• Cloth napkins add a touch of style to both formal and informal dinner settings. Folding the napkins into interesting shapes makes each plate a centerpiece and adds beauty to your table. Napkin folding designs can be as simple or as intricate as you like.
  
  

Pyramid Fold

• The pyramid fold is a simple fold that can be made with thick napkins or starched thin napkins. Start with the napkin laid out flat and fold it in half diagonally. Turn the napkin so the open sides are facing away from you; it should look like a triangle with the point on top. Fold each bottom corner to the top center point of the triangle and turn the napkin over, again keeping the open sides facing away from you. The napkin should now be shaped like a square. Fold the top of the napkin towards you until the napkin in folded in half and triangular shaped again. Turn the napkin over with the open ends facing towards you and fold the center until it stands up into a pyramid.
  
  

Buffet Server

• The buffet server fold is an informal fold designed to hold silverware. Starting with the napkin flat on the table fold it in half horizontally with the open ends facing away from you. Next, fold the top open half down to meet the bottom folded edge. This will leave you with three thicknesses of napkin on one side and a single thickness on the other. Turn the napkin over and fold it towards the right into the center two times. The napkin will now be in thirds. Turn the napkin over and insert the silverware into the fold on the front of the napkin.
  
  

Standing Fan

• The standing fan fold is perfect for a formal dinner setting and needs heavy or starched napkins. Starting with the napkin laying flat, fold the top half towards you. Turn the napkin sideways and fold the napkin over itself into an accordion with each fold about an inch and a half from the last. Stop when the unfolded portion of the napkin is about 2-3 inches long. Fold the napkin in half with the folded part to the outside and tuck the unfolded corner into the center of the accordion. Open up the folds to spread out the fan and place it open on the table.
  
  

Napkin Ring Fan

• This fold requires the use of one napkin ring for each napkin. Start with the napkin flat in the table in front of you. Fold the napkin in half and press to crease it before opening it back up. Fold the half of the napkin closest to you towards the center like an accordion, stopping at the center crease. Turn the napkin around and fold the remaining half into accordion folds until you reach the center. Fold the napkin in half lengthwise and insert the folded end into a napkin ring about a third to half way up and allow the remainder to fold out into a fan.