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Display beautiful rose napkins at your next dinner party
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Making a rose out of a cloth napkin or serviette is a great way to impress dinner guests, and it’s a lot easier than it looks. In this article, we’ll teach you all the steps to make a rose out of a cloth napkin and provide great ideas on how to display your creation. Plus, learn other ways to fold and decorate napkins for your next dinner party.

Folding a Napkin into a Rose

  1. Fold a large, square napkin in half diagonally to form a triangle.
  2. Roll the long, bottom edge up until it reaches halfway up the napkin.
  3. Flip the napkin over and roll the tail end over until it reaches the other tail end.
  4. Tuck the free end of the napkin into a crease to hide it.
  5. Pull the two inner flaps out and flip the napkin over to form the rose.
Section 1 of 3:

How to Make a Rose Out of a Cloth Napkin

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  1. Lay the napkin flat in front of you then fold it in half so it forms a triangle. If your napkin is only colored or patterned on one side, make sure the pattern faces the outside so your rose will be colorful. [1]
    • For the best results, use a cloth napkin that is 17 x 17 inches (43 x 43 cm) or 20 x 20 inches (50 x 50 cm) in size, as anything smaller may not fold properly.
    • This method is designed specifically for folding cloth napkins. It may be possible to fold a paper napkin the same way if it’s large enough, but because paper napkins tend to be smaller and thinner, it may break or fold incorrectly.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Rose out of a Cloth Napkin
    With the longest side near you, slowly roll the triangle up until it reaches halfway up the napkin. In general, aim to leave a 4-5 inch (10-12 cm) triangle unrolled at the top. This part can be a bit tricky, so it’s okay if you need to redo it a few times until you get the hang of it. [2]
    • The exact size of the unrolled part of the napkin will vary depending on the size of the napkin.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Rose out of a Cloth Napkin
    Flip the napkin so that you can’t see the rolls, keeping the longest side nearest to you. At this stage, the napkin should look like a triangle with two tails. Take the end of one tail and roll until it reaches the end of the other tail. When you're done rolling, tuck the free end of your napkin into the small pocket created at the bottom. The napkin will look like a torch or a candle. [3]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Rose out of a Cloth Napkin
    Inside your creation, there should be two flaps, which will become the leaves of the rose. Pull one to the left and the other to the right. Be gentle, as pulling too hard could cause the rose to fall apart. [4]
  5. When you flip the napkin over, the rose and its leaves will be revealed. Adjust the leaf flaps as necessary to make sure the napkin can sit up on its own, and shape the petals to your liking. Repeat this process with any remaining napkins. [5]
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Section 2 of 3:

How & When to Display Rose Napkins

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  1. Allow your rose napkins to be the centerpiece at your dinner party. Display enough roses for all your guests at the middle of the table. Not only will this add a pop of color to the decor, but each guest can grab one to use when their food arrives.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Rose out of a Cloth Napkin
    If you already have a lot of other decorations on your table, place a rose on each plate to avoid clutter. This way, guests can admire your craftsmanship while being able to easily access their napkin. [6]
    • Etiquette coach Tami Claytor says the “standard way” to display a napkin is on the left side of the plate. This is another simple option for your rose.
  3. If you’re looking for a unique way to display your napkins, tucking them inside cups or glasses can give your table a delicate touch. This look works especially well if you’re having a tea or garden party.
    • This is a great idea if your party happens to be Alice in Wonderland themed!
  4. Roses are a symbol of love, so folding rose napkins is a great idea if you’re having a Valentine’s Day party, anniversary dinner, or wedding reception. Choose a napkin color that best matches the event, like red, white, or green for Christmas and orange and brown for Thanksgiving. Rose napkins are a great touch for any occasion. [7]
    • Even if you’re not hosting a dinner party or special event, feel free to fold rose napkins to add a bit of class and elegance to any meal.
    • Play around with different napkin colors and fabrics. For example, red napkins are great for Valentine’s day or romantic dinners, and velvet napkins can give any dinner a luxurious touch.
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Section 3 of 3:

