The most common use of napkins was in countries where men wore mustaches and beards. The first mention in Russia of an interesting type of napkin was a handkerchief for wiping lips or a small tablecloth. Folding napkins beautiful and intricate figures and objects came to us quite a long time ago.

In the modern world, there are two types of napkins - fabric and paper. Fabric ones are used to place it on your lap, and paper ones are used to wipe your lips.

Sometimes it happens that paper napkins are not served on the table, but only cloth ones are present. In this case, one napkin is used both to protect clothes and for wiping.

Let's look at the most popular ways to fold napkins when setting a table:

Lily

1. The original shape of the napkin is folded diagonally. 2. Align the left and right corners with the vertex of the triangle. 3. Fold the napkin in half along the horizontal axis. 4. Bend down the top triangle.

Megaphone

1. The original form of the napkin is folded in half. 2. Refold the napkin in the same direction. 3. Fold both sides of the narrow rectangle down symmetrically. 4. Turn the figure with the front side away from you and twist the ends into “balls” 5. Connect the “balls” to each other.

South Cross

1. The original form of the napkin lies with the wrong side up. 2. Fold all corners one by one towards the center. 3. Turn the napkin over. 4. Fold all corners towards the center again. 5. Turn the napkin over. 6. And once again bend each corner towards the center. 7. Pull out the top right corner. 8. Then all other corners. Straighten the napkin slightly.

Junk

1. The original form of the napkin is folded in half (fold on the right). 2. Fold the rectangle in half again. 3. Bend the bottom half diagonally upward. 4. Bend the left corner forward. Bend the right corner forward in the same way. 5. Fold both protruding corners back. 6. Fold the napkin along the longitudinal axis back. 7. Holding the folded corners with your hand, pull out the edges of the “sail” napkin one by one.

Handbag

1. Initial shape Fold the napkin in half vertically (fold on the right). 2. And fold it in half again from bottom to top. 3. Fold two layers of the upper left corner towards the center. 4. Fold the upper right corner towards the center. 5. Bend the resulting triangle down along the line just below the middle. 6. Fold the upper right and left corners towards the middle. 7. Bend the resulting triangle down onto the first triangle.

Artichoke

1. The original form of the napkin lies with the wrong side up. Fold all four corners towards the center. 2. Fold all corners to the center again. 3. Turn the napkin over. 4. Fold all corners towards the center again. 5. Pull out the tip of the napkin that is inside the quadrangle. 6. Pull out the remaining ends. 7. Pull the remaining four corners out from under the folded figure.

Everest

1. The original form of the napkin is folded in half horizontally (fold on top). 2. Fold the top corners diagonally towards the middle. 3. Align the sides of the triangle so that their sharp corners are at the bottom. 4a. Turn the figure over and bend the ends, which will become a support for it. 4b. Bend along the vertical axis with the folds inward. 5. Place the napkin vertically.

Asian fan

1. The original napkin shape lies with the wrong side down. Approximately 1/4 top. bend the parts down. 2. Turn the napkin over. Fold approximately 1/3 of the bottom up. 3. Fold the napkin in half from bottom to top. 4. Fold the resulting figure into an accordion shape so that there are five even folds. 5. Holding the open side in your hand, pull out the deep folds in the upper part in opposite directions and fix them. 6. Open the fan.

Gate arch

1. The original shape of the napkin is folded diagonally. 2. Align the two side corners with the vertex of the triangle. 3. Fold the figure along the horizontal axis, tucking the bottom corner down. 4. Bend the side corners forward. 5. Now the “gate arch” has taken its shape.

Horizontal sachet

1. The original form of the napkin is folded in half with the right side inward (fold at the bottom). 2. Fold a third of the top layer down to create a center fold. 3. Turn the opposite side towards you. Fold the sides over so they meet in the center. Fold it the same way again.

Fan in a ring

1. The original shape of the napkin lies face down when flattened.
2. Fold the napkin like an accordion (2a). 3. Bend it in half in the middle. 4. Tuck the napkin into the ring (or place it in a glass) and spread it out like a fan.

Table fan

1. The original form of the napkin is folded in half with the right side facing out (fold on top). Gather three quarters of its length into an accordion, folding the first fold down. 2. Fold the resulting shape in half so that the folds are on the outside on the left side, and not the folded part on the right. 3. Take the napkin in your hand so that the open ends of the folds are facing up. 4. Fold the unfolded part of the napkin diagonally to form a “stand”, as shown in the photo. After this, tuck the “stand” between the folds and place the napkin on the table.

Jabot

1. Original form napkin folded in half(fold at the bottom). 2. Fold the napkin in half again (the open corners are at the top right). 3. Bend the top corner down diagonally and fold it like an accordion in the direction of the diagonal fold. 4. Accordion fold in the direction of the fold the next corner at the top right. 5. Fold the bottom corner under the napkin. The right and left corners are also folded under the napkin.

Diagonal sachet

1. The original form of the napkin is folded in four. 2. Fold the corner of the first layer of fabric back 2 inches (5 cm) and repeat. 3. Fold the second layer of napkin, tucking the corner under the diagonal roller to form a second roll that is 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. 4. Fold the napkin at the top and bottom and place it on the table, orienting it vertically so that the folds remain diagonal.

Fan star

1. The original shape of the napkin lies with the wrong side out. 2. Fold the top and bottom edges of the napkin towards the center. 3. Bend the bottom half upward, holding the fold tightly. 4. Fold the napkin like an accordion (from 4 to 6 folds) 5. Holding the upper part of the figure, pull the lower deep-lying folds forward. 6. Place a fan.

Bread basket

1. The original form of the napkin lies with the wrong side up. Fold the right corner towards the center. 2. Fold all other corners towards the center. 3. Turn the napkin over and fold all the corners towards the center again. 4. Turn the napkin over. 5. Bend the four corners inward from the center.

Cutlery cover

1. The original form of the napkin lies with the wrong side up. Fold the upper left corner to the center. 2. Fold the napkin in half from left to right. 3. Fold the napkin in half along the horizontal axis. Fold the bottom part under the top. 4. Fold the top corner towards the center. 5. Bend the side corners back.

Calla

1. The original form of the napkin is folded diagonally with the right side out (fold at the bottom). 2. Complete the upper corner, forming a “bag” 3. Turn out approximately 1/3 of the “bag”. 4. Straighten the resulting figure and give the napkin a vertical position.

Column

1. The original shape of the napkin is folded diagonally. 2. Bend the base up, then back about 2-3 cm. 3. Starting from the left, roll the napkin into a tube. Place the remaining edge into the bottom folded edge of the napkin.

Royal lily

1. The original form of the napkin is face down. 2. Bend all its corners one by one towards the center. 3. Turn the napkin over. 4. Fold the corners towards the center again. 5. Holding the corners in the center, pull out the corners from below so that they form “petals.”

Royal Robe

1. The original form of the napkin is folded diagonally with a downward angle. 2. Align the left and right corners with the vertex of the triangle. 3. Bend them up. 4. Fold the top of the top of the two bottom triangles up to the middle. 5. in half again and again, going to the top half of the napkin. Bend the lower part (the remaining triangle) back. Fasten the side corners to each other and pull out the points. 6. Bend the points of the “royal mantle” down and secure them behind the welt.

Hourglass

1. The original shape of the napkin is folded in half along the vertical axis (fold on the left) 2. Fold the upper left and right corners down. 3. Bend the left and right bottom corners up. 4. Bend the top triangle down and the bottom triangle up.

Flame

1. The original shape of the napkin is folded diagonally. 2. Fold the resulting triangle like an accordion, leaving a small triangle on top. 3. Secure the accordion with the top. 4. ...and fold the figure in half. 5. The resulting figure can be secured with a ring or decorative elements.

Shirt

1. The original shape of the napkin is folded diagonally. 2. Fold up a small strip of fabric at the base of the triangle and turn the napkin over so the right side is facing away from you. 3. Fold the right corner down to the left, and the left corner down to the right. 4. Straighten the corners strictly symmetrically and bend the bottom edge back. The “shirt” can be decorated with a bow or candy.

Fish

1. The original shape of the napkin is folded diagonally (fold at the top). 2. Bend the bottom corner up. 3. Bend the left protruding corner down. 4. Fold the right corner in the same way. 5. Fold the left side towards the middle vertical line of the figure. Fold the right side in the same way. 6. Turn the shape over and decorate it with a small shell.

