10 Popular Napkin Folding

The objective of the napkin folding is to ensure that napkins are set according to standard.

Napkin Folding Procedure

There are 4 basic ways to fold napkins at the outlets:
• The boat style
• The bishops hat style
• The rabbit’s ears style
• The tower style
Before folding and setting napkins, staff must check they are well ironed, clean, not damaged, not stained and no lipstick stains.
Other styles of folding are used for serving wine or as underliners too.

Napkin Folding #1 Bishop’s Mitre

1. Fold napkin bringing top to bottom.
2. Fold corners to centre line.
3. Turn napkin over and rotate ¼ 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.

Napkin Folding #2 Rosebud

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.

Napkin Folding #3 Pyramid

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 centre and stand on base of triangle

Napkin Folding #4 The Crown

1. Fold napkin 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
6. Open base of fold and stand upright

Napkin Folding #5 The Rose

1. Fold all 4 corners of open napkin to center
2. Fold new corners to center
3. Turn napkin over and fold all 4 corners to center
4. Holding center firmly, reach under each corner and pull up flaps to form petals
5. Reach between petals and pull flaps from underneath

Napkin Folding #6 Lady Windermere’s Fan

1. Fold napkin in half.
2. Make ―” accordion pleats, starting at bottom.
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.

Napkin Folding #7 The Clown’s Hat

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

Napkin Folding #8 Arum Lily

1. Fold napkin bringing bottom up to top
2. Fold corners to top.
3. Fold bottom point up to 1”below top.
4. Fold point back onto itself.
5. Fold down each of points at top and tuck under edge of folded up bottom. Fold down one layer of top point and tuck under base fold.
6. Turn napkin over and tuck left and right sides into each other.
7. Open base and stand.

Napkin Folding #9 Cardinal’s Hat

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
6. Open base of fold and stand upright

Napkin Folding #10 Bird of Paradise

1. Fold napkin in half, and then 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 centre line, turning their extended points under
4. Fold points of bottom corners underneath and fold in half on long end
5. Pull up points and arrange fabric on a surface