Bow Napkin Fold With Ring

Dress up your table with this easy bow napkin fold with ring!

Perfect for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, birthdays, weddings, Valentine’s Day, and more, this elegant yet simple napkin fold adds a festive and polished touch to any meal.

Plus, you can make them in advance, so your table is ready to impress with minimal effort!

Looking for a simple yet stylish way to elevate your table setting?

This bow napkin fold with a paper ring is the perfect solution!

Whether you’re hosting a holiday feast, an elegant dinner party, or a casual brunch, this easy napkin fold instantly makes your table look more sophisticated and festive.

Best of all, it’s quick to make, requires no special materials, and can be prepared in advance—so you can focus on entertaining your guests without last-minute stress!

The paper ring holds the napkin together in a beautiful bow shape, adding a touch of charm and creativity to your table.

You can customize the colors and patterns to match your Christmas table, Easter brunch, Thanksgiving feast, or even a romantic Valentine’s dinner.

It’s also a great idea for weddings, baby showers, birthdays, or any special occasion where you want your table to look extra special.

This fold is budget-friendly, and because you’re using paper napkins, there’s no need for fancy linens.

Plus, you’ll be making the napkin ring out of paper, so everything can be color-coordinated to fit your theme.

Try using pastel napkins for Easter, bold reds for Christmas, or soft pinks for a bridal shower.

No matter the occasion, this bow napkin fold with a paper ring is a fun, easy, and elegant way to enhance your table decor.

Let’s get folding!

If you're after other easy to make napkin folds, you must try this Christmas tree napkin fold, lotus napkin fold, standing bunny napkin folds, and heart napkin fold with pouch.

Why You'll Love This Pattern

• Super easy to make – Perfect for beginners, takes just minutes!
• No fancy materials needed – Just paper napkins and a simple paper ring.
• Works for any occasion – Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Valentine’s Day, birthdays, weddings, and more!
• Can be made in advance – Prep them ahead of time so your table is set and ready.
• Budget-friendly & customizable – Choose napkin colors and paper designs to match your theme.

Skill Level

★☆☆☆☆ (Very Easy)

Materials Needed

• Standard square paper napkin

• Rectangle sheet of paper (recommended: ring paper size – 8cm long by 4 cm wide for the standard napkin).

Napkin Type

Use sturdy yet foldable paper napkins.

A medium-weight napkin (around 60-80 GSM) works best for this project, as it holds folds well but is still easy to handle. Thin napkins may lose their shape, while thicker ones may be harder to crease neatly.

You can use small, medium, or large square paper napkins to make different sized bows.

Instructions

Making the ring

We recommend making your paper ring first. You can skip this if you have a napkin ring.

Using your rectangle sheet of paper.

Step 1: Start with the color you want your ring to be facing down. Make sure that your paper is sitting horizontally as shown.

Step 2: Fold the bottom edge to meet the top edge.

Step 3: Unfold previous step.

Step 4: Fold both the bottom and top edges in to meet the middle crease.

Step 5: Apply some glue or double sided tape to the top half of the paper, then fold the bottom edge up to meet the top edge. Allow the glue to dry.

Step 6: On the left side, fold both the top and bottom edges inward slightly.

Step 7: Roll both the left side and right side towards the centre.

Step 8: Insert the left end into the right. Note: If you are going to be using smaller paper napkins, you may need to trim the right end of your ring slightly so that it fits better.

Step 9: Completed paper ring.

Making the bow

Using your napkin.

Step 1: Open out your napkin. 

Typically, napkins come folded into quarters, so when you open out your napkin it should fold out into a larger square with 2 creases which divide the napkin into 4 smaller squares.

Start with the outside color (such as the colored side or patterned side) of the napkin facing down and arrange it to sit like a diamond shape.

Step 2: Fold the bottom point up to meet the top point.

Step 3: Fold the top point down to meet the middle of the napkin. This fold is just approximate. If you like, you could measure the midpoint with a ruler and then fold.

Step 4: Fold the bottom edge up so that it slightly overlaps the point you folded down in the previous step.

Step 5: Fold the bottom edge up once again, but this time to meet the top edge.

Step 6: Fold the right edge of the napkin down towards the left on a diagonal along the line shown.

Tips For Success

• Use patterned or textured napkins for an extra decorative touch.
• Pre-fold the napkin neatly before securing it with the ring for a polished look.
• Match your paper ring to your theme – Use gold paper for Christmas, floral designs for spring and Easter, or elegant white for weddings.
• Secure the ring tightly so the bow holds its shape.
• Make them ahead of time and store them flat so they’re ready to go when you need them.

Common Mistakes & How To Avoid Them

• Napkin not staying in a bow shape? Make sure the paper ring is snug but not too tight.
• Paper ring coming undone? Use a small dab of glue or double-sided tape for a secure hold.
• Napkin looks uneven? Adjust the folds before securing with the ring for a more balanced bow.

Color, Paper Ideas, and Variations

• Use white or gold napkins with metallic paper rings for weddings or formal events.
• Try red and green for Christmas, orange and brown for Thanksgiving, or pastel shades for Easter.
• Soft pink or deep red napkins are perfect for Valentine’s Day or anniversaries.
• Birthday Parties: Bright, fun colors with patterned paper rings make this fold great for celebrations.
• Personalized Napkin Rings: Write guest names on the paper ring to double as a place card!

FAQ

Other Crafts You Might Like To Try:

• Cute Origami
• Origami Heart
• Origami Masu Box
• Triangle Origami Corner Bookmark
• Spring Wreath
• DIY Mini Paper Drawers - Origami Drawer Organizer
• Origami Cup

Helpful Origami Tips

If you're curious to learn more about origami, you might like to look at our basic guides on how to make some common origami folds.

Start with the valley fold and mountain fold—these are the foundation of most origami models.

Once you're comfortable, you might like to try the petal fold for 3D shapes, and explore the bird base and square base for more complex designs.

The water bomb base is also great for creating inflatable or geometric models, like this inflatable origami rabbit.