MDL0028 - ORIGAMI - SEED PACKET SQUARE

Text-Only Instructions

Credits and Resources:

Unfortunately, the original link for this model seems to no longer be available.

If you are aware of any other source where this model or similar might be listed, please let me know so I can reference it under this heading.

Paper to be used: Rectangular, any size; A4 copy paper will work well, to practice with at first.

Folding level: Easy/Beginner

Steps: 11

Description:  This is a fairly secure, square, flat pouch or packet,  which is folded closed on all sides in order to hold small objects like seeds, or powdery stuff like bath salts, sherbet, etc.

Its finished size will depend on the size of the paper you are using, of course.

If folded from printer or copy paper, the finished pouch, will be around 4 inches or 10 cm.

Remarks:

This pouch/packet can be used in scrap books, on top of gifts, for enclosing cards, notes, photos, money, any small, flat objects and even seeds and powders.

For a special, small, personalized gift, fold this packet from decorative or colored paper and fill with seeds, bath salts, jewelry or other small trinkets.

Alternatively, a note can simply be folded into this model and decorated for a quick children's project or a personal touch.

Also, no glue or tape is needed, which is great when you need some kind of secure pouch or packet on the fly.

If using two-sided paper, lay your paper with the patterned or colored side down before starting to fold.

Step 1

Place a rectangular piece of paper down on a hard, flat surface, with the short edges at the left and right, or in landscape orientation.

Step 2 

Bring the bottom edge of the model up toward the top, stopping just short of the top edge. Leave a narrow strip of paper, around half an inch wide, visible at this edge. Crease and leave folded.                                                                      

You will not have an edge or a fold line as a guide to position your fold for this step. Just do the best you can by feeling along the entire top edge of the model in order to ensure that your fold is as straight as possible. You can also feel the left and right top edges of the rectangle to make sure they are as similar as possible. I have found that this type of fold does become easier and more accurate with practice, making it possible to fold fairly straight.

Step 3

Bring the top edge of the model down so that the narrow strip left at the top in Step 2 is now folded over. Crease and leave folded. 

Here you will have the edge you created in the previous step as a guide.

Step 4

Fold the top edge of the model downward once again, using the width of the strip folded down in Step 3 as a guide. This strip and the previous one should be the same width. Crease and leave folded.

You will now have a long rectangular piece of paper that has been closed at the top by a narrow strip that has been folded down twice.

Step 5

Turn the model over, like turning the page of a book, and make sure the band folded over in Steps 3-4 is still at the top. 

Step 6

Bring the upper left point of the model down so that the left edge comes to lie completely along the bottom edge. Crease and leave folded.

You will now have  created a triangular flap on the left side of the model and a narrow, vertical strip will have formed just next to the triangular flap.

Step 7

Flip the vertical strip of paper and the triangle next to it over to the right.

This fold should be done by treating the vertical strip like the center of a book, which you should simply close or fold over on itself.

Press flat along the left side of your model.

The outline of your model will once again be a long, two-layered rectangle, with an extra triangle lying on top of it, along its left and part of its bottom edge.

Step 8

Next, fold the right edge of the model over to meet its left edge. 

Crease well along the right side of the paper and leave folded.

Your model will now have a more or less square shape with the narrow band once again visible along the top edge of the pouch.

Step 9

Open the last fold again to reveal the triangular flap you created in Step 7.

Think of your model as now being divided into three separate areas from left to right.

Section A is a triangle with a narrow vertical band at its right; Sections B and C are two squares divided by a vertical crease line.

Step 10

To complete and close your seed packet, tuck the triangular flap on the left (Section A) into the pocket on the right (Section C).

Make sure to tuck the triangle as well as the vertical strip in all the way.

Recrease on both sides.

Step 11

To use:

Open your seed packet into a long envelope by grabbing the folded band at the top left corner of the model and pull to the right. Make sure to keep the triangular flap folded on the left.

Use the large opening on the right of the envelope to fill the center of the pouch (Section B) with seeds, bath salts, candies or trinkets etc and close securely as described in Step 10 above.

The same opening is also used to pour your seeds or bath salts or to remove the contents of your packet.

If possible, explain to or show the recipient how the model opens and closes, or include a note with the model that includes the contents and the aforementioned information.

Making origami accessible to visually impaired crafters through text instructions.

for non-commercial use only.

Compiled by Lindy van der Merwe - December 2014

Revised: October 2022

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