How to fold cloth napkins for serving the table?

Each hostess wishes to surprise guests at a dinner party, for this purpose they prepare delicious dishes, decorate the room and the table. One of the original methods of giving the table a festive look are unusually folded napkins, because the setting always attracts attention. If you are going to visit friends, you can get by and paper. But for a more formal event, it is desirable to use tissue. As a rule, they are folded in a triangle and neatly placed under the edge of the plate. However, this does not surprise anyone, so for a spectacular design it is worthwhile to give preference to more complex, but at the same time fast options.

Napkins appeared in use even at the time when food was taken without cutlery. Hands had to be wiped, and it was forbidden to do this on a tablecloth or clothes, so they used handkerchiefs. Later, special materials appeared specifically for fingers, and then disposable paper versions.

When making a festive table, it is not enough just to fold napkins beautifully, you need to know some subtleties of etiquette. It is recommended to serve both linen and paper products.

Pre-textile product should be washed, starch and ironed well. In no case should the tablecloths be laid with wet or unwashed hands, as the material gets dirty quickly and even the most beautiful way of laying will not save the dirty look. And of course, it is recommended to work out well before setting oneself on the table and hone the skill of beautiful folding so that at the last moment everything turns out as it should.

The rules of etiquette dictate not only the options for serving cloth napkins, but also their use. First of all, it should be remembered that they should not be tacked behind the collar of the clothes; the material should lie open on the knees.

It is impossible to wave a cloth strongly or to wipe your lips too carefully - this is a sign of bad taste. If it is necessary to temporarily leave the table, it is recommended to carefully put a handkerchief on a plate or hang it on the back of a chair.

When serving, you need not only beautifully folded napkins, but also to be able to choose them correctly. Choose based on the following factors.

According to the material napkins are divided into two types: fabric and paper. The first option is placed directly on the plate, the second - under it. Some housewives prefer to fold paper napkins inside the glasses, this method is also not forbidden, on the contrary, the table is given an even more festive look.

Cloth tablecloths preferably choose linen or cotton, as these two materials keep a neat appearance longer and do not slip when folded, unlike synthetic ones.

The shape of textiles for serving the table is usually square, measuring 40 x 40 centimeters, however, some prefer to take rectangular pieces of fabric. It all depends on the method of folding, one requires a square shape, the other rectangular. Such a product can be sewn independently from any rag material.

According to the etiquette when decorating the table with napkins, their color should be combined with the basic shade of the tablecloth and dishes.

If themed holiday is made, then you can turn on the fantasy and pick up cloth tablecloths in any combination. Original colors require some folding methods. For example, a rose or a Christmas tree will look much better in red or green than white.

Folding fabric tableware has a huge number of options. Below are the most popular step by step methods that will be useful knowledge in the arsenal of any hostess.

This option is perfect for a romantic dinner together. This method can be folded as a tissue and paper napkin. It is very simple and does not require much time:

1. first you need to deploy the product, putting it face down on the table;
2. then it neatly folds in half into an equilateral triangle, the fold of which is wrapped a couple of centimeters, after which the whole structure is rolled into a roll and a tube is formed;
3. for tight fixation, turn the end corner inside;
4. if the candle is too high, you can tuck the upper part.

This folding pattern is one of the most popular. Napkin unfolds face up and gradually turns into a fan in a way known to all:

1. starting from the top, a small strip is turned down, then the material is turned over and the action is performed again;
2. the process is repeated until the last strip is bent, after which the cloth from the bottom is folded in half into the accordion;
3. the fan itself is so ready, and in order to make a stand, it should be clamped in the hand and carefully pulled up the inner crease on both sides;
4. the resulting structure is fixed and dissolved.

This option will be an excellent addition to the table set for the official event. Outwardly, it looks like a pocket for cutlery. It is easy to wrap a textile product in a sachet, for this you need to put it face up. First of all, the square material is folded in half, then a third of the upper part is turned down to obtain a central fold. The design turns over, and its two edges are connected in a neat center line. The procedure is repeated from this side, after which the sachet is ready and you can put cutlery inside.

On New Year's table is always decorated with special scruples and taste. A great addition for a festive table setting will be cloth napkins folded in the shape of a Christmas tree:

1. the napkin is folded in half in a rectangle, each corner of which is bent toward the center;
2. the resulting bevels are wrapped to the center to achieve a square shape;
3. the material turns over and similar actions are repeated from this side;
4. in the upper part, the left corner is bent diagonally and hidden in the opposite side of the square, the same is done with the lower right corner, after which an equilateral triangle is obtained, which also folds in half;
5. To get a full Christmas tree, you need to make two such parts and connect them together.

In addition to the standard folding options for cloth napkins, there are more original ones that guests will remember for a long time. You can decorate the table with do-it-yourself flowers from napkins, various figures or a peacock.

This type of design will look very elegant and original. For this figure, you need two cloth napkins, the choice of color depends entirely on the taste preferences of the hostess. The process of creating a bird is complicated, but the end result is worth all the effort and time spent:

1. the napkin is turned face down, the upper corners are bent so that the house is turned, then the bevels are wrapped two times and the design is turned over;
2. the resulting quadrilateral is formed and a peacock neck is formed, then the beak is unbent and the first part of the bird is ready;
3. the next step is to create a tail, for which the piece of fabric is folded into a rectangular shape and folded in accordion, not reaching the edge of five centimeters;
4. the resulting structure is folded in half, and the upper corner is bent to the central part;
5. when both parts are ready, it remains only to combine them into one and get a chic bird that will surprise even those guests who are addicted to the original ways of folding cloth napkins.

This option will give the festive table elegance and beauty. For a fabric rose, you will need two pieces of fabric - one to twist the bud, the second for the foliage.

The green napkin folds in half in a triangle, then the action is repeated two more times and the resulting shape is put in a glass so that the sheets look out over the edges. The red napkin needs to be folded into a rectangle and rolled into a bud, and then placed on the foliage.

Whatever way of folding cloth napkins you choose, always rely on the general theme of the holiday and your own taste preferences. It is important to remember that a good pastime depends not only on delicious dishes and a beautifully served table, but also on the general mood of all the guests, as well as the correct behavior of the host of the evening.

There are other ways of folding napkins. This can be found in the next video.