You cooked a delicious meal. You set out the plates. You even dimmed the lights. But when you look at the table, something looks a little boring. You don't need to spend a lot of money on big flower arrangements to fix this. The secret is actually very simple: it’s the napkins.
The easiest and cheapest way to turn a regular dinner into a fancy event is by folding your napkins nicely. You do not need expensive linens. By applying some neat folding techniques to your cloth napkins, you can make your table look professional.
Here, I'm going to present you with 10 simple types of napkin folding. I will also inform you how to get bulk cloth napkins at a discounted price.
Key Points
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Pick the Right Fabric: Cotton or "spun polyester" is best as they hold a crease. Slippery fabrics like satin won't fold.
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Starch: Like in the past, if you wish your napkins to have a stand-up style, use a little bit of Starch and Iron.
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Keep it Clean: When selecting folds, you shouldn't have to handle the napkin too much. Guests prefer clean napkins rather than intricately designed ones.
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Buy More to Save: Instead of buying little packs of just 4 pieces of cloth napkins, it is wiser to buy in bulk to save on costs.
Why You Should Consider Using Cloth Napkins
The main reason that people don’t really want to purchase cloth napkins is that they don’t want to do laundry. Now, that is a valid point, but trust me, it is worth it to go through the effort of one extra load of laundry to make your table look nice.
Therefore, the Environmental Protection Agency claims that the largest volume of trash found within our landfills consists of paper products. By using cloth, you are not only decorating your table, but also saving the world at the same time.
Plus, absorbent cloth napkins just work better. We have all been there trying to wipe messy sauce off our hands with a thin paper napkin that just rips apart. Cloth handles the mess much better and feels nicer to use.
10 Folding Techniques to Wow Your Guests
Below are my favorite napkin folding techniques to upgrade your dinner party arrangement.
1. The Classic Pocket
This is my favorite fold. It looks neat and offers a great placement for the tucking of a fork, knife, and spoon.
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Take the napkin and fold it in half. Now, once again, fold it to turn it into a square.
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Next, the top layer of fabric should be folded down diagonally.
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Flip the napkin over and fold the left and right sides
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Now, turn it back over, and then shove the silverware into the little pocket.
2. The Simple Knot
This is simple napkin folding for beginners who want a modern look. It is best used with soft cotton or linen napkins.
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Place the napkin on the table flat.
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Grasp opposite corners, and draw your napkin into a long rope.
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Put a loose knot right in the center.
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Gently place it on top of the plate.
3. The Ring Stuffer
If you have napkin rings, don't just shove the fabric through. A little technique goes a long way.
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Take the very center of the napkin and hold it straight up.
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Slide the napkin ring down from the top to about halfway down.
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Fluff the top part like a flower bloom and fan out the bottom part.
4. The Angled Pocket
Basically, just like the Classic Pocket, only fancier with a little more visible layers.
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Fold the napkin in half into a rectangle, and then fold it again into a square.
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Take the top corner and fold it down. Proceed with the second and third layers, tucking each one behind the fold in front of it.
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Fold the sides back to fit the size of your plate.
5. The French Pleat
This looks very formal. You will need absorbent cloth napkins that have been starched for this to look right.
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Fold the napkin into quarters (a square).
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Roll the first layer of the fabric down toward the center.
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Create pleats (like an accordion) with the other layers.
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Fold the sides back. This one stands up on the plate beautifully.
6. The Pyramid
Surely, this is one of the best ways of napkin folding for a special occasion. This provides the added height, which gives a dramatic flair to the table setting.
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Fold the napkin diagonally to form a triangular shape.
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Then fold up the bottom corners to meet at the top point, and it looks like a diamond.
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Now, flip it over and fold it in half.
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Place it on the plate standing upright and press the crease in the center to crisp it up.
7. The Fan
It is a traditional style that helps people associate hotels with luxury.
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Fold the napkin in half.
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Fold it back and forth, as you would an accordion, with about 3 inches left unfolded at one end.
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Fold the whole thing in half with the pleats on the outside.
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To lock that into place, the bit sticking out on the pleat side goes inside, making it stand up.
8. The Rose
This is very romantic and ideal for Mother’s Day or weddings, but demands a bit of practice.
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Fold the opposite corners into the center.
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Roll the napkin tightly from the long edge.
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Tuck in that loose end. This will stop it from unraveling. You can place your own leaves beside it if you wish.
9. The Envelope
It is a good idea if you want to leave a menu card or a sweet "Thank You" note for the guest inside.
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Fold the opposite corners to the center.
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Fold the bottom half upwards to the middle.
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Fold the top down so that it looks exactly like the back of the envelope.
10. The Bow Tie
These are creative napkin folding for dinner table decorations at birthday parties.
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Fold the top and bottom of the napkin to the center.
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Fold the sides into the center.
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Squeeze the middle and tie a ribbon or a small napkin ring around it to make that bow shape.
How to Buy Cloth Napkins in Bulk?
If you are having a party of seven or more, do not, I repeat, do not purchase your napkins at your local home furnishings store. They will charge you $5 to $10 for just one napkin!
Instead, see if you can locate a wholesaler on the web. You can purchase bulk cloth napkins for as low as $1 or $2 per napkin. This is great because you can buy enough to have a fresh set for dinner and a backup set if someone spills anything.
When you buy cloth napkins, look for the "GSM" number. This stands for Grams per Square Meter. It sounds technical, but it just means the weight. A higher number means the napkin is thicker and will absorb spills better.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What napkin size works best in serving a dinner party?
If you're going to have a proper dinner, you will need a napkin that is 20 X 20 inches, or 22 X 22 inches. If you opt for the 17 X 17 size, it may not be large enough to do the fancy folds.
2. Can I use polyester napkins for fancy folds?
Yes, but be careful. Choose spun polyester. Regular shiny polyester cloth is too slick, so the folds will slip apart easily. Spun polyester has more texture to it, which sticks together well like cotton napkins do.
3. How can I clean grease on fabric napkins?
Now, before you put it in the washer, think of some soap and put some on top of the stain. Because it's got to do with food grease, dish soap is specifically designed to break that down way better than laundry detergent.
4. How many napkins do I need to buy for guests coming over to my party?
One should always buy about 20% more than the number one needs. If you have guests of 12, at least purchase 15 or 16 napkins. That will cover if you drop one or when a guest needs a second napkin.
5. Is it cheaper to rent or buy cloth napkins?
If you plan on using them more than once, it is almost always cheaper to purchase cheap cloth napkins. Rentals can be around $2.00 a napkin, and when purchasing in bulk, often come out to around $1.50 each and then you have them forever.
Conclusion
While having your dinner party be special doesn't require going out and breaking the bank, it does require a bit more effort in presentation. The ideas given above can be used as different ways to fold napkins, along with some absorbent cloth napkins, in order to give a high-end ambiance.
Just remember, the objective here is not only to make an attractive table but to make your visitors feel welcome and cared for.
Ready to revolutionize your table? Check out Ruvanti’s array of high-quality, well-priced bulk cloth napkins today, and begin folding like a professional.
