If you are hosting a lavish banquet, folding napkins in formally styled shapes will add an extra touch of elegance. The folds in this guide will be best formed using a cloth napkin that has been ironed and sprayed with hardener, but you can also use paper napkins easily. Just choose one of these classic pleated shapes: the bishop's hat, roses, candles, or three pockets.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Shape the Bishop's Hat
Step 1. Lay the napkin flat on the table
Arrange for the bottom edge of the napkin to taper toward your chest, and the top edge to point in the opposite direction to your body.
- For best results, iron the napkin first, so that there are no crease lines at all. If you want the shape of the Bishop's hat to stand up straight, you can also use hardener.
- If you're using a patterned napkin, the patterned side should be facing down, while the unpatterned or less colored side should be facing up.
Step 2. Fold the napkin diagonally into two equal parts
Bring the lower end up until it meets the top end. Your napkin should now look triangular, with the bottom side of the triangle facing you and the top pointing away from you. Press the crease line with a high-temperature iron.
Step 3. Fold the edges inward
With the bottom side of the triangle facing you, take the right end of the triangle and fold it inward toward the top of the triangle. Also take the left end and fold it inward towards the top of the triangle. The napkin now looks like a small square, with a vertical line in the middle. Press the crease lines on this square shape with a high-temperature iron.
Step 4. Fold the bottom edge
Position the square shape so that its bottom edge is facing you, and its center line is pointing from top to bottom right in the middle of the square. Fold the bottom corner up until it's about 2.5 centimeters from the top of the box. Press the crease line with a high-temperature iron.
Step 5. Fold the bottom edge down
Take the bottom edge that you folded up earlier, then fold it back down until it touches the bottom side of the triangle. Your napkin now looks like a sailboat, with a trapezoidal base and two triangular poles. Press the crease lines with a high-temperature iron.
Step 6. Turn your napkin over
Be careful that the entire fold shape stays in place.
Step 7. Fold the sides
Fold the left side of the triangle inward towards the center, then fold the right side over so that it overlaps the left side. Tuck the right side into the small triangular pocket on the left. Iron the folds. You're starting to see the shape of the Bishop's hat, aren't you?
Step 8. Turn your napkin over
Make sure that all the folds stay in place, and that the right side stays tucked inside the left side.
Step 9. Pull the sheet on the front side down, to form a pair of wings
The brim of the Bishop's hat consists of two parts. Drag one of them towards the bottom right, and the other towards the bottom left. Press the crease lines with a high-temperature iron.
Step 10. Arrange your napkins
You can place it upright on a plate or just lay it down. Tuck the menu card or seat card in the center crease, or leave it untouched. The folded shape of this Bishop's hat will still look formal and elegant.
Method 2 of 4: Rose Flower Shape
Step 1. Lay the napkin flat on the table
Adjust so that the bottom edge of the square is facing you, and the top edge is facing the opposite direction to you.
- These folds can be made with wrinkled napkins, as the creases and crease lines can provide added texture for a more attractive appearance. However, if you don't want your guests to use wrinkled napkins, you can also iron them first.
- If you're using a patterned napkin, start with the patterned side down on the tabletop.
Step 2. Fold it diagonally into two equal parts
Bring the lower end up until it meets the top end. Your napkin should now look triangular, with the bottom side facing you and the top pointing away from you.
Step 3. Roll the bottom side towards the top of the triangle
Start with the bottom side of the triangle facing you, then roll the napkin into a long sausage shape, until you reach the vertex of the triangle. When you're done, you'll have a long cylindrical shape with tapered ends.
Step 4. Roll one end towards the other
Start with one pointy end, then roll up to the other end. Continue until the entire cylindrical shape has rolled into a spiral. Your napkin is now shaped like a rose. Use your fingers to adjust the shape to make it more like a rose. Tuck the tip into the crease of the bottom side of the rose.
Step 5. Place it in a glass on your dining table
This folded shape looks best when placed in a short glass or small plate, so that the roll doesn't come loose.
Method 3 of 4: Candle Shape
Step 1. Lay the napkin flat on the table surface
Adjust so that the bottom edge of the napkin is tapering toward your chest, and the top edge is pointing in the opposite direction to you.
- For best results, iron the napkin first, so that the crease lines are no longer visible. If you want to place it in an upright position, use hardener when ironing.
- If you're using a patterned napkin, the patterned side should be facing down, and the unpatterned or less colored side up.
Step 2. Fold the napkin diagonally into two equal parts
Bring the bottom end up until it meets the top end. Your napkin now looks triangular, with the bottom side facing you and the top pointing in the opposite direction. Press the crease line with a high-temperature iron.
Step 3. Fold the extending side up, about 2.5 centimeters away
Take the bottom side of the triangle and fold it up. Use a high temperature iron to define the crease line.
Step 4. Roll the napkin up, from one end to the other
Start with one end and roll tightly towards the other end. Make sure that the bottom side is rolled up evenly, so that the napkin can stand upright later. When you're done rolling, tuck the end into one of the folds near the sides of the base.
Step 5. Place it in the glass
Because the shape of the wax fold is long and slender, the napkin will easily fall out of position. The best way to showcase its beauty is to place it in a sleek glass of water as well. You can also put it in a lying position on the surface of the plate.
Method 4 of 4: Pocket Shape
Step 1. Lay the napkin flat on the table
Arrange so that the bottom side of the napkin is facing you and the top side is facing opposite you.
- For best results, iron the napkin first so you don't see any creases. If you want to place it in an upright position, also use hardener when ironing.
- If you're using a patterned napkin, the patterned side should be facing down, while the unpatterned or less colored side should be facing up.
Step 2. Fold the napkin into two equal parts
Bring the bottom edge to meet the top, and the crease line is now facing you. Press the crease line with a high-temperature iron.
Step 3. Fold from left side to right side
Your napkin is now in the shape of a small square, with all the corners stacked on top of each other. Press the crease lines with a high-temperature iron.
Step 4. Roll the top layer down
Place the square in front of you, so that the corners of the napkin are at the top right corner. Take the top layer of the corner stack, then roll it diagonally toward the center. Stop rolling when you reach a point slightly beyond the center of the napkin, until you form a diagonal line from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. Use a high temperature iron to press the roll until it is flat and flat.
Step 5. Fold the second layer down
Take the next layer from the corner pile of the napkin, then fold it diagonally so that the ends are tucked under the roll you just made. Leave about 2.5 centimeters of this layer that remains untucked. The width of this untucked part must be equal to the width of the roll. Use a high temperature iron to define the crease line.
Step 6. Fold the corners of the third layer inward
Take that corner and fold it downwards, in a different way from the fold of the previous two layers. Tuck this corner down, until the width of the untucked part is equal to the width of the roll and the width of the folded part of the second layer. This will create the shape of three stacked pockets. Use a high temperature iron to define the crease line.
Step 7. Fold the left edge down
Take the left edge of your napkin, and fold it down until the edges of the fold are hidden and the napkin is square. Use a high temperature iron to define the crease line.
Step 8. Place on a plate
Since this fold is three pockets, you might consider inserting a menu card, tableware, or a flower inside.
