DIY@APL Napkin Folding

DIY@APL
Napkin Folding
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Diagonal Fold
Start with napkin folded in quarters,
with open points at upper right corner.
Flip napkin over and fold
sides to center, or you can
do it from the front.
Roll first layer diagonally
to the center; crease.
Roll second layer diagonally.
Tuck under first layer, or
fold second layer into pocket.
Flip it back to finish.
Variation - Diamond Fold
Turn napkin with point at top;
fold sides under.
Variation - Triple fold
Roll third layer to center,
or fold into pocket.
Variation For a different look, start
with napkin inside out.
Fold sides to back
to finish.
Rose
Fold napkin in half diagonally to form
a triangle with fold along the bottom.
Fold up again...
Bring the folded edge up about
1 to 1-1/2 inches and crease.
… and a third time.
Tuck the tail into
the end of the roll.
Start at one end and
roll up almost to
the other end.
Pull flaps down from the top.
Turn napkin over and arrange onto the petals.
Christmas Tree
Start with napkin folded in quarters,
with open points at top.
… and third
Fold left side to center as shown.
Pull upper point to the top and
continue with each layer...
Fold down first layer about
1/2 inch from point.
… and fourth.
Fold right side to form a point.
… tucking each point in
to look like this.
Fold down second layer...
Flip napkin over.
Flip napkin back over,
with small point at top.
Fold bottom point toward the back
and arrange so tree can stand up.
Wiesbaden
Fold napkin in half diagonally to form
a triangle with fold along the bottom.
Bring the folded edge up about
1 to 1-1/2 inches and crease.
Fold back along center line.
Insert the pleats into the tines
of a fork and fan out the napkin.
Working from center,
fold one-inch
accordion pleats.
Cardinal’s Hat
Fold napkin in half diagonally to form
a triangle with fold along the bottom.
Fold down point of lower fold so it
touches bottom edge of napkin.
Repeat on the
other side.
Turn the
napkin toward
the front.
Bring up right and left corners
so tips meet at the top and
edges meet in the center.
Fold up the bottom point to within
an inch of the top point.
Turn napkin over. Bring left and
right sides toward the center,
tucking one end into the other.
Turn napkin over and stand it up.
Pull down left and right
sides to create “wings.”
Napkins in a Glass
Fleur-de-Lis
Fold napkin in half diagonally to form
a triangle with fold along the bottom.
Fold up bottom third of napkin.
Working from left to right, fold the napkin into one-inch-wide accordion pleats.
Place napkin in a glass or napkin
ring and gently pull out the sides.
Iris
Fold napkin in half diagonally to form
a triangle with fold along the bottom.
Fold up right and left corners so
they are level with and slightly to
each side of the center top point.
Make accordion pleats
across the napkin.
Fold bottom point part way
up toward the top point.
Place napkin in a glass
and fan out the petals.
Fan
Working from center, fold
one-inch accordion pleats.
Lay napkin face down.
Repeat on the other side.
Fold fan in half.
Insert folded end into a napkin
ring or tie with a ribbon.
Standing Fan
Fold napkin in half
to form a rectangle.
Starting at narrow
end, fold one-inch
accordion pleats
leaving 2 to 3
inches of unfolded
napkin at the end.
Grasp unfolded corners together
and fold them into the center.
Fold napkin in half with
accordion folds on the outside.
Open fan and stand it up.
Back view
Front view
Butterfly
Fold napkin in half to
form a rectangle with
fold along the bottom.
Fold top left and right
corners down to meet
at the bottom.
Turn napkin over. Fold
right side toward center
to make a point.
Turn napkin over. Open out the loose layers on each side.
Repeat with left side.
Fold down the top point ...
Pinch up center fold to form butterfly’s body.
The upper wings should lift slightly and the
lower wings should move apart.
… and tuck it into the pocket
formed by the horizontal edge.
Resources
Instructions have been adapted from the following books, located in non-fiction 642.79.
The Napkin Folding Kit by Dominique De Vito, 2010.
Napkins & Napkin Folding by Bridget Jones and Madeleine Brehaut, 2002.
Napkin Origami edited by Brian Sawyer, 2008.
Simply Elegant Napkin Folding by Chris Jordan, 2000.
The rose is a design used by Disney World’s Be Our Guest restaurant.
You can also find step-by-step instructions and videos online.