Fancy Folds

ROSE IN A FLUTE

1. Begin with two napkins of different colors. Fold both into quarters—that is, folded in half twice to make two squares.

2. Place the squares diagonally with the corner of one overlapping the second. 

3. Roll both napkins tightly on the diagonal, then place the roll in a champagne glass.

4. Peel layers back to form the petals of a rosebud around the glass.

THANKSGIVING FOLD

1. Begin with the napkin fully open, laid out as a square, then fold it in half vertically so that the fold is on the right. Press.

2. Create a horizontal pleat at the bottom by folding the napkin up about 1½ inches from the bottom edge and folding it under itself. Press.

3. Working from the bottom to top, continue making pleats by alternating folds, accordion style.

4. Stop folding when 4 to 5 inches remain at the top of the napkin.

5. Flip over the napkin.

6. Holding down the right side of the napkin, fold it in half.

7. Grasp the upper right corners (both layers) of the unpleated side and diagonally fold down the right top corner as far as possible (creating a triangle), tucking the corners deeply down into the pleats. (The triangular fold creates a stand for the fan.)

8. Grasp the triangle and stand it upright so that the pleats fall open and form the fan.

THRONE FOLD

1. Begin with the starched napkin fully open, laid out as a square, then fold it in half horizontally so that the folded edge is at the bottom. Press.

2. Fold the upper right corner down diagonally so that the corner meets the bottom edge at the center of the napkin. Press.

3. Fold the napkin’s right side down to the left to create an even 4-inch band.

4. Flip the napkin over so that the longest side is at the bottom.

5. Fold the bottom edge of the napkin up so that it folds the band in half. Press.

6. Flip the napkin over, keeping the longest side at the bottom.

7. Fold the left end to the right so that the point lies directly below the top point of the triangle.

8. Fold the far right corner of the napkin to the left, folding the triangle in half and creating another triangle. Press.

9. Tuck the left point and top layer of the now-folded triangle into the folds of the band.

10. At the bottom, open the folded triangle to create a circle, forming the base of the crown, and stand the napkin upright. At the table, place the point of the crown toward the back (pointing away from the guest).

THANKSGIVING FOLD

1. Begin with napkin fully open, laid out as a square, then fold the upper edge down one third of the total height of the napkin.

2. Fold the bottom edge up horizontally on top of the already folded third sot hat the top layer completely covers the bottom layer and the edges meet, creating a rectangle. Press.

3. Fold the left-hand side of the rectangle to the center line. Press.

4. Fold the right-hand side of the rectangle to the center line. Press.

5. Fold the upper left corner down and the lower right corner up to make two right triangles whose sides meet but leave about 2 inches of the rectangle exposed on each side. Rotate the napkin clockwise so that the center line is at a diagonal. Press.

6. This part is a little tricky, so take your time. Grasp both triangles at their centers, one in each hand. Pick up the napkin and, with your thumbs placed on the center of each triangle, fold the left side back, keeping the points of the triangles up. Lay the napkin down on the table so that the two "peaks" face up. Press.

7. Grasp the left side of the left peak and fold it in half toward the center, tucking the end into the folds of the uppermost triable on the right side.

8. Flip the entire napkin over and repeat step 7, folding the left side of the left peak in half and then tucking the end into the folds of the uppermost triangle on the right side.

9. Stand the napkin upright at the place setting.

For more napkin folding ideas, tips and tricks, check out Napkins with a Twist: Fabulous Folds with Flair for Every Occasion by David Stark.