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How to fold a napkin into a tiny tuxedo jacket for your Christmas or New Year's dinner party. Because YOU are crafty. At the very least you like to look at DIY stuff and imagine you're going to be crafty one day.
It doesn't matter if you're having dinner for 1, 2 or 20 dinner guests you'll want to try this little tuxedo jacket napkin fold.
Actually, I have no idea if you'll want to do this. You might not. I mean what if you're having dinner at a friend's house or a restaurant?. It takes a bold guest to walk around someone else's table refolding all the napkins. Even if the napkin fold is far superior to their unimaginative rectangles.
When my mother, sisters and I were in Thailand a few years ago we went on a dinner cruise. As is often the case in Thailand the food presentation was incredibly beautiful. Even in the street markets food is presented to the customer like little presents.
It was on that dinner cruise that I was introduced to the Tuxedo napkin. At the end of the dinner the waiter noticed Pink Tool Belt sister and I trying to replicate the folding of the napkin so he showed us exactly how it was done.
And now I will show you.
How to do a Tuxedo Napkin Fold
- Iron your napkin.
Otherwise it'll be all wrinkly and sad looking, like mine is.
2. Fold the napkin in half, forming a triangle with the point at the bottom.
3. Fold down the top by about 1".
4. Flip the napkin over so the folded edge is underneath.
5. Fold each top corner of the triangle down towards centre point.
6. Overlap slightly at the bottom.
7. Flip under.
8. At this point it looks like this from the underside.
9. Once you get the bottom flipped under, fold the edges to the back as well until it forms a tuxedo jacket shape.
10. Fiddle with the collar so it isn't flat. Just round it a bit and pull it so it has some dimension.
11. Tuck one side flap into the other on the underside.
12. Admire.
How to fold a tuxedo jacket napkin
Step by step instructions for folding a tuxedo jacket napkin. Suggested serving for dinner - bowtie pasta. ;)
Materials
- 1 cloth napkin
Instructions
- Iron your napkin.
- Fold the napkin in half, forming a triangle with the point at the bottom.
- Fold down the top by about 1″.
- Flip the napkin over so the folded edge is underneath.Fold each top corner of the triangle down towards centre point.
- Overlap slightly at the bottom.
- Flip under.
- Once you get the bottom flipped under, fold the edges to the back as well until it forms a tuxedo jacket shape.
- Fiddle with the collar so it isn’t flat. Just round it a bit and pull it so it has some dimension.
- Tuck one side flap into the other on the underside.
- Admire.
To me the only thing more depressing than going out for a few hours of forced fun on New Year's Eve is … nothing. Nothing is more depressing.
So I have my perfect New Years Eve planned, which will involve lighting a fire in the morning, cooking the appetizers I'll be eating for dinner in the afternoon, and then at 6 p.m. I will sit down in front of the fire, with said appetizers to watch the latest season of The Crown (which I've been saving for this very purpose) until I pass out, fingers sticky with hoisin sauce and a spring roll stuck to my forehead. That's it. That's my night. And I'm looking forward to it more than I would ever look forward to any party. I like dressing up, I LOVE going out for really, really good dinners, I just don't like to do it on New Year's Eve. I find it gross.
So if you're looking for something to do this New Year's Eve that's my recommendation to you. Eat your appetizers. Wipe your mouth. Sink into the pillows. Pass out on the couch.
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magali
I'm having a going away party this NYE (my husband and I are moving from St. John's to Halifax). Not only am I forcing people to come over and have fun on New Years, I'm also forcing them to enjoy our presence one last time, suckers!
Safetydog
A friend hosts a family game night on NYE. Three to five families bring appetizers, play games, watch TV, and get seriously silly. The youngest "child" is 13, so everyone can fend for themselves. It is a fun, relaxed time.
Side note: I love reading the comments on this blog - they are as entertaining as the blog.
Debbie
Since I was diagnosed with a virus today, so I will probably be home coughing on NY Eve. At least I will be doing it with hubby by my side. I hope I feel better soon. A Happy New Year's to all no matter how you spend the night!
Sherri Jackson
I folded the napkins for Christmas dinner like a shirt and my guests were impressed with my cleverness. Thank you
Karen
Excellent. I'm glad they were a hit! I love hearing from people who actually do the things I show. :) ~ karen!
Tracey
Geez, I thought we were the only ones who didn't go out for NYE! I never knew how to explain how I felt about New Years, but "forced fun" is exactly right. And as someone else said above...kissing strangers just because it's midnight....Yuck!!!
We'll be enjoying quiet time "in the Valley". I'll toast you with a nice hot buttered "rye"! (Not!!!)
So glad to know that we are in good company.
I enjoy reading all the comments too.
Merry Christmas Karen....enjoy your holiday! And we'll "see" you again in the new year!
Thanks for a great year of reading!
Karen
Actually, you'll see me again tomorrow, lol. I'm posting on Christmas Eve. :) Well … in a couple of hours really! Have a great holiday. Or as good as you can manage. ~ karen
Linda J Howes
I love napkin folding! I have done it for years and I have even folded boring napkins into more interesting creations at the place settings of dinner parties I have attended. I can't help myself. It's like origami with cloth.
