In continuation of our love of cloth napkins, and in celebration of the spring entertaining season, we felt it was high time we help bring back the art of the folded napkin.
Sure, there are plenty of creative napkin folds out there, many daunting and overly executed. And, while we don’t think your napkin folds need to resemble an animal, flower, or a specific object, a classically folded napkin will add a touch of elegance to any soiree.

So, we’ve gathered three classic napkin folds that will be at home on just about any table. From Tuesday’s pasta night, to Saturday’s sea bass, these folds will turn up the volume on any simple supper!
But, before we get started, we have a few pre-napkin folding tips from Jill:
- Use a napkin that looks good from both sides. With most folds, each side of a napkin will be seen, so you want to make sure there’s not an “unfinished” side.
- Be sure your napkin is nice and square – a rectangular shaped napkin won’t hold your fold properly.
- Iron and lightly starch your napkins, prior to folding, ensuring the folded shape keeps.
- When executing the fold, be sure you’re working on a smooth, clean surface and you press firmly.
Now, we’re ready!
The Candle Fold – we love this one, because it brings the napkin up, off the table. We suggest placing the folded napkin in your water glass, to add a bit of extra height to your tablescape. Check out the how-to video below: