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Napkin Folding 101: Fleur de Lis

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | June 5, 2014 32 Comments

Last updated on June 6th, 2014

PARENTS — please teach your children well. Teach them the difference between right and wrong. Teach them to respect others. And above all else, teach them how to make nifty napkin folds!

The fleur de lis (pronounced, more or less, “fluhr duh LEES”) is a graceful fold. It’s suitable for any dining occasion.

To start,  ask Alice the scullery maid or Bruce the handyman to starch and iron your napkins. If Bruce doesn’t know how to starch and iron, then he isn’t much of a handyman, is he? Perhaps he has other attributes.

In any event, a too-soft napkin won’t hold a fold.

My fleur de lis folding method:

Fold the napkin diagonally in half, to form a a big triangle.

Position the triangle so its top point is facing away from you. Then grab the corner on the right…

And drag it up to the top point of the triangle.

Do the same with the left corner.

Your triangle is now a diamond.

Flip the diamond upside down, and then grab hold of its lowest point…

And fold the bottom section approximately two-thirds up, as shown.

Using your fingers, press down on the bottom edge of the fold.

Next, fold the little triangle down so its point lands flush with the bottom of the napkin. Press down firmly on the fold.

Roll the right and left ends toward the center, and tuck one side into the other.

Stand the napkin up, and then pull down on its sides to create the petals of a lily.

Now center your work on a dinner plate, surround it with the appropriate silverware and a goblet of wine, and you’ll have a table setting that invites romance. Who wants to dine out?

Folks, I have lots of nifty napkin-folding tricks up my sleeve. If you’d like to see them,  then by all means say so in the comments field below. As always, I love to hear from you.

And for other random acts of domesticity, be sure to sign up for my weekly email newsletter.

Other mind-numbing posts you might enjoy:
Victorian Beauty from Common Garden Flowers
My Entrance Hall, Before & After Papering
How to Clean Old House Windows

Limoncello Cookies
Glazed Strawberry Tart

Comments

  1. 1

    Terry says

    June 6, 2014 at 12:02 am

    Keven,
    Thank you so much for the 101 on napkin folding! Now I know why mine didn’t work,,needed starch! And YES, PLEASE show more!
    I am a new reader here and have not only loved what you have written but I have been so inspired by what you have written! Please don’t ever stop, for if you do,,then all hope for me to achieve my gardens are lost.
    Thanks again, you most adoring newest fan!

  2. 2

    Scott Trudell says

    June 6, 2014 at 12:30 am

    Hey Kevin-
    I’m always looking for interesting new napkin folds…. Love to see some more. By the way, it’s a little difficult to make out, but is your silver pattern Charter Oak? If so… It’s a great pattern. I’ve collected it for years and add pieces here and there whenever I find them.

  3. 3

    CarolAnn Gruetzmacher says

    June 6, 2014 at 12:34 am

    Just lovely. So well done. Thank you for showing us.

  4. 4

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    June 6, 2014 at 7:51 am

    Hi Terry – Nice to meet you!

    Hi Scott – Silver pattern is Reed & Barton ‘French Renaissance.’ Charter Oak from Rogers is stunning, too — is that what you have?

    CarolAnn – Thanks for looking. More nifty napkin folds to come!

  5. 5

    Cheryl says

    June 6, 2014 at 5:29 pm

    Thanks, for these pictures, I love dressing up a table, and when younger, my oldest son liked Origami and so decided he was in charge of napkin folding….you can imagine some of the um…shapes..folds….and experiments. But he had fun doing it and mastered several of the basics which I use often. Can’t wait to see more. Lovely table setting by the way!

  6. 6

    Barb says

    June 8, 2014 at 8:08 am

    So enjoy your postings!! Would love to see more on napkin folding!

  7. 7

    Janet G. Metzger says

    June 8, 2014 at 10:32 am

    yes, please do share such!

  8. 8

    Gloria Gellman says

    June 8, 2014 at 10:44 am

    I know nothing about napkin folding. I printed this one out and look forward to more such posts.

  9. 9

    Karen says

    June 8, 2014 at 10:52 am

    Kevin, please add more origami napkin folding to your blog. I am not a new to your blog but, being a diabetic, there are many delightful and delicious (I trust) postings that I must choose not to create. Still, I enjoy every blog post for the beauty, the HUMOUR, and yes, for those wonderful tips and recipes that I AM able to bring into my life. Thank you from one of your Canadian fans !

