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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.
Would you like to save this stuff?
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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Love your blog! My tuxedo napkins look a little more like bathrobes, so I plan to elevate my breakfast table rather than NYE table. Will serve scrambled eggs and your delicious Bacon Wraps! Happy holidays!
It's all good, just different - we got tired of maintaining 2 properties so we moved to our Lakehouse :)
Strange about the tinny taste - wonder what that's all about?
Btw- did I ever mention I have the same set of gold cutlery too? small world... good taste ;)
Hope your New Year's was just what you wanted- relaxing and delicious with extra hoisin
We recently moved 1 1/2 hours away from our old neighbourhood of 28 years! Spent almost every NYE at either one of the neighbours or @ our place with- you guessed it - just the neighbours, usually a small group of 8-10 of us. We had great neighbours and i'll miss them terribly this year since I won't do the long drive down from Snow country.
In our own way we "stayed in" , had great food (always pot luck) and enjoyed a few drinks together while watching the ball drop in Times SQ. Shortly after midnight we'd weave our way home , walking down the street (more often than not) singing at the top of our lungs! We knew the neighbours wouldn't mind because they were with us ;) Good times ...
Wishing you Karen, and the other wonderfully unique group of readers you have, A Very Happy and Healthy New Year !!!
Ps : I may have squealled a little when I saw the cutlery! So happy you're using it:)
And i'm definitely doing the tuxedo napkins tomorrow nite.
LOL! I use it every single day! The odd time it gives what I'm eating a bit of a weird tinny taste, and when that happens I just switch over to the gold cutlery for the night. Sorry to hear you had to move from your hood. ~ karen!
I will be skipping Amateur Nite in favor of two football games (college playoffs and my favorite OU Sooners are in the hunt) and Frito chili pies plus cocktails. We may invite a fellow football enthusiast or not. I love fireworks, but First Night celebrations usually have bitter cold weather which is not so fun.
Just catching up on all your posts that I missed over Christmas. Wished I had seen this one before New Years Eve. For the past 15 years a bunch of neighbors have been doing a progressive dinner. This year we did the main course at our house. Served salmon that my husband smoked on the grill. The food is always amazing and no one has to worry about driving. We just grab our wine and go to the next house. This napkin idea would have looked great with my table theme. It was black, white, gold, red and pearls. Very glam. I may do a similar version for Valentines Day just so I can do this.
I was wondering what the final touch on my New Year's party tonight was going to be on top of the High Class theme and this is it! Thanks so much for sharing. These look amazing.
Cheers,
Victoria
Glad you found them Victoria! Have a good New Year's Eve. ~ karen!