Sasha corners

1. The original shape of the napkin is folded in four with the right side facing out (open corners in the upper right part) 2. Fold the first layer of napkin fabric diagonally so that the corner is at the bottom left point. 3. Fold the second layer of fabric so that its corner touches the central fold. Fold the first corner from below so that it touches the corner at the central fold. 4. Fold the bottom right and top left corners back. 5. Place the napkin on the table in a vertical orientation.

Flip-flop with a train

1. The original form of the napkin is folded in half with the wrong side inward. Fold both upper corners of the napkin towards the middle. 2. Bend the resulting top down. 3. Turn the napkin over with the front side facing away from you and fold the top corners toward the middle again. 4. Turn the napkin over again away from you and fold the folds from the bottom edge. 5. Place the folds under the square, holding it in the center with your fingers, and fan it out on both sides.

Tiara and lily

1. The original shape of the napkin is folded diagonally (fold at the bottom) 2. Align the two side corners with the top. 3. Fold the napkin so that the bottom corner is 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the top. 4. Bend the top corner down to the fold. 5a. Fold the sides back and insert one into the other to form a circle at the base. 5 B. Place the napkin straight. 6. “Lily” style We perform operations 1-5 (see above). To fold the napkin in the lily style, fold the top two corners down.

Tiered corners

1. The original form of the napkin is folded in four. 2. Fold the first layer of napkin fabric diagonally so that the corner is at the left point. Fold the second layer back so that the second corner is 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the first. 3. Repeat the above with the third and fourth layers of fabric so that all corners are 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart. 4. Fold the sides down and place the napkin on the table.

Princess Frog

1. The original form of the napkin is face down. 1. Fold the top quarter of the napkin down and the bottom quarter up. 2. Turn the napkin away from you and fold it in half along the horizontal axis towards you. 3. Bend the upper right corner down. 4. Place the next corner inside. 5. Fold the last right corner back under the figure. 6. Do the same with the left corners. 7. Fold the figure in the middle. 8. Place it on the folded corners. Instead of eyes, stick circles of confetti.

Tsar's bun

1. The original form of the napkin lies with the wrong side up. 2. Fold all other corners towards the center. 3. Turn the napkin over and fold all the corners towards the center again. 4. Turn the napkin over. Fold all corners toward the center again. 5. Bend the four corners inward from the center. 6. Fold all corners to the center again and turn the napkin over. 7. Straighten the bent corners.

Hat with lapel

1. The original form of the napkin is folded with the wrong side inward (fold on the left). 2. Fold the napkin in half again to form a square (fold at the bottom). 3. Fold the lower left corner, leaving 2-3 cm to the top. 4. Bend the side corners inward and secure them to each other. 5. Place the napkin vertically to form a “hat” with a folding collar; bend one of the upper peaks down.

Bishop's Hat

1. The original form of the napkin is folded in half (fold at the bottom). 2. Fold the top left and bottom right corners diagonally towards the middle. Flip the napkin so that the top right corner is at the bottom left. 3. Fold the figure in half along the horizontal axis, freeing the left triangles. 4. Fold the right side of the figure to the left and place it under the left triangle. 5. Finally, turn the napkin over and place the left side under the right triangle. Secure the corners.

Tent

1. The original form of the napkin is folded horizontally in half (fold at the top). 2. Fold the napkin into a triangle (align the lower left corner with the lower right corner). 3. Move the right corner of the resulting triangle to the left. 4. Repeat steps 2, after which move the lower right corner to the left. 5. Bend the right half of the triangle to the left and place the napkin so that the edges do not wrinkle.

Twisted tent

1. The original form of the napkin is folded in half (fold at the top). 2. Align the lower left corner of the napkin with its lower right part to form an isosceles triangle on top. 3. Move the right corner to the right. 4. Repeat step 2, move the lower right corner to the left. 5. Bend the right half of the triangle to the left. 6. Roll the napkin from left to right. 7. Place the napkin in a vertical position without unfolding it completely.

Tent for two

1. The original form of the napkin is folded in half (fold at the top). 2. Fold the upper left corner towards the middle diagonally. 3. Fold the upper right corner diagonally towards the middle. 4. Fold the napkin in half. Place the napkin in a vertical position.

