Beautifully folded napkins set the scene for a holiday meal to remember. For best results, start with clean, pressed linen or cotton napkins. Be sure to starch them, and press each fold as you work. If you're expecting a sizable crowd for dinner, start your folding early.

Also called the water lily or the artichoke, this fold will be familiar to anyone who has ever made a paper fortune teller. The center provides the perfect spot to place a dinner roll, party favor, or place card.

Give your guests something pleasant to behold -- and unroll -- with this striking contemporary napkin fold.

This napkin fold, favored by the famous French chef August Escoffier, is one of several for presenting individual rolls.

Tuck silverware neatly into napkin pockets for an elegant appearance.

The open book fold is pretty with both bordered napkins and plain-edged ones. Each "jacket" holds a menu and place card for the holiday meal.

Tall folds are a clever way to make a crowded table seem less so.

A napkin in an accordion fold, also known as a stemware fold, is an artful accent to the holiday table. Fold the pleats in half as shown, insert the bottom into a glass, and then fan out the top pleats.

When dinner is served, napkins should unfold easily, without snapping or jerking. (If a napkin is particularly large, etiquette experts advise opening it only halfway so it will fit neatly across your lap.)

This simple design is among the easiest to do, and the folded napkins stack well. Treats or a place card can be tucked inside.

These three elegant napkin folds are easy to create, but your guests will never know.