MDL0062 - ORIGAMI - COLLAPSIBLE BOX/TWO-POCKET PURSE (FROM A SQUARE)
Text-Only Instructions copyright 2026 by Lindy van der Merwe
Design: Traditional
Instructions with supporting pictures and/or illustrations can be found here at
For another tutorial with a different folding sequence by a fellow folder, visit
MBFF033 - ORIGAMI WALLET OR COLLAPSIBLE BOX (FROM A SQUARE) - available in English and Czech
Paper to be used: Square, any size; a square made from construction, copy or printer paper will work well for this model.
Folding level: Easy/Beginner
Steps: 16
Description: This model is an open, two-pocket purse and if pulled to the sides, it opens up into a nice little box.
Remarks:
This is a great project for children and one that many adults might still remember from their childhood days.
Alternatively, a piece of paper can simply be folded into this model and decorated for a quick children's project or a personal touch.
If you are using two-sided paper, make sure that the side you want for the outside of the model is facing down before you start to fold.
Step 1
Place a square down on a hard, flat surface so the points are facing up and down, left and right, or in a diamond shape.
Step 2
Fold the square point to point in both directions, opening the square each time.
Step 3
Fold the bottom point to the center. Crease. Leave folded.
Step 4
Next, fold up the bottom edge to meet the center of the model.
The point will be covered by a long, skinny rectangle with slanted edges at the left and right sides.
Step 5
Repeat these steps with the top point so you have 2 long, skinny shapes with pointy ends.
Step 6
Fold the model in half by bringing the long bottom edge up to meet the top edge.
Keep folded.
You will have a long, multi-layered, skinny strip now, with ends that slope diagonally into a point.
The closed hinge of this strip will be nearest you.
Step 7
Fold the entire right bottom edge of the strip upwards and inwards, using a valley fold so it comes to rest along the vertical center of the model.
Step 8
Do the same with the bottom left edge.
You will have a shape that resembles two half arrows pointing away from you.
Step 9
Pick up the figure and use a mountain fold to fold the arrows so they disappear over the top edge of the model. Crease well.
You will now have a thick triangle that is flat at the top and pointing towards you, with the points of the half arrows poking out from underneath it on the bottom left and right sides.
Step 10
Unfold the last steps so you have the folded skinny rectangle of Step 6 again.
Rotate the model 180 degrees on the table
The closed hinge of the strip will now be furthest away from you.
Step 11
Repeat Steps 7 to 9.
Step 12
Unfold again, but this time also unfold the skinny strip so it looks like it did in Step 5.
You will have a top and a bottom strip again, with a slit along the horizontal center of the model and new creases that form an x shape at the center of your long, skinny shape.
There will also be two new vertical creases, one on the left and one on the right, which we will use in the next steps.
Step 13
You will now use a squash fold to collapse the left and right sides of the model.
work on the left side first.
13.1 To do this, place a finger at the very center of the model, where the vertical and horizontal creases meet.
Hold the paper flat just to the right of the vertical center while, with your other hand, pressing the flaps that have come together on the horizontal plain away from each other as far as they will go. The side of the model should rise up on the left, standing in an upright
positionforming a sort of petal shape.
During this move, note that you may need to help the two diagonal creases to turn into flat, mountain folds and the first, left vertical crease from the center should turn into a valley fold.
The entire left side of the model should lift into the air along this left vertical valley fold.
Keep pressing the model along the diagonal creases until the wall that has formed starts to fold towards the right until it lies completely flat.
Once flat, you should have a large five-sided shape on the left side of the model with a point to the right.
13.2 Fold the top and bottom points of the five-sided shape up and down so they come to rest on top of the shape itself. The points will almost meet each other.
The outline on the left of the model should now be a rectangular shape or an arrow, if you count the point facing right.
On top of the rectangle, there should be 4 small triangles, 2 slightly thicker ones on the left top and bottom and just next to these, 2 thinner ones.
13.3 Now take the point on the right and fold it left, as far as it will go. It will cover the 4 small triangles and will extend past the left edge of the model.
13.4 Use a mountain fold to