How to Fold a Turkey Napkin for Thanksgiving

Folding napkins into fun shapes is a great way to add personality and charm to your Thanksgiving table. A folded napkin turkey is the perfect festive touch that also doubles as a creative place card. With just a few simple folds you can transform plain napkins into adorable 3D turkeys to delight your guests. Follow these step-by-step instructions to learn different ways to fold a napkin into a turkey shape for Thanksgiving.

Supplies Needed

• Napkins – Paper or cloth napkins will both work. Square napkins are easiest to work with.
• Napkin rings (optional) – These help secure the napkin folds.

Simple 3 Step Turkey Napkin Fold

This is one of the easiest turkey napkin folding ideas that even kids can help make.

Step 1) Take a square napkin and fold it in half diagonally to form a triangle.

Step 2) Fold the triangle in half again by bringing the long side over to meet the other side

Step 3) Fold the tip of the triangle up and inward to form the turkey’s head and neck.

Fluff out the bottom corners of the triangle to resemble feathers. The simple 3 folds create the turkey’s body, neck and fan of tail feathers. Slide a napkin ring over the neck to hold it upright if desired.

Martha Stewart Envelope Turkey Napkin

This method from Martha Stewart creates a turkey napkin that opens up to hold small treats, notes or secret Thanksgiving dinner clues.

Supplies:

• Square napkin
• Mini candy corn and other small treats
• Napkin ring

Instructions:

1. Fold napkin in half to form rectangle. Fold in half again to make a square.

2. Fold down the top flap.

3. Fold the bottom flap up and tuck it under the top flap.

4. Flip over and fold side flaps inward along crease lines to meet at center.

5. Lift bottom and fold up to meet top edge, forming an envelope shape.

6. Slide napkin ring over the bottom portion to hold envelope shape.

7. Fill with candy corn and other treats before placing at table settings.

The envelope folds create the turkey’s body while the flaps on the side become the feathered tail. The top folded flap forms the wattle hanging from the turkey’s neck.

HGTV Accordion Folded Turkey

For a more detailed turkey napkin design, try this method from HGTV that uses two napkins per turkey.

Supplies:

• 2 paper napkins per turkey
• Napkin rings

Instructions:

1. Take one napkin and fold down the top corners to meet at the center.

2. Fold in the sides to meet at the center. Repeat to form a tall triangle.

3. Rotate the triangle 90 degrees and fold the tip back over to form the neck and head.

4. Take the second napkin and accordion fold it.

5. Fold the accordion in half to create a fan.

6. Attach the fan to the neck of the first napkin by tucking it underneath the head.

The accordion folded fan will fluff out to resemble the turkey’s feathers and tail. Use festive napkins like red, orange and brown to make the turkeys extra Thanksgiving-esque.

Folded Paper Fan Turkey Napkin

This napkin turkey uses folded paper fans to mimic wings and tail feathers.

Supplies:

• Square napkin
• Construction paper or cardstock
• Glue
• Googly eyes (optional)

Instructions:

1. Fold napkin in half diagonally twice to create a tall triangle.

2. Cut long thin strips out of paper or cardstock. Fold each strip back and forth in 1/2″ sections to create a paper fan.

3. Glue 3-4 fans onto the bottom back side of the napkin to create the turkey’s tail feathers.

4. Glue 2 smaller fans onto the front bottom sides for wings.

5. Glue on googly eyes or draw a turkey face with crayon or marker.

Let the glue fully dry before placing your decorative turkeys on the table. Kids will have fun customizing each turkey’s feathers and facial features.

Chinet Turkey Napkin Fold

For a napkin turkey that stands upright, try this method from Chinet using just a single napkin.

Supplies:

• Square napkin
• Napkin ring
• Mini gourd or orange

Instructions:

1. Fold napkin in half diagonally twice to form tall triangle.

2. From the bottom corner, make an accordion fan fold up 3/4 of the napkin.

3. Fold the neck down over the fan.

4. Cut the bottom off a mini gourd or orange slice to create a flat base.

5. Use a napkin ring to hold the neck upright.

6. Place the gourd or orange slice under the neck against the fan to form the body.

The accordion fan will flare out to create the feathers. For added realism, use an orange slice for the body and add paddle sticks for turkey legs.

No-Sew Folded Fabric Turkey

This unique twist on a napkin turkey uses folded fabric secured with hot glue to create a soft, plush turkey decoration.

Supplies:

• Fabric scraps in fall colors – browns, oranges, yellows, greens
• Polyfill stuffing
• Hot glue gun
• Googly eyes
• Paddle sticks for legs

Instructions:

1. Stack two 16″ x 9″ fabric pieces with right sides together. Sew around edges leaving a 2-3″ opening.

2. Turn right side out, stuff firmly with polyfill, and stitch opening closed.

3. Make accordion folds across the width to form the fan of feathers.

4. Fold the neck down over the body and hot glue in place.

5. Glue on googly eyes and paddle sticks for legs.

Make turkeys in all sizes for a flock of fabric birds decorating your table. Gluing on colorful leaves, berries or tiny pom poms adds fun details.

Napkin Turkey Display Ideas

• Lean the napkin turkeys against stacked books for whimsical height and dimension.

• Display turkeys in a basket, bowl or on a cake stand pedestal.

• Perch turkeys on the edge of plates, glasses or mugs.

• Nestle turkeys in a bed of fresh herbs, wheat grass, pine cones or fall leaves.

• Line the table with fall leaves and scatter folded turkeys in the foliage.

• Arrange groups of 3-5 turkeys together for an impactful statement.

• Mix and match turkeys folded from different patterned napkins.

• Use turkeys as creative placeholders on your Thanksgiving table instead of boring name cards.

Turkey Napkin Folding Tips

• Stick to basic square or round napkins which are easiest to fold.

• Soften stiff paper napkins by ironing or running them under water before folding.

• Use festive fall colored napkins like orange, brown, red and yellow.

• Accent plain napkins by gluing on feathers, leaves or other embellishments.

• Customize each turkey with unique decorative details – glitter, ribbons, buttons, pipe cleaners, foam shapes, wiggly eyes and more.

• Recruit the kids to help fold napkins and add silly personal touches.

• Display your turkeys starting a few days before Thanksgiving to build anticipation and excitement.

With some simple folds and creative embellishments, you can transform ordinary napkins into an adorable flock of folded turkey napkins perfect for sprucing up your Thanksgiving table. Let your imagination run wild dreaming up ways to make each turkey unique. Your guests will gobble up these playful napkin turkeys!