Cloth napkins: secrets of production, folding methods

A festive table is decorated not only with original dishes and exquisite drinks. Even the most ordinary napkins will help to emphasize the joyful atmosphere. If you fold napkins in a special way, you can turn even an ordinary family feast into a real celebration. You can use paper or fabric napkins for table setting. The first type is ideal for everyday meals, fabric ones - for a more formal event. However, simply folding a piece of fabric in half is not enough. It is difficult to surprise anyone. Unusual folding methods will help to effectively decorate the feast. More information about choosing napkins and folding methods is given in this publication.

Features of table decoration

Table setting is a creative, exciting process. All family members can participate in it. This activity can be turned into an interesting game. The process of decorating a festive table includes everything: from choosing a tablecloth to laying out cutlery. The latter includes napkins. They are an important means of hygiene, they help decorate the celebration. They must be bought and placed according to certain rules.

• To fold a napkin in an original way, you should choose its size correctly. Large-sized products are the ideal option. They look better on the table and can easily be transformed into unusual figures.
• The color of the table textiles should be in harmony with the color of the tablecloth. It should be contrasting or identical. The color scheme should be selected, additionally taking into account the features of the interior of the room.
• Napkins should be placed to the left of the cutlery, directly on the plate. It is allowed to use cloth for folding cutlery: knife, spoon, fork.
• Along with the cloth ones, there should be regular paper napkins on the table. Guests will use them to wipe their lips and hands after eating fatty foods. The cloth material allows the fat to pass through the threads. Then it ends up on the guest's clothes.
• Textile items must be prepared before the feast. They should be washed and ironed thoroughly. The washing mode should be delicate. In case of serious, complex stains, it is permissible to use a stain remover.

Choosing fabric

In shops and markets, textiles of different sizes, types, and price categories are sold for table setting. But it will be more effective to make cute napkins with your own hands. It is quite easy to do. The first stage of production is the choice of fabric. The fabric should be light, dense, and wear-resistant. It must withstand a large number of washes and not lose its original appearance after several uses. Three types of fabric meet all of the listed requirements. They are described in more detail in the table.

How to sew napkins yourself?

To make napkins, you need to follow simple instructions.

1. Selecting fabric. Carefully analyze the advantages of each option. Fabric should be purchased taking into account the required number of finished products.

   

2. Determining the size. To make it easier to fold the napkins, choose a large size. The ideal option is 50x50 cm. The blanks should be eight centimeters larger on each side.
3. Cutting. It is important to make cuts as accurately and evenly as possible. Then the product will fold in different ways. Place the pattern face down. Fold the fabric along the edges by one and a half centimeters. Iron.

   

   Then the edges need to be folded back another two and a half centimeters and ironed again.

   

   From the point of intersection of the resulting folds, it is necessary to draw a line.

   

   It should be located at a right angle to the diagonal of the product. The marked corner is cut off.

   

4. Sewing. Step back one and a half centimeters from the corner cut and stitch on the machine.

   

   If you don't have a machine, you can do it by hand. Before turning the corners to the front side, it's worth ironing the material well.

   

   

   Afterwards, you can sew the edges of the napkin along the entire perimeter.

   

   

5. Preparing for table setting. Before folding a napkin into an interesting figure, it is prepared. The finished product should be washed, ironed, starched.

   

Interesting ways of folding

It will be difficult to surprise guests with napkins, modestly lying under the plate. Now it is fashionable to fold them into various figures, flowers, and other unusual shapes. Below are the most popular options.

Lily

The initial position of the fabric is folded in half diagonally. The left and right corners are aligned with the top of the original triangle. Then you need to fold it in half, simply bend the top of the triangle located at the top.

Southern Cross

The original form is face down. Fold all the corners in turn. They should look at the center. Then the square needs to be turned over, bend the corners again. Then the upper right corner should be pulled outward, followed by all the others.

Megaphone

Initial position – the material is folded in half twice. The result should be a very narrow rectangle. All sides of the rectangle should be folded down, the figure should be turned with the front side away from you. The ends should be twisted into “cones” and connected together.