I even liked the draped napkin from one of your earlier posts, Thanksgiving maybe, because they were different. I would like to share a special treat shown to me by a friend years ago who noticed my peculiar fetish and the fact that I love chickens too. I found it on the internet to share with you. http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Towel-Chicken
Karen
Linda. Ha! I don't even have to click on it. I bet it's goes a little something like this … https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/napkin-folding-for-chickens/ ;) ~ karen!
Linda J Howes
Too funny, I wish I had found that link and sent it to you instead. Should have known you would have known.
Marti
Thanks! Not sure this will work with the lovely paper dainties filched from my local Micky D's, but it is the holiday season, so I'm willing to give it a shot!
Feral Turtle
Very cute Karen! Merry Christmas.
Suzanne@Le Farm
I guess we can now wipe our mouth on our sleeve! (Sorry mom!!)
Plans? Hopefully a repeat of last New Years Eve...
Drive to lake house,
Celebrate NYE in Paris, France at 6pm with champagne on deck,
go to friends for heavy horderves and big bonfire,
Set off a series of Major Mojo fireworks at midnight,
back to lake house,
neck in the car,
long hot tub soak,
and bed @an ungodly hour.
Its our new tradition ... until we sell lake house!
Happy New Year !!!
Cherie
We are in the 'staying in' camp. Not alone though. We have our very good friends coming over for a buffet supper and to see the New Year in with us. Don't get me wrong. I would be perfectly happy to go out if everywhere wasn't ten deep at the bar and the disco floor (I recall from a million years ago) wasn't going to be full of drunks that could barely stand up. Give me a good old fashioned 'tea dance' anywatime. I say Bring Back The Tea Dance. Have a wonderful Christmas. xxx
KJ
Did the NYE thing when I was young, but we all just stay home now. I think the napkin fold would look cute with two napkins nested, black on the outside and white on the inside.
caryl hodgdon
I love Kat and Kate and want to spend nye with them. You are also invited if you bring the hoisin and potstickers but there will be no tuxedo fold napkins-my paper towels are the wrong size. Oh yes don't forget Pee Wee has just released his playhouse vids on netflix. Perfect after a few cocktails!!Happy happy everyone.
Pam
I am a committed stay at home NYE celebrator. (Well, I'm not sure you could call watching a movie, eating ice cream and in bed by 11pm really celebrating.) But, in my younger days I did have some fun NYE nights out on the town. My best was the one spent at Times Square with some good college pals in the '80's. We had started the night with a carriage ride through Central Park (eating Mint Milanos and drinking hot chocolate) and then walked up to see the ball drop. Yes, there were hoards of people (and I don't like crowds at all) but it was so much fun! Afterwards we snuck into some fancy party in a ballroom and danced, then the subway home around 4am. Ahh, such good memories. Of course, it's nothing I ever need to do again, and in fact you couldn't pay me to be in those crowds now, but it was a perfect NY New Years Eve for my 22 year old self.
Karen, thanks for brightening up my days! Enjoy your break from blog-land and have a wonderful holiday doing exactly whatever the heck you want! Happy Holidays to all your funny and interesting readers, too!
Jennifer
I work the night shift on the Mother Baby unit in the busiest birth & trauma hospital in central California. I always work over New Year's Eve. We call all the other hospitals in the area to see who has the first New Year baby. Most fun holiday to work night shift!
Pam
Wow!! Now that has to be the most interesting NYE plan!
Gwen H.
I will be eating grilled cheese sandwiches, great tomato soup and wine. Then I will pass out. Have a wonderful holiday season.
Janelle
The way I see it, if you've partied hard enough through December, you should be way to fat/drunk/tired to go out on NYE. I have derived a test: if I have to ask myself if I am capable of staying up until midnight, the answer is clear: definitely still get champagne, but enjoy it at home at 8pm as a bedtime snack.
paula
Fellow eye roller here, also an apps night for us, with some great napkin folds, hopefully the kids will be here too, though you never know - all in their 20s - us old folks probably won't make it until midnight but will try while watching a movie or two. Also hoping 2015 is a better year for us and also wishing you, Karen, and all of your lovely readers a peaceful and joyous holiday season and cheers to 2015.
Jake
Since most of posters are eye rollers (smart, intelligent and decidedly on an upper plain) I wonder just who are all these people pretending to have a great time. Jammed in next to people you don't know, smelly underarms and bad breath and the usual falling down drunk who insists on slobbering on your cheek. Well I think a lot of them are my ex-inlaws and the drunk is definitely my long lost son, with bells on his shoes. I wish everyone a happy holiday of your choice and New Years Day that can't come fast enough for me, bring on 2015.
Donna
Normally an eye roller who has a group of friends who have a get together, home by 10 and never stay up late enough for fireworks.
This year, however, will be different. This South Texan, who is used to shorts and t-shirts on New Years, will be in Seattle with son #2 and his girlfriend. The possibilities are endless. I do know they will involve lots of good food and some alcoholic beverages.
Happy New Year to everyone. I'm looking very forward to seeing the ass end of 2014 because the majority of the year sucked for me. But on a good note. I learned a lot about myself and I'm stronger than I ever imagined. I'm looking forward to what can be accomplished in 2015!
LazySusan
Merry Christmas, everyone! I'm headed off to the store to buy the fixings for Christmas dinner, and probably won't be heard from again until after NYE. I don't even bother rolling my eyes anymore. Happy Holidays to you all!