks very nice on the table, but is easy to create at home:

Any of the ideas organically incorporates natural decor - a sprig of spruce for the New Year or small flowers for the Easter feast.

We can also make rings with our own hands. We will need a base (for example, a long tube of foil or cling film can be easily cut into strong rings of the desired size) and any materials for decoration - from coarse textured thread to tie a ring to thin lace that can be glued on top of cardboard.

And this cute fold in the form of a scarf is just asking to decorate the New Year's table. Playful simplicity and naive charm:

Three cutlery envelopes

By choosing any “envelope” pattern, we can not only beautifully fold napkins on the festive table, but also place cutlery or a card with the guest’s name in them. And when serving for the New Year, it can be a miniature card with a wish.

The most popular envelope in European countries is with a beveled corner. It is wide, elegant and can accommodate the entire set of appliances, and not just the pleasant little details of the decor. Detailed photos explain the simple process step by step.

Another envelope option is with a solid stripe in the middle. This simple circuit is well described in a short video instruction:

A simple version of a quick envelope will easily fit into the table setting for a home party and will require a minimum of time from the creator (involve the kids in the holiday chores!):

Volumetric figures - Candle and Crown

Are only flat circuits simple? No. Many bulk variations that stand up on a plate on their own are done in minutes!

Any schoolchild will come up with an interesting three-dimensional version. Napkin Candle that can create the mood for serving a romantic meal or New Year's feast:

The universal-to-use crown also folds up in a couple of minutes. It blends organically with natural decor, becoming a stand for the first spring flowers, fresh greenery or Christmas-themed spruce branches.

The perfect paper or fabric pinwheel

The classic form of origami comes to the rescue in many holiday details:

• Weathervanes on a stick for decorating a buffet display;
• Accompanying prizes at competitions along with a bouquet of balloons;
• Window decoration with suspended geometric elements;
• Wall compositions from photos.

The interesting contours of the pinwheel and ease of execution will also be useful for the festive table: the weather vane turns out beautifully from any material.

Flower Perfection itself

Let's complete the parade of simple patterns with a flat flower using the traditional origami technique. This laconic form looks simply perfect! It will take effort for your guests to destroy it for the sake of table convenience. And who said that a meal is not a place for strong aesthetic impressions? After practicing on simple diagrams, we dare and impress!

An important secret to success: for such a flower, choose a traditional, thin cotton napkin and iron it well before folding.

Secrets of choosing materials and video TOP 10 folds

• Color of napkins and tablecloth. Don't be afraid to experiment! You are not required to maintain a contrast of colors or a complete match with the tablecloth. It only makes sense to accurately support the tablecloth with napkins. A solid tablecloth, on the contrary, often becomes the background for bright solutions on each plate. Do not exclude the option of white on white, which is particularly solemn.
• Napkin material. Our story at the beginning of the article - about napkins in napkin holders - demonstrated the main thing: it is not the expensive material that colors the table setting, but the creative solution of the element. Paper napkins are a smart choice for beautiful origami. And if you prefer fabric, then choose dense textures that retain their shape well - cotton, linen, chintz, thick viscose.
• Don't chase complex patterns on your first try. It’s better to bookmark our article, because it contains only those solutions that even a novice housewife or young mother can implement, involving the baby in the process. Cooking for a holiday is one of the best educational games!
• Take the time to fold your napkins at the table. Ideally, practice in advance. After all, this is a creative process, it is designed to delight not only guests, but also you!
• Choose colors for a specific holiday. New Year is always organic in green, red, gold and white. Autumn celebrations - all the colors of leaf fall. Spring feasts feature pastel shades of blue, pink and fresh greenery. And in the summer we are open to any associations - from colorful patterns to rich yellow and blue colors.

Of course, we didn’t talk about all the interesting ways to fold napkins on a festive table, and the diagrams given are only part of the ideas for a festive table setting. However, we recommend starting with our selection. Advantageous ease of execution and detailed step-by-step photos are a guarantee of success with minimal effort and time.