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This article was co-authored by Tami Claytor and by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA. 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.
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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
- Fold a large, square napkin in half diagonally to form a triangle.
- Roll the long, bottom edge up until it reaches halfway up the napkin.
- Flip the napkin over and roll the tail end over until it reaches the other tail end.
- Tuck the free end of the napkin into a crease to hide it.
- Pull the two inner flaps out and flip the napkin over to form the rose.
Steps
How to Make a Rose Out of a Cloth Napkin
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![Step 1 Fold a square napkin in half diagonally.]()
Fold a square napkin in half diagonally. 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.
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Roll the napkin up from the bottom of the triangle. 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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Turn the napkin over and roll up the tail edge. 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]
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Shape the two inside flaps to form the leaves. 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]
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![Step 5 Turn the napkin over and make final adjustments.]()
Turn the napkin over and make final adjustments. 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]
Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat are some creative ways I can display rose napkins?
Tami ClaytorTami 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 CoachOne thing you can try is folding the napkins into roses and then placing them in the water glasses. -
QuestionWhat is the procedure to do a table napkin?
Community AnswerFold 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. -
QuestionCan you do this with a paper napkin?
T. ChinsenTop AnswererA 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.
Video
Tips
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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.Thanks
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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!Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.jci-gardena.org/blog/start-a-budding-summer-with-a-blooming-rose-napkin
- ↑ https://www.jci-gardena.org/blog/start-a-budding-summer-with-a-blooming-rose-napkin
- ↑ https://www.jci-gardena.org/blog/start-a-budding-summer-with-a-blooming-rose-napkin
- ↑ https://southernhomeandhospitality.com/easy-valentines-day-napkin-fold-tutorials/
- ↑ https://southernhomeandhospitality.com/easy-valentines-day-napkin-fold-tutorials/
- ↑ https://happilyeverafteretc.com/quick-and-easy-rose-napkin-fold/
- ↑ https://www.alabouroflife.com/fall-tablescape-with-rose-napkins/
- ↑ https://fraicheliving.com/how-to-make-pretty-bow-napkin/
- ↑ https://southernhomeandhospitality.com/easy-valentines-day-napkin-fold-tutorials/
About This Article
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!
Reader Success Stories
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"Thank you so much! The napkin from our 25th anniversary dinner was just folded up in a drawer for six years. I stitched a 25 into the corner and didn't want to throw it away. I now have It folded into a rose and it is displayed in our hutch."..." more
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