Junk

Children will be delighted with this folding method. The finished figure is very reminiscent of a boat with sails. The original shape is a fold on the right. The resulting rectangle must be folded in half again. Bend the lower half diagonally, the left and right corners forward. Bend the protruding corners. The resulting figure is folded along the longitudinal axis back. The edges of the textile are made into something like sails.

Handbag

A good option for organizing a ladies' party. Each invited guest will be able to receive her own "handbag". The initial form is vertically in half, then folded in half again from bottom to top. The upper left corner needs to be folded to the center. However, not all of it - only the first two layers. Do the same with the upper right corner. The result will be a small triangle. Bend it down, and the left and right corners - to the middle. Now this triangle needs to be folded to the first one.

Everest

The initial shape is face down. Then the material needs to be folded into a rectangle, with the fold at the top. The upper corners are folded down to the middle, the sides of the resulting triangle are combined. Then the figure needs to be turned over, the lower corners folded. They will become the support. The figure is folded along the vertical axis, placed vertically on the prepared supports.

Horizontal sachet

This option is the most practical. It allows you to beautifully and conveniently serve cutlery to guests. The napkin should be folded in half, the front side should be inside - this is the initial shape. The left and right upper corners should be slightly bent down. This forms the central fold. Next, the figure should be turned over, bend both sides. The sides should touch in the center. The figure should be folded in the same way one more time.

Accessories

To make napkins a real highlight of the table setting, they can be decorated with original accessories. Accessories can be different: flowers, feathers, clips, rings. With the help of such decorative elements, you can create an incredible composition. When choosing accessories, use the following recommendations.

• Decorating the table with artificial flowers is not worth it. It looks cheap and unattractive. It is better to give preference to fresh flowers, even if they are inexpensive. Chamomile, fragrant rose, delicate lily will help to create an incredible atmosphere at the table.
• Textile products can be personalized. This idea is relevant when organizing a wedding celebration, birthday. Personalized napkins will be a very pleasant surprise. Names can be embroidered on the material with your own hands. Contrasting threads are usually used for this. Another option is to lay out names from rhinestones. This is a great idea for a party.
• Rings are an exquisite accessory. They will be indispensable during a dinner party, an important business event. The advantage of rings is their durability. Such an accessory is made of durable materials. It can be stored at home in a closet, waiting for a convenient occasion. Rings come in different sizes and colors. The model should be selected based on the color of the tablecloth, interior features of the room, table. Each detail of the decor should be in harmony with the table setting. Special clamps can be an excellent alternative to rings. Clamps are made in different shapes and colors. They look quite elegant.
• Satin ribbons. Bright satin ribbons go well with beautiful textiles. This is the simplest, most inexpensive way to decorate a table. You just need to tie the ribbons around the napkins, folded into an interesting shape. Additionally, the ribbons can be decorated with rhinestones. They are simply glued to the surface using quick-drying glue.

Rules for using cutlery

In order for the evening to be wonderful, each guest, family member must follow certain rules of behavior at the table. We are taught this from early childhood. The child is taught to hold a fork correctly, use a spoon. However, few people explain the rules for using napkins. They also exist.

1. Do not wipe your mouth or hands with cloth accessories. There are several reasons for this. One of the main ones is that such material will retain stains from greasy food. This does not look nice.
2. Napkins made of cotton, linen, satin should be placed on the knees, tucked behind the collar. The choice will depend on the norms accepted in society.
3. The main purpose of fabric products is to protect guests' clothes. They will reliably protect the outfit from crumbs from the table and accidental stains.
4. You can only lay out a napkin on your lap after the host of the house. This is a norm of etiquette. It is also not accepted to start a meal without the host. If after unfolding the towel turns out to be too long, you can tuck in one corner.
5. At the end of the meal, all cutlery should be left on the table. You can put a napkin near the plate. Leaving it on a chair, directly on the dish is not allowed.

Video: Napkin Folding Techniques /Holiday Table Setting/