Tent for three

1. The original shape of the napkin is folded diagonally (fold at the bottom). 2. Align the left corner with the right, folding the napkin in half. 3. Align the top corner with the bottom right corner, folding the napkin again. 4. Give the figure a vertical position.

Plume

1. The original shape of the napkin is folded diagonally. 2. Align the left and right corners of the triangle with its vertex. 3. Fold the figure in half relative to the horizontal axis. 4. Connect the right corner with the left corner at the back of the napkin and place one inside the other. 5. Rotate the figure. Pull the sharp corners facing upward to the right and left respectively. Place the napkin vertically.

Cardinal Hat

1. Original form napkin folded vertically in half (fold on the left). At the top and bottom, make two narrow folds down and up. 2. Fold the top corners towards the middle so that the lapel is visible. 3. Bend the bottom part up, turn the corners towards the middle. 4. Turn the bottom part up. Bend the side peaks back and secure them to each other.

Rose

1. To fold a Rose napkin, you need two napkins: green for the leaves and any color for the flower. You can combine napkins with flowers that will decorate your table. If you don't have colored napkins, you can paint the white ones with acrylic batik paints.
2. To make leaves napkins will do any shape square and rectangular. Fold the green napkin in half diagonally. Fold it in half again along the long side. Fold the resulting triangle in half again.
3. To make a flower, only square napkins are suitable. Fold the fabric in half diagonally. Fold the top of the resulting triangle back towards the long side so that the end is visible. The top and bottom lines should be parallel. Fold the bottom edge towards the top again. Start rolling the napkin at one end, following the fabric to shape the flower. Insert the flower napkin into the green leaf napkin and place it in the glass.

Galaxy

1. Spread the napkin with the front side facing the table on a hard surface; 2. Take a dinner fork and place it in the center of the napkin (as if we were rolling spaghetti), push small folds of fabric between the tines of the fork; 3. Slowly rotate the fork clockwise or counterclockwise so that the napkin forms a spiral; 4. Carefully remove the fork, take the napkin with your palms and squeeze it, not allowing it to unwind and turn it over to the front side.

Bunny

Here are the most interesting ones for any table and for any event:

1. Place the folded napkin on the table so that the corner where all the folds meet is on top.

2. Start folding the bottom ends of the napkin upward, but leave a little space at the top after each folded end.

3. When you have folded all the ends of the napkin, turn it over.

4. Turn the napkin with the large end down so that it is shaped like the Superman sign.

5. Fold the left and right sides into thirds, one on top of the other.

6. Turn the napkin over.

If you wish, you can put a beautiful stamp on the tip of the napkin.

Beautifully folded paper napkins

1. Fold the laid out paper napkin in half and in half again to form a small square.

2. Fold the top layer of the napkin in half diagonally and press gently.

3. Turn the napkin over and fold the (now different) top layer diagonally again.

4. Fold the right side of the napkin by 1/3 and fold the left side by a third over the right.

5. Turn the napkin over and you can put cutlery in the pocket formed.

Beautiful paper napkins on the table: double fan

1. Place the napkin laid out on the table.

2. Fold in half (from bottom to top).

3. Bend the top layer down (towards the bottom edge).

4. Turn the napkin over.

5. Fold the top layer down (toward the bottom edge).

6. Fold the napkin evenly like an accordion.

7. Take the napkin in your hand so that there are 2 layers on top. Fold the first layer inside each inner accordion piece downwards (see image).

8. Gently spread the napkin to form a fan.

Festive paper napkins: aster in a plate

1. Lay out the napkin and place it on the table.

2. Fold the bottom and top to the middle.

3. Turn the napkin so that it lies across the table. Fold the top and bottom towards the middle.

4. Unfold the napkin to a rectangular shape (with two opposing folds made in step 2). You will get 4 folds that divide the napkin into 4 rectangles (2 on each side).

5. Now you need to make 8 out of 4 rectangles (each of them will become an aster petal in the future). Start folding the napkin evenly like an accordion. First, turn the napkin over and start with the fold towards you and then away from you.

6. Prepare aster petals. From all the folds you need to make three-dimensional triangles. The work will be done with a quarter of the folds.

