A Guide to Folding Napkins


Lady Windermere's Fan | The Goblet Fan | Bird of Paradise | Bishop's Mitre | Pyramid | Clown's Hat
Boot or Lady's Slipper | The Candle | Rosebud | The Crown | Cardinal's Hat | The Rose


Lady Windermere's Fan (Back to Top)


  1. Fold napkin in half
  2. Starting at bottom, make 1 inch accordion pleats 2/3 way up
  3. Fold in half with pleating on the outside
  4. Fold upper right corner diagonally down to folded base of pleats and turn under edge
  5. Place on table and release pleats to form fan



The Goblet Fan (Back to Top)

  1. Fold napkin in half
  2. Make 1 inch pleats from bottom to top
  3. Turn napkin back 1/3 of the way on right (folded) end and place into goblet
  4. Spread out pleats at top



Bird of Paradise (Back to Top)

  1. Fold napkin in half and then in half again horizontally
  2. Then fold in half diagonally with points on the top and facing up
  3. Fold left and right sides down along center line, turning their extended points under
  4. Fold points of bottom corners underneath and fold in half on long dimension with edges facing out.
  5. Pull up points and arrange fabric on a surface



Bishop's Mitre (Back to Top)

  1. Fold napkin bringing top to bottom
  2. Fold corners to center line
  3. Turn napkin over and rotate 1/4 turn
  4. Fold bottom edge up to top edge and flip point out from under top fold
  5. Turn left end into pleat at left, forming a point on left side
  6. Turn napkin over and turn right end into pleat, forming a point on right side
  7. Open base and stand upright



Pyramid (Back to Top)

  1. Fold napkin in half diagonally
  2. Fold corners to meet top point
  3. Turn napkin over and fold in half
  4. Pick up at center and stand on base of triangle



Clown's Hat (Back to Top)

  1. Fold napkin in half bringing bottom to top
  2. Holding center of bottom with finger, take lower right corner and loosely roll around center
  3. Matching corners until cone is formed
  4. Turn napkin upside down, then turn hem all around. Turn and stand on base.



Boot or Lady's Slipper (Back to Top)

  1. Fold in half bring bottom to top
  2. Fold in half again, top to bottom
  3. Fold the left and right corners down to meet in the center
  4. Fold on the dotted lines, again bringing the left and right to the center
  5. Place the right hold over the left half and position the napkin with the point to the left and the tails on the right and the opening to the bottom
  6. There are two tails on the right; lift the top tail and tuck it under and up
  7. The lower tail must be made narrow in order to tuck it into the pocket; do this by folding the top down and the bottom up as in 8
  8. Put the folded tail into the pocket to lock; stand up, as in 9, and turn up the point of the boot
  9. Lady's Slipper



The Candle (Back to Top)

  1. Fold napkin in half diagonally
  2. Fold down base 2 inches
  3. Turn napkin over and fold bottom point 6 inches in towards middle. Then roll from bottom to top
  4. Tuck corners inside cuff at base of fold and stand
  5. Turn one layer of point down and set on base



Rosebud (Back to Top)

  1. Fold napkin bringing top to bottom
  2. Fold corners to center line
  3. Turn napkin over and rotate 1/4 turn
  4. Fold bottom edge up to top edge and flip point out from under top fold
  5. Turn left end into pleat at left, forming a point on left side
  6. Turn napkin over and turn right end into pleat, forming a point on right side
  7. Open base and stand upright



The Crown (Back to Top)

  1. Fold napkin in half diagonally
  2. Fold corners to meet at top point
  3. Fold bottom point 2/3 way to top and fold back onto itself
  4. Turn napkin over bringing corners together; tucking one into the other
  5. Peel two top corners to make crown. Open base of fold and stand upright



Cardinal's Hat (Back to Top)

  1. Fold napkin in half diagonally
  2. Fold corners to meet at top point
  3. Turn napkin over with points to the top, fold lower corner 2/3 way up
  4. Fold back onto itself
  5. Bring corners together tucking one into the other. Open base of the fold and stand upright



The Rose (Back to Top)

  1. Fold napkin in half diagonally
  2. Fold corners to meet at top point
  3. Turn napkin over and fold bottom 2/3 way up
  4. Turn napkin around and bring corners together; tucking one into the other
  5. Turn napkin around and stand on base