Other Ways to Fold Napkins

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Rose out of a Cloth Napkin
    Fold a square napkin diagonally to form a triangle, then grab the top corner of the triangle and fold downward several times until you’re left with a long strip of fabric with pointed ends. Fold each end inward and upward at an angle, crossing over each other to form a bow shape. Slide a napkin ring onto the middle to hold the shape. [8]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Rose out of a Cloth Napkin
    Lay a square napkin in front of you and fold it diagonally to form a triangle. Fold the bottom two corners inward so the tips touch. Then, fold the sides in so they meet in the middle. Fold the bottom of the napkin upward to hide the inner creases and form the body of the envelope. Finally, fold the top piece of the triangle down to “seal” your envelope. [9]
    • For an extra surprise, slip your dinner menu inside the napkin before closing it!
    • If you don’t want to make an actual envelope, Claytor recommends making a pocket for your silverware. She says, “If you fold [the napkin] in half, take the free side and fold it behind the cloth, [then] tuck them in each other, it'll form an envelope and you can slip the flatware in there.”
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Rose out of a Cloth Napkin
    Fold a square napkin in half to form a rectangle. Then, starting at the short end, fold the napkin into 1-inch (2.5 cm) accordion pleats, stopping about 4 inches (10 cm) from the opposite end. Ensure that the last pleat is folded at the bottom edge of the napkin and all other pleats are underneath it. Fold the napkin in half lengthwise so the pleats are on top, then fold the upper left corner down and tuck it behind the center pleat to form a triangle. Let go of the napkin so the pleats fan out. [10]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Rose out of a Cloth Napkin
    Fold a square napkin in half, then in half again by folding the bottom part upward. Find the center of your folded napkin, then fold the left side upward from that center point and repeat with the right side. Fold down the top right corner of the left side of the heart and the top left corner of the right side of the heart to create the rounded tops of the heart. [11]
    • There are countless other ways to fold napkins , including pyramids, swans , candlesticks, and more. Have fun exploring all the different ways you can add character to your next dinner party.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What are some creative ways I can display rose napkins?
    Tami Claytor
    Etiquette Coach
    Tami Claytor is an Etiquette Coach, Image Consultant, and the Owner of Always Appropriate Image and Etiquette Consulting in New York, New York. With over 20 years of experience, Tami specializes in teaching etiquette classes to individuals, students, companies, and community organizations. Tami has spent decades studying cultures through her extensive travels across five continents and has created cultural diversity workshops to promote social justice and cross-cultural awareness. She holds a BA in Economics with a concentration in International Relations from Clark University. Tami studied at the Ophelia DeVore School of Charm and the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she earned her Image Consultant Certification.
    Etiquette Coach
    Expert Answer
    One thing you can try is folding the napkins into roses and then placing them in the water glasses.
  • Question
    What is the procedure to do a table napkin?
    Community Answer
    Fold it in half diagonally, then again. Then pull the inside flap out to create a beautiful table top decoration. This is a traditional restaurant napkin fold.
  • Question
    Can you do this with a paper napkin?
    T. Chinsen
    Top Answerer
    A paper napkin would have to be at least a dinner size. The shaping of the rose will not look as full as a cloth napkin due to compression of the paper during assembly.
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      Tips

      • While this method may not work well with paper napkins, there are other ways to fold paper napkins into roses . For example, try wrapping one end of the napkin around your finger to form the petals, then twisting the rest of the napkin to create a stem.
      • Don’t give up if your rose doesn’t turn out the way you want on the first try. Practice makes perfect, and remember, all roses look different!
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      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      The easiest way to make a rose out of a napkin is to fold the napkin in half diagonally, then roll the folded side up halfway and flip the napkin over. Fold one “tail” into the other side and repeat with the other tail. Roll the napkin until it reaches the other side, and tuck in any extra cloth that’s sticking out. Pull apart the two flaps inside the rolled up napkin and turn it over to appreciate your creation! Read on for helpful videos and tips on how to display your napkins!

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      • Pamela Miller

        Nov 12, 2021

        "Thank you so much! The napkin from our 25th anniversary dinner was just folded up in a drawer for six years. I ..." more
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