Start tucking the edges of the folds inside, after which you need to bend them so as to get triangles - the petals of a paper flower.

7. When all the edges of the folds are folded into triangles, connect the outer triangles to each other and the flower is ready. Place it on a plate.

Beautiful paper napkins for the table: pinwheel

1. Lay out the napkin and place it on the table.

2. Fold each end of the napkin towards its center.

3. Fold the napkin in half.

4. Place the napkin so that it lies across the table and fold the bottom and top parts towards the center.

5. Now you need to push the upper right triangle to the right. Next, push the left triangle up, then the lower right triangle to the right and the lower left triangle down.

How to festively fold paper napkins: tie

Square paper napkins (diagram)

Ideal for any event.

How to fold a paper napkin for a holiday table: starfish

This paper starfish can decorate any holiday table.

How to fold a paper napkin into the shape of a sun (diagram)

Decorate any dining table with this paper sun.

Serving paper napkins in the form of a candle

This candle napkin is perfect for a birthday or anniversary party.

Paper napkins in the shape of the Sydney Opera House (photo)

The napkin resembles the famous Sydney Opera House, as well as a cute skirt. Ideal for any holiday table, especially a wedding table or birthday table.

We hope our methods of folding napkins will help you when decorating and serving your holiday table.

Nowadays, everyday life and conveniences play an integral part of human life. A feast with family or friends cannot be complete without such an attribute as napkins. Why do we need napkins on the table? Decorating with napkins has not only a decorative function, but also hygienic aspects. After all, for a good housewife, every little detail is important!

Decorating the table with napkins gives the table an atmosphere of comfort and hospitality and completes the look of the holiday table.

Accessories in the form of napkins can be of different shapes and sizes; different color palettes and all kinds of designs/patterns and, accordingly, different materials.

What are they good for? linen napkins? Firstly, linen is a natural material that looks very stylish. It will decorate your table and give the feast a homely atmosphere. Secondly, linen items are durable and not easy to wash. They do not need to be soaked or washed several times to remove dirt. In addition, linen withstands washing very well and does not fade. Thirdly, linen absorbs moisture well and is pleasant to the touch.

Linen napkins are perfect for setting your table. Beautiful, high quality, natural!

In our online store you can find: table napkins, beautiful napkins, holiday napkins, sets of linen napkins.

Having completed purchase in the Atasi online store YouYou get a 5% discount on your 2nd and subsequent purchases. Why you should choose us: ✓ - all products only first class; ✓ - only natural materials(linen, cotton); ✓ - durability ; ✓ - pleasant fabric to the touch; ✓ -payment upon receiptgoods; ✓ - one of the most low prices in Moscow; ✓ - production in the Republic of Belarus (Orsha) and the Russian Federation

Linen napkins can serve not only as a decoration for a holiday table, but also simply for decorating a table or TV stand! Show your imagination and a whole host of options for using them will open up to you!!

Details are extremely important. On the holiday table, a detail that is essential from an aesthetic point of view and extremely necessary from a practical point of view is a napkin. NameWoman will tell you about its history, the various options and features of modern napkins, and what requirements should be made of them at official and special events; You will also learn how to properly use napkins at a shared table.

Napkin from Leonardo da Vinci

In ancient times, they either did not care at all about keeping their hands clean while eating, or used original products that had little in common with modern napkins. In the latter case, while at the table, people most often simply washed their fingers in special bowls filled with aromatic liquids with flower petals and citrus slices or peels. But in Egypt, instead of napkins (and cutlery), special flatbreads aish baladi were used and have not lost their relevance to this day.

One of the supposed inventors of the prototype of the modern napkin is Leonardo da Vinci. In his time, etiquette standards allowed one to throw bones under the table during a meal and wipe one’s hands on one’s own clothes or tablecloth. Leonardo da Vinci was a great esthete; in order to make the feasts in his house more tidy, he made sure that near each guest’s plate there was a special individual clean piece of cloth for wiping the mouth and hands.

A napkin made of thick fabric was officially patented in 1887. Briton John Dickinson is immortalized in history as an inventor. Well, the first paper napkins appeared on tables after the First World War.