  10. 10

    Lori G. says

    June 8, 2014 at 11:00 am

    I’ve always wondered how to fold napkins in fancy ways but never took the time to figure it out. Thanks! I’ve love to see other styles.

  11. 11

    Ann Tidd says

    June 8, 2014 at 11:15 am

    You sure set a beautiful table Kevin and that napkin looks perfect….you make it easy to follow too….enjoy this beautiful day in your garden with a wonderful cosmo!!!!

  12. 12

    Pat McGee says

    June 8, 2014 at 11:16 am

    Hi Kevin, loved the post today. Just in time for my roses, loved the addition of napkin folding – please do more, and the Limoncello Cookies. I taught my grandsons how to do the one fold I know and my daughter was horrified that her sons were folding napkins. They thought it fun, though, so I plan to keep teaching them about the finer things in life. Keep up the good work!

  13. 13

    Pam says

    June 8, 2014 at 12:01 pm

    Please do share more napkin folding tips and tricks!

  14. 14

    Karen C. says

    June 8, 2014 at 1:02 pm

    Long ago I learned to create a lotus with a napkin, and that has been my fall-back pattern when dressing up my table – but it only looks nice with my white or pink napkins.. Your step by step instructions with photos are great and I’d live it you’d share more.

  15. 15

    Valerie C. says

    June 8, 2014 at 1:48 pm

    Yay! I did it! Thanks for the lesson.

  16. 16

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    June 8, 2014 at 3:06 pm

    Valerie C. – Congratulations — you’ve mastered the fleur de lis!

  17. 17

    Anne Walden says

    June 8, 2014 at 3:47 pm

    I would love to see more napkin flooding ideas. Your recipes are wonderful!

  18. 18

    Janet says

    June 8, 2014 at 5:59 pm

    More napkin folds! I have grandchildren to teach!

  19. 19

    Marg Buck says

    June 8, 2014 at 9:03 pm

    Love the napkin folding.

  20. 20

    Beverly, zone 6, eastern PA says

    June 8, 2014 at 10:32 pm

    It’s like origami, a personal favorite!

  21. 21

    Trish Drake says

    June 9, 2014 at 3:16 am

    I love beautiful napkins but have never mastered the art. Thank you so much Kevin for sharing your talents

  22. 22

    Peggy T Rickard says

    June 9, 2014 at 4:46 am

    I would love to see more ways to fold napkins

  23. 23

    Carol Ballard says

    June 9, 2014 at 6:58 am

    Yes, by all means, do more napkin folds. What a lovely table setting.

  24. 24

    Beth says

    June 9, 2014 at 9:55 am

    I would love to see more napkin folding techniques. It is a dying art, and I’d love to help revive it.

  25. 25

    Lori Beth says

    June 9, 2014 at 10:10 am

    I love your website and your emails and folded napkins!!!! Please make a series of these.

  26. 26

    Gretchen says

    June 9, 2014 at 12:25 pm

    More napkin-folding, please. Your fabulous recipes deserve to be presented with a flourish.

  27. 27

    Janet Wells Mandour says

    June 10, 2014 at 11:32 am

    Love the napkin folding, for sure want more.

  28. 28

    Teresa says

    June 10, 2014 at 9:46 pm

    Hi Kevin,
    Your just so talented, I look forward to all of your posts, the recipes, helpful hints, flowers, herbs and yes even the hedges, now napkin folding, what’s next ? Please. please. please more napkin folding. Do you know how many people you make happy when you introduce your cute little quips into your posts? I’m one please keep up the very interesting and funny posts. Ta ta

  29. 29

    Shirley Meyer says

    June 11, 2014 at 11:08 am

    I have set many fancy dinner tables and when you have folded dinner napkins the guests sure notice. I love the lily which I have never done and look forward to seeing more napkin creations
    Good job

  30. 30

    Theresa Martin says

    June 16, 2014 at 1:23 pm

    Kevin
    I just love the napkin folding tips
    would love to learn more thanks for all
    The stuff you post on here thanks theresa

  31. 31

    Enid Albat says

    June 18, 2014 at 11:31 am

    just because we like to get our hands dirty in the garden doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the finer things in life. Wait, homegrown IS the finer things in life. Yes please, more napkin folding …

  32. 32

    ktmm says

    June 22, 2014 at 12:38 am

    so cool! i can’t wait to show my 7 yr old daughter this! and YES, more please!

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