FOOD AND BEVERAGE : NAPKIN FOLDING

Napkin folding is a type of decorative folding done with a napkin. It can be done as art or as a hobby. Napkin folding is most commonly encountered as a table decoration in fancy restaurants. Typically, and for best results, a clean, pressed, and starched square cloth (linen or cotton)napkin is used.

Now I will show you how to fold a basic type of napkin.

The Bishop's Hat Napkin Fold

1. Lay the napkin face down in front of you.

2. Fold the dinner napkin in half so that the open end is towards you.

3. Fold the far-right corner diagonally towards you, resting the point in the center of the side closest to you.

4. Fold the near-left corner diagonally away from you, resting it so that it lays right next to the previous fold.

5. Flip the napkin over and orient it so it points to the far-left and to the near-right.

6. Fold the bottom half of the napkin up and away from you, laying it so the far edges run on top of one other.

7. Reach underneath of the napkin and pull out the flap on the right, making the near-side come to two points as seen in the picture.

8. Gently roll the left half of the left triangle over and tuck it's end underneath the right triangle.

9. Flip the napkin over, points pointing away from you.

10. Fold the right-triangle to the left, tucking it's end into the other triangle.

11. Open up the hat and press the material inside down to fill it out so that it becomes circular, this may take a little fidgeting.

The Candle Napkin Fold

1. Lay the napkin face down in front of you.

2. Fold the napkin in half diagonally.

3. Fold the long side up just about an inch. Press this fold down well or it will interfere with the next step.

4. Orient the napkin so the open ends point away from you.

5. Starting at either end, tightly roll the napkin into a cylinder. Take care to roll it straight so it will stand solidly.

6. Tuck the end of the roll into the base on the backside and stand it up.

The Basic Silverware Pouch

1. Lay the napkin face-down in front of you.

2. Fold the napkin in half and orient the open end toward you.

3. Fold the napkin into quarters. Orient the napkin so the open corner is facing away and to the left.

4. Fold the top-most layer of napkin in half diagonally and press it down.

5. Fold the right-side back about 1/3 of the way and press it down.

6. Fold the left-side back also about 1/3 of the way and press.

7. Flip it over, straighten it up and insert those shiny eating instruments.

The Bird Of Paradise Napkin Fold

1. Lay the napkin face down in front of you.

2. Fold the napkin in half.

3. Fold the napkin in quarters.

4. Fold the napkin in half diagonally, creating a triangle.

5. Fold the right corner diagonally towards you - laying it down along the centerline of the triangle, making a new tip pointing towards you. An iron can make this important fold a whole lot easier. Do the same with the left corner, fold it diagonally toward you and press it down next to the previous fold. Now you have a diamond

6. Fold the triangle in half by bringing the center seam towards you and allowing the ends to fall.

7. This bird's almost ready, but first you must give it some feathers. While holding the base firmly to keep your folds together, pull up the four 'flaps' created by the napkin's corners.

8. Now your bird are ready to fly. :)

The Crown Napkin Fold

1. Lay the napkin face-down in front of you.

2. Fold the napkin in half diagonally.

3. Fold the right-corner up so that the point rests directly on top of the middle-corner. The edge of this new flap should lay on the center line of the napkin. Repeat on the other side

4. Fold the bottom of the napkin up about 2/4's of the way and press this fold down well.Fold the smaller triangle down so the point rests on the near edge of the napkin. Press.

8. curl the left and right sides of the napkin up so they meet in the middle and tuck one into the other. Stand it up and tug at it where needed to even it up and round it out. If your napkins are too limp then think of starch as napkin viagra and make them good and stiff.