Features of various napkins

- If we talk about the best restaurant textiles, then these are modern napkins that contain equal proportions of cotton and polyester. Special impregnation helps them stay clean for a long time, not get too wet and keep their shape well.

When matching the dishes, tablecloths, and the dishes you have chosen, linen, slightly rough-looking eco-napkins look very interesting on the table.

For special occasions, taking care of preserving the shape of woven napkins, they are starched.

When folding fabric napkins, so that the result of the work looks as neat and aesthetic as possible, the folds that require clarity are ironed.

The standard size of a napkin for table setting is 45 by 45 cm. For a large celebration with multiple changes of dishes, it is recommended to use products with a side of 56-66 cm.

Nowadays, unusual variants of napkin shapes are becoming extremely popular - rectangular, oval and round, as well as fancy products with openwork edges.

Now on sale you can find special paper napkins that look and feel very much like fabric.

The material of a high-quality paper napkin is 100% cellulose.

- A new fashion trend and, perhaps, the most hygienic option for a napkin is oshibori. For many, their first acquaintance with such products took place during a trip to Japan or in a sushi restaurant. Oshibori is a small wet towel. It is served rolled or folded on a special stand, usually before the start of the meal. In winter, this towel is pre-warmed and cooled in summer, this tradition gives your hands a special feeling of cleanliness and freshness. The classic oshibori is a soft cotton terry towel (it is estimated that in good restaurants, after washing and re-preparation, it can be used up to 25 times), but disposable paper oshibori, served in individual sealed packaging, is now also common.

Napkin etiquette

Single-layer paper ones are acceptable if they are placed in napkin holders and napkin holders or special common glasses. Only two-layer or three-layer napkins are placed near or on individual plates. And only such products are used when folding napkins for table decoration.

On official holidays, business lunches, etc. For status events with a rich table, only cloth napkins are used. Napkin rings are not used at formal events.

Initially, napkin rings were not used for decoration at all. They were a way to mark your napkin so that you could use it multiple times during meals and after changing dishes.

- According to the rules of etiquette at a formal feast, napkins should match the tablecloth. An informal dinner allows for contrasting combinations.

At a formal event, when setting the table, napkins should not lie near an empty plate - they are located in the middle of an individual mat (doyle) or on a serving plate.

If the first course was served before the guests sat down at the table, the napkin can be placed to the left of the plate and to the left of the forks.

If you fold napkins with a monogram, then it should be in a visible place in the resulting figure. The monogram should be facing the person for whom the napkin is intended.

If you are serving dishes that are eaten with your hands, and these dishes get very dirty, then it is highly advisable to offer guests a shallow vase of warm water for their hands.

How to use a napkin at the table

When sitting down at the table, unfold the cloth napkin and place it on your lap, folding it in half.

The dirty fingers are wiped on the edge of a woven napkin (accordingly, it will be on the top and not in contact with your clothes if the napkin is already on your lap). If you are very dirty, you need to clean yourself up in the toilet room.

Extremely indecent actions with napkins at the table:

Wipe your utensils with a napkin. This gesture is extremely offensive, since you are questioning the cleanliness of the hostess of the table or the restaurant staff. In the latter case, if there is something wrong with the devices, ask them to replace them.

Blow your nose into a tissue. You shouldn't blow your nose at the table at all. If such a need arises, excuse yourself and leave the table for the restroom.

If you drop a woven napkin on the floor, then according to the rules of etiquette, you should no longer use it. Pick it up and ask for it to be replaced.

The mouth is not wiped with a napkin, but only blotted. If your lips are made up, then using a woven napkin for table setting is highly undesirable in this case. Use a disposable paper napkin and then roll or gently scrunch it into a ball. It is customary to place such lumps on the side under the edge of the plate. When changing dishes and when clearing the table without waiting for the waiter or hostess of the celebration, transfer these lumps to your plate along with the cutlery.

When leaving the table after a meal, woven napkins are left on the table to the right of the plate.

After using the oshibori, it is rolled up as it was served and placed again on the stand.

Maria Nikitina

Napkins are one of the important elements of serving. They allow you to maintain cleanliness and tidiness at the table. A well-chosen and interestingly folded napkin will always decorate your holiday table.

