I have a thing for folded napkins. Don’t ask me why or where it comes from, it just makes me feel good. My house could be in a state of filth unfit to grow penicillin with laundry piled to the ceiling and dishes in the sink…barely enough room on the table to eat a bowl of raisin bran…but, if the raisin bran comes with a cloth napkin folded up like a bishop’s hat, I feel just fine about the situation.
I first learned to fold napkins as part of an etiquette class I attended in middle school. It used to be called Miss Patty’s Charm School but then someone said charm schools were anti-feminist so she changed it to Miss Patty’s Lady Lessons. I’m telling you, there just ain’t no stopping progress.
Later in life, my ability to fold napkins in the shape of the Sydney Opera House was one of the key deciding factors in getting me hired as a hostess in a fancy restaurant, which later blossomed into a serving position, which later turned into a weekend gig helping out with catering jobs in private homes. In all three of those situations, not one person ever commented on my ability to pour wine or dish pasta, but golly, I can’t tell you how impressed people got when they found out I could fold napkins. They would get all excited and gather around to watch me do it, making special requests and ask me “What is that amazing thing?! Where’d you learn how to do that?!”
Then I’d think to myself, Gosh, this is what it feels like to be David Cassidy.
I have been thinking about doing a napkin folding post for some time but it’s one of those things that never quite comes across in still pictures. Then I saw this gal, Maria, and her video above. She covers a variety of the basics and does it with such grace and gentleness. Another Miss Patty’s alumna, to be sure!