Happy Holidays School of Napkin Folding – Day 6

When you are doing the napkin folds try using coloured napkins in place of plain white, a sheer overlay on a contrasting or complimentary coloured napkin or use two thin napkins of two different or coordinating colours. Experiment and have fun. This next napkin fold is called “The Fan”.

Happy Holidays School of Napkin Folding – Day 5

The 5th napkin fold to try is called “The Cockscomb”.

Happy Holidays School of Napkin Folding – Day 4

Yesterday I mentioned that some of the folds could hold a small gift. This particular fold will look beautiful holding an orchid in one boat section. Don’t go overboard (no pun intended) and fill both sides to the top, think simplicity. Here’s the next napkin fold to try, “The Boats”.

Happy Holidays School of Napkin Folding – Day 3

Day three of the napkin folding classes is here. I hope everyone is seeing the possibilities for these folds. They do take time so if you are hosting a big event enlist some friends that have nimble fingers. Don't just use them for company you are worth the little extras in life. Some times breakfast in bed with your significant other is just a little more special (and thoughtful) when some time and attention are put into a silly little “frill” such as this and you can also put a little gift in some of these folds. This isn’t just for the ladies either. Guys spend a little time on presentation of a breakfast in bed to let your wife know that you really do understand and appreciate all of the work that she does for the family in and out of the home. Here’s the next napkin fold to try. This fold is called “The Boars Head”, have fun.

Happy Holidays School of Napkin Folding – Day 2

Here’s the next napkin fold to try. This one is called “The Bishop” have fun.

Happy Holidays School of Napkin Folding - Courtesy of Mrs. Beeton’s Household Management - Day 1

When I was looking through “Mrs. Beeton’s Household Management” for the colour illustrations of the “Fancy Cakes” I came across these fourteen napkin folds and thought that at some point it would be fun to let people know how to do these old napkin folds. While I was at the grocery store the other day I came across a book called “Napkin Origami”, it was not a great book. The cover picture was the best example. So here are the fourteen different napkin folds that Mrs. Beeton instructed her devotees to use. I will post a new scanned page each day until they are done. Try them they are fun to do.

Don’t just use them for the table but try using the folded napkin as the gift-wrap or use it as part of the gift if you are giving wineglasses. Go ahead and copy the instructions to include with the gift if you want.

I didn’t realize but these napkin folds got me interested in origami, the art of Japanese paper folding.

Here is the first fold the "Fleur de Lis Varieties".