Holidays & Entertaining Entertaining How to Fold a Pocket Napkin With Steps and a Video Teach your kids to fold a napkin pocket, and they might even get excited about setting the table. By Leslie Corona Leslie Corona Leslie Corona is the Associate Home Director at Realsimple.com. She has been styling, organizing, writing, and reporting on all things in the home space for a decade. She was previously at Good Housekeeping, HGTV Magazine, and Parents. She has shared her expertise on the TODAY show, Cheddar, and local television news outlets. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 15, 2023 In This Article View All In This Article Classic Bouquet Angled Envelope Project Overview Working Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 10 minutes Skill Level: Kid-friendly Folding napkins to create a pocket for silverware is a simple way to dress up your dinner table for any occasion. And fortunately, these four napkin folding techniques are a snap to perfect and will impress even the pickiest of guests. The first classic pocket napkin option (as seen in the video) doesn't require much effort and is ideal for beginners. But any option is doable with practice. Follow these simple steps to learn how to create pocket fold napkins that suit your dinnerware aesthetic. If you do not have cloth dinner napkins, you can also use a square paper napkin. However, they are much more fragile so you'll need to be gentle when pulling and making folds to ensure no tears. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Square dinner napkin Flatware Instructions How to Fold a Pocket Napkin If you're hosting a themed dinner party and need a simple way to elevate your table settings, consider this simple rectangular pocket napkin. It is a step up from just placing your flatware beside the plate and truly won't take much time at all. Ironing your napkins with starch will make them easier to fold and will remove any stubborn wrinkles. Fold the Napkin in Half Vertically Lay out a napkin face down on a flat surface and fold it in half vertically, to where the open side is facing the left, ensuring the corners are aligned. Fold Up the Bottom Half of the Napkin Grasp the bottom of the napkin and fold it up so the bottom edge rests a little higher than halfway up the napkin. Fold the new bottom up so it reaches that same line. Flip and Fold to the Middle Flip over the napkin and smooth it out. Fold in the left side to the right one-third of the way, so the edge rests at the napkin's new center. Tuck the Corner Into the Pouch Pick up the right corner and tuck it under the short folds on the left-hand edge. Align the corners so the napkin's bottom and right sides are straight. Flip Over the Napkin and Insert Utensils Smooth the napkin, flip it over, and then arrange the fork, knife, and spoon neatly in the pouch. How to Fold a Bouquet Shaped Pocket Napkin If you're looking for a style that's unique but just as simple as the typical pocket fold, try this bouquet-shaped pocket napkin. While it will hold flatware beautifully, a sprig of a herbs or a flower cutting would also look gorgeous. Read on for the easy step-by-step guide. Fold the Napkin in Half Lay out the napkin on a flat surface and fold the napkin in half, with the open end away from you. Fold the Napkin Into Quarters Fold the napkin into quarters, then rotate the napkin to where the open end is facing away from you, shaped like a diamond. Fold the Top Layer Down Take the top layer of the open end and fold it down. Flip the napkin over. Fold the Left Side Over to the Right Take the left side of the napkin and fold it two-thirds of the way to the right. Fold the Right Side Over to the Left Fold the right side over to the left, matching it up with the left side. At this point, it should look like a bouquet shape. Tuck, Flip, and Insert Flatware Tuck the extra fabric from the right-hand side corner into the left pocket flap. Then flip it over, and arrange flatware neatly in the pouch. How to Fold an Angled Pocket Napkin This take on the classic pocket napkin fold uses an angle to create a little dimension. Follow the step-by-step instructions below to create this gorgeous utensil holder. Fold the Napkin in Half Lay out the napkin on a flat surface front side down and fold the napkin in half, with the open end towards you. Fold the Napkin Into Quarters Fold the napkin into quarters, then rotate the napkin to where the open end is facing away from you and to the left. Fold the Top Layer Down Take the top layer of the open end and fold it down horizontally, towards the right. Flip the Napkin Over Flip the napkin over to where the open corner is now facing away from you and to the right. Fold the Right Side Over to the Left Take the right side of the napkin and fold it one-third of the way to the left. Fold the Left Side Over to the Right Fold the left side over to the right, matching it up with the right side. Tuck, Flip, and Insert Flatware Tuck the extra fabric from the left-hand side bottom corner into the bottom right pocket flap. Then, flip it over, and arrange flatware neatly in the pouch. How to Fold Your Napkin Into an Envelope This pocket fold technique is a brilliant way to give heartfelt messages to your guests, as you can actually stuff the "envelope." This fold is just enough out of the ordinary to impress your guests and make them feel that much more welcome. Be sure to smooth out the napkin after each step to ensure a neat finished product. Fold the Napkin in Half Lay out the napkin on a flat surface front side down and fold the napkin in half to create a large triangle, with the open side away from you. Fold in the Corners to the Middle Fold the left and right corners of the triangle in toward the center, with the points overlapping a little, and the bottom edge a straight line. Fold in the Left and Right Sides to the Middle Fold the left and the right sides in again, so that their edges meet in the middle. Fold the Bottom Up to Create a Pocket Grasp the bottom edge of the napkin and fold it up to where the triangle begins. Now the napkin should look like an envelope, and have a pocket. It is here where you stuff the pocket with whatever you desire. Close the Envelope Fold the triangle flap over to close the envelope. 12 Pretty Napkin Folding Ideas for Your Holiday Table