Two types of napkins are used - linen and paper.
Linen napkins, as a rule, come complete with a tablecloth, harmonizing with it in color, pattern and texture. Napkins can be the same color as the tablecloth (the tone may be slightly different), or contrasting. If the table is covered with a double tablecloth, then the napkins should be the same color as the main tablecloth.

This type of napkin is intended, first of all, to protect clothes from crumbs and splashes.
The size of the napkins also plays a big role. Napkins measuring 35*35 cm and smaller are used for breakfast, tea and coffee tables, napkins measuring 40*40 cm and larger are used for lunch and dinner. The most popular and used size is 50*50 cm.
The material most often used is linen or cotton. Napkins made from fabrics with the addition of synthetic materials are very practical - they are less deformed, easy to iron and almost do not shrink when washed. You can purchase lace napkins, or sew fringe, lace border and other decorations onto regular napkins. The main thing is that it is in harmony with the decor of your dining room, the color and texture of the dishes, and the intended design for the reception.

When setting a table, napkins are usually folded into various shapes (we will talk about this in detail in the next part). To do this, they need to be starched so that the shape that was given to the napkin holds well. This should be done immediately before use to avoid the formation of creases during storage.

The location of the napkin on the table may vary. Usually the napkin is placed on the snack plate, but if lunch or dinner begins with soup, then the napkin is placed to the left of the device. Napkins placed in special rings made of metal, porcelain, ceramics or other material suitable for table decoration look good.

At the beginning of the meal, the napkin must be unfolded, folded in half and placed on your knees with the fold facing you. There is no need to put the napkin aside or tuck it behind your collar. The hostess takes a napkin first at the table, and if she is absent, the host takes it. When leaving the table, the napkin should be placed, without folding, to the left of the plate.

Along with linen napkins, there should also be paper napkins on the table. They are designed for wiping fingers and lips. When serving, these napkins are cut into triangles. They are served in special holders or glasses.
Please note that you need to wipe your lips with a napkin not only while eating, but also every time you drink, to avoid lipstick marks and lip prints on the glass. The paper napkin should only be used once. After finishing the meal, dirty napkins are placed on the plate along with the cutlery.

Preparing the hall for service. When preparing the room for service, waiters must calculate the size of tablecloths but
overall dimensions of tables. You should follow the rule: the edges of the tablecloth should be lowered 25-35 cm from the edge!
tabletops (Fig. 6.6), but not lower than the chair seat. Less descent!
gives the table an unaesthetic appearance, a larger one is inconvenient for visitors.

A well-ironed middle fold of the tablecloth is usually
runs along the axis of the tabletop. The corners of the tablecloth hang against the table legs, covering them. It is not recommended to grab the tablecloth with your fingers, as creases remain, to generously wet and stretch an insufficiently ironed tablecloth on the table, as it may lose its rigidity, whiteness and shine, the clarity of the pattern will disappear and in general there will be an impression that this tablecloth has already been used. Wrinkled tablecloths are usually returned to the service room. If the tablecloth is slightly wrinkled, then the waiters iron it with an electric iron.

Tables are covered with tablecloths in the absence of visitors. The operating procedure is as follows. Tablecloths are first laid out on the tables in the form in which they were received from the service, and only then spread out. The tablecloth is first unfolded to determine the required corners (you need to find the corners of one side - these are the second and third from the top). The tablecloth is placed on the table from the side leading to the entrance to the hall (the waiter sits at the table with his back to the entrance). The waiter takes the prepared tablecloth with both hands, grasping the upper edge with his thumb and forefinger and supporting the middle with the remaining fingers. Then the tablecloth is lifted above the table (carefully by the edge so as not to wrinkle it), as if to shake it, and then sharply lowered down to form an air cushion between the tabletop and the unfolded tablecloth. Holding the tablecloth between his thumb and forefinger, the waiter pulls it towards him across the table until the center fold aligns with the middle of the tabletop. The ironed central fold, dividing the tablecloth in half, should lie along the axis of the table, edge up, and the line of intersection with the fold should mark the center of the table. Clearly smoothed folds of the tablecloth help the waiter navigate when arranging serving items. On all tables, the pattern of the tablecloth should be directed in one direction.

