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Four Cute Ways to Fold Napkins this Halloween

Add a layer of spooky style to your fall table with these cute napkin folds!

Headshot of Anna LoganBy Anna Logan
pumpkin napkin sits on a plat4epinterest icon
Becky Luigart-Stayner

The countdown to Halloween is on! Whether you're throwing an elegant Halloween dinner party complete with themed snacks or a simple post-Trick-or-Treat get-together with the kids, we've got some fun napkin folding ideas guaranteed to add a bit of effortless style to your table. Use these four napkin folds (pumpkin, ghost, bat, and witch) as the building blocks for the rest of your table decor.

You should start with a simple tablecloth (ours is Heather Taylor Home) and your favorite plates, then layer in some old cutlery and glasses. Next, add in some seasonal centerpieces or fresh fall flowers. You could stop there or keep adding elements until the table is totally full. Whatever you do, these napkins are the perfect launch point for your fall entertaining.

1

Pumpkin Napkin Fold

dining scene with an orange napkin folded like a pumpkin on the plate
Becky Luigart-Stayner

Want to add a bit of the fall harvest vibe to your table? Try this simple pumpkin fold! First, gather your supplies...

2

Pumpkin Napkin Supplies

orange napkin dowel rod small bundt pan and old pumpkin stem sit on top of a table
Becky Luigart-Stayner

To complete the pumpkin fold, you'll need four key items.

SUPPLIES

  1. Orange linen napkin. Make sure the size you're buying is a square, not a rectangle.
  2. Wooden skewer, at least 12 in. long
  3. Mini Bundt pan, about 3 or 4 in. in diameter
  4. Preserved pumpkin stem (faux is fine!)
3

Create the Pumpkin Base

hands holding an orange napkin and mini bundt pan
Becky Luigart-Stayner

STEP ONE

  1. Lay your napkin on a flat surface and place the Bundt pan to the middle (eye-balling is fine, but get as close as your can to center).
  2. Turn Bundt pan on its side and hold with one hand.
  3. With the other hand, pick up the skewer.
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4

Make the Form

hands hold orange napkin and mini bundt pan a dowel rod is being pushed through the center of the bundt pan
Becky Luigart-Stayner

STEP TWO

  1. Begin pushing the napkin through the center of the Bundt pan with the blunt end of the skewer to create a small tail. You'll want push at least an inch or two of napkin through the hole — enough that it stays and doesn't fall back through. Depending on the diameter of your pans opening, this can take some force.
  2. Once you've created a tail, return the Bundt pan and napkin to the flat surface.
5

Fold the Napkin Inwards

hands hold orange napkin and bundt pan
Becky Luigart-Stayner

STEP THREE

  1. Begin to shape the pumpkin by folding in the napkin. We found it easiest to slightly twirl the edges of the napkin and then wrap them around the center column of the pan until the entire napkin is bundled in the pan.
6

Continue to Fold

hands hold an orange napkin and are pushing fabric into the small bundt pan
Becky Luigart-Stayner

STEP FOUR

  1. Continue to fold the napkin inward, placing it in the pan. You can be forceful in cramming it in.
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7

Check Your Folds

hands hold pumpkin napkin
Becky Luigart-Stayner

STEP FIVE

  1. Before flipping the napkin over, check all your folds. If you followed the wrapping method mentioned in step three, the folds should resemble the image at left.
  2. Turn your pumpkin right side up, with the hole you created with the dowel rod facing upwards, the tail will be facing down.
8

Add Your Stem

hands affix a pumpkin stem to an orange napkin
Becky Luigart-Stayner

STEP SIX

  1. Affix your stem to the pumpkin. We used a natural stem and found that simply placing it in the hole worked well, but if you are worried about it falling over, you can use a small amount of tape to keep it in place. We do not recommend using hot glue or other glue substances as this will ruin the napkin.
9

Set the Table!

dining scene with an orange napkin folded like a pumpkin on the plate
Becky Luigart-Stayner

Once you've added your stem, you're done! We love this look for an elegant Halloween or Thanksgiving dinner. You can even serve this darling pumpkin patch cake for dessert!

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10

Ghost Napkin Supplies

white ghost napkin on a gingham background
Becky Luigart-Stayner

This cute ghost napkin comes together super easily! Start by gathering the supplies, listed below.

SUPPLIES

  1. White linen napkin. Make sure the size you're buying is a square, not a rectangle.
  2. 3-in. foam ball or tissue wadded up into a ball
  3. Ribbon of your choice, 1-inch thick and about 12-inches long (we went with a rustic burlap)
    11

    Position the Foam Ball

    hands holding a small foam ball over a white napkin
    Becky Luigart-Stayner

    STEP ONE

    1. Spread your napkin out on a flat surface.
    2. Grab your foam ball or tissue and place it in the middle of the napkin. It's okay to eye-ball the center point, no need to measure.
    12

    Create the Head

    hands fold a white napkin in half
    Becky Luigart-Stayner

    STEP TWO

    1. Next, fold the napkin in half from top to bottom.
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    13

    Ready for Ribbon

    hands grab a white napkin to create the head of a ghost
    Becky Luigart-Stayner

    STEP THREE

    1. Find the natural "neck" of your ghost and hold firmly while you slide the ribbon underneath the neck of the ghost.
    14

    Tie a Bow

    hands hold ribbon under a white napkin that resembles a ghost
    Becky Luigart-Stayner

    STEP FOUR

    1. Tie a bow at the neck with the ribbon.
    15

    Pull It Tight

    hands pulling a bow tight on a napkin that resembles a ghost
    Becky Luigart-Stayner

    STEP FIVE

    1. Pull the ears of the bow tight so the foam ball does not fall out.
    2. Trim the ribbon ends to desired length.
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    16

    Set the Table!

    ghost napkin at a set table
    Becky Luigart-Stayner

    And, voila! Now you've got a ghostly dinner companion ready to spice up every fall tables. These napkins look especially cute on a table with our graveyard brownies.

    17

    Bat Napkin Supplies

    black napkin folded like a bat on table set for dinner
    Becky Luigart-Stayner

    Use this adorable bat napkin to add a bit of whimsical spookiness to your Halloween dinner party! All you need for this fold is a black cloth napkin (make sure the size you're buying is a square, not a rectangle).

    18

    Fold Corner to Corner

    hands holding a black napkin on a table
    Becky Luigart-Stayner

    STEP ONE

    1. Begin by folding into a triangle.
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    19

    Fold Corners (Again)

    hands holding a black napkin on a table
    Becky Luigart-Stayner

    STEP TWO

    1. Fold again into a smaller triangle. Turn so the point is towards you. Smooth down your edges.
    20

    Fold the Point

    black hands hold a napkin on a table
    Becky Luigart-Stayner

    STEP THREE

    1. Fold the point up towards the straight edge, with the point extending 2-inches beyond the top.
    2. Fold the small tip underneath the napkin so that you are left with a trapezoid.
    Headshot of Anna Logan
    Anna Logan
    Senior Homes & Style Editor

    Anna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she covers design and decorating trends, home features, and gift guides. She also produces home features and styles content for the print magazine. When she isn’t working, can often be found digging around antique shops for the perfect find. Follow her adventures on Instagram!

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