There are hundreds of ways to fold a napkin for a formal event and several positions on a banquet table those folded napkins can occupy. We already covered 8 napkin folds that look great on a plate or a tabletop (check them out here), but another popular option is to place folded napkins in an empty glass to add height and elegance to a table setting without taking up any additional space. Below are 7 napkin folds that look intricate and stunning in a glass but are incredibly simple to create.

Rosette

1. Start by folding the napkin in half on the diagonal, creating a triangle.
2. Starting from the point, fold over about 2 inches of fabric and continue to roll until you reach the folded edge.
3. Rotate the napkin and roll in the other direction from one end to the other, creating a rosette.
4. Set the rosette in the glass and gently pull on the center of the roll to fluff it up and give it a little height.

Butterfly

1. With the napkin resting on a flat surface, fold the two sides inward to meet at the center.
2. Place a finger at the center of the napkin to hold the two sides in place, then gently fold out each of the four corners. When done correctly, the napkin should resemble a mirrored image of a shirt collar.
3. Starting at the bottom edge, fold the fabric over about an inch and continue to roll until you reach the center.
4. From the center, pleat the second half of the napkin all the way to the opposite edge. 
5. Fold the napkin in half with the rolled portion in the center, being careful not to let the pleats fall out.
6. Place the napkin in the glass folded side down, then release the top of the napkin, allowing the pleats to cascade over the sides of the glass to create the butterfly wings. Fluff as needed.

Crown

1. Start by folding the napkin in half on the diagonal, offsetting the corner to create two small points.
2. Fold the left side across the center to create a third point to the right of two you just created. Repeat this with the right side, creating a fourth point to the left. 
3. Orient the napkin so the four points are at the top and the tail is pointing toward you. Fold the tail up to create a fifth point in the center of the crown.
4. Fold the two sides inward to meet in the center, then fold the crown in half along that center line.
5. Place the napkin in glass with the folded edge facing you. Fold down the outermost point of the crown and fluff the remaining points to finish the look.

Fan

1. With the napkin resting on a flat surface, fold the two sides inward to meet at the center.
2. Pleat the napkin from one end to the other.
3. Fold the napkin in half and place it in the glass folded side down.
4. Gently pull the pleats to either side, spreading them out to create a fan.

Bird of Paradise

1. Fold the napkin in half, then in half again to create a square a quarter of the size of the full napkin.
2. Identify the corner that has all loose layers and fold it back on the diagonal to meet the opposite corner, creating a triangle.
3. With the triangle pointing toward you, fold the two sides upward so the short sides of the triangle meet in the center, creating a kite shape.
4. If you turn the napkin over, you should see two small triangles sticking out at the top. Fold these down, then fold the napkin in half vertically so the small triangles are hidden inside.
5. Flip the napkin over so the fold is facing upward, then rest it in the glass as pictured.
6. Gently peel back each layer of the napkin to form the petals of the flower. When you get to the final layer, fold it downward over the lip of the glass to lock everything in place.

Fleur de Lis

1. Start by folding the napkin in half on the diagonal, creating a triangle.
2. Fold the corner of the triangle back so it overhangs the folded edge by about 2 inches.
3. Pleat the napkin back and forth from one end to the other. Your folded pleats should have a flat side and a side with a triangle still sticking up.
4. Place the napkin in the glass flat side down and gently pull on the sides of the pleat to fan out the completed fleur de lis.

Lily

1. Fold the napkin in half, then in half again to create a square a quarter of the size of the full napkin.
2. Identify the two corners that have one folded side and one open side. Pleat the napkin across from one of these corners to the other.
3. Fold the napkin in half but offset it slightly so you have two points. One will be made up of four open layers, and one will be a singular folded corner.
4. Set the napkin in the glass folded side down. Fold the folded corner over the rim of the glass in one direction, and separate and fan out the loose layers in the other direction to create the lily petals.