They do it like this. First, prepare the table: the used tablecloth is pulled from the end of the table towards itself so that the opposite side of the tablecloth covers the table top, but does not hang down. If the table is on the first wall, it is moved away. Then prepare a clean tablecloth on the sideboard: unfold it so that it remains folded in four (in half and in parallel in half again). The center of the tablecloth and two free edges should be turned towards the waiter.

The waiter takes the prepared tablecloth with both hands at an even distance from its center along the width of the table. With his thumbs and forefingers he grasps the top edge of the tablecloth, and with the rest of his fingers he supports the bottom edge and middle. Holding the tablecloth in this form in his hands (putting it on top of a used one is prohibited by sanitary rules), the waiter walks to the table and waves his hands up and forward so that the entire tablecloth opens and begins to fall over the opposite end of the table (he holds the time with his thumbs and forefingers). top edge). After the tablecloth has opened and began to fall over the opposite end of the table, the waiter quickly lowers his hands to the table top, grabs the used tablecloth with his freed three fingers and makes a quick movement towards himself. At the same time, he removes the lower (used) tablecloth and puts the upper (clean) tablecloth in its place. This happens at the same time, since the waiter is holding both tablecloths. If necessary, he slightly adjusts the clean tablecloth, and takes the used one away and puts it in the bottom drawer of the sideboard.

This method of replacing the tablecloth is only possible if there are sideboards on which the waiter can prepare a clean tablecloth. Changing small (square) tablecloths for four-seater tables is especially convenient. At the same time, a long, rectangular tablecloth, falling over the end of the table, can touch the floor, so it is rarely used as a replacement.

On a rectangular table with six or eight seats, and also in the case when the lids of the sideboards are occupied, the first table is prepared to replace the tablecloth by pulling the used tablecloth from the end (as described earlier).

The ends of the used tablecloth are lifted onto the table and, carefully 1 bending them outward, cover the used surface of the tablecloth, then take a clean tablecloth, place it on the near edge of the table (with the folded end of the used one) and unfold it so that it lies on the table folded in half, loose ends to the Waiter. The corners should hang evenly. The upper half of the tablecloth is taken by the edge with the thumb and forefinger and folded over With smoothed middle. With the middle fingers they pick up the middle, lift the entire tablecloth up and send it forward so that the remaining lower half falls over the end. Then, taking the tablecloth by the edge with your thumbs and forefingers, use the rest to pick up the used tablecloth. Pull up the edge of a clean tablecloth and at the same time pull off the used one. Then proceed in the same way as described above.

Techniques for folding napkins. When setting tables and serving lunches and dinners, receptions, banquets, weddings and other festive evenings, linen napkins are used, which decorate the table and give it an elegant look.

There are many ways And techniques for folding napkins. The general rule here is the principle: the less the waiter’s hands touch the napkin when folding it, the more hygienic this operation proceeds. The folded napkin can be placed on a snack or pie plate or placed next to the pie plate if the napkin is folded quite simply, for example, into a tube. Then the visitor can quickly deploy and use it.

Options for folding napkins depend on the type of service. In each room, tables should have napkins folded only one way. For breakfast, napkins are folded in four, into a triangle, an envelope, a tube, i.e. give them simpler shapes, for lunch or dinner - a cap, “into space”, a crown, a cap (Fig. 6.8).

More complex forms of folding napkins are used when setting banquet tables - this is tulip, fan, candle, pocket and etc.

To fold a napkin "into the space", First, you need to place the napkin folded in half on the table with the free edges down. Then take the upper corners and, connecting at the bottom at the edge, fold the napkin into a triangle. The outer quadruple folded sides are slightly smoothed. The tortured triangle is folded in half and placed on a plate with the corners facing the consumer.

Napkin folding technique pocket consists in the fact that the free corners of a napkin folded in four are turned inwards: the first (top) is about half, the second is - 1/3, the third and fourth together are about - "/ 4 - The remaining corners are also turned in, the sides are slightly smoothed, the napkin is placed on the table. You can put business cards, flowers, etc. in the resulting pocket.

Folded linen napkins are laid out on the table as follows: placed on a snack or dessert plate, placed directly on the tablecloth between the knife and the pot, and if serving is carried out in the presence of visitors, the knives and forks are placed on a plate where the napkin is folded in four.