Napkins at your dinner party are more than just something to place politely on your lap.
Cloth napkins folded into interesting and clever shapes add personality and pizazz to your table. By learning some easy napkin folding techniques, you can create an impressive table for every dinner party.
From a simple triangle fold to a three-dimensional swan, cloth napkins can add to whatever theme or mood your table takes.
For casual dinners, you may choose a simple, flat, contemporary fold. If your table is set with china and crystal, you may want fluffier, fancier, more formal napkin folds.
I especially like the napkin folds that fit into a wine glass. They adds some height and dimension to your table.
About Cloth Napkins
Buy a set of neutral cloth napkins that you can use with any color scheme or theme. I personally love a colorful mix-and-match table, so I also have a set of eight napkins in different colors. I use them with contrasting plates from my multi-colored Fiesta ware dishes for a fun, colorful table.
You can easily make your own cloth napkins with cotton fabric and a sewing machine. With the wide variety of fabric colors and patterns available, you can make a set of napkins for any occasion.
For a Super Bowl party, whip up some napkins with a novelty fabric print of your favorite football team. Use a horse print for your Kentucky Derby party. Make your napkins the highlight of your table.
The Family Homestead Web site has a simple pattern and instructions for making cloth napkins. The purl bee Web site has instructions for reversible napkins.
Folded Napkins
Martha Stewart’s instructions for folding napkins into a rose . . . four feathers . . .and a lotus are simple and beautiful. Some napkin designs will actually add to your table theme, like these clever napkin designs that look like a necktie and a shirt.
Paper Napkins vs Cloth Napkins
A couple more good reasons to use to cloth napkins:
It’s better for the environment. Switch from paper to cloth napkins and you’ll consume less and create less waste.
And it’s not necessarily more difficult. How much effort does it really take to toss a handful of napkins into the washer with your tablecloth?
Run a quick iron over them and store them flat and unfolded, so they’re uncreased for whatever fold you choose. Don’t spray starch cloth napkins – you want them to be soft enough to use comfortably. As pretty as they are, remember what the cloth napkin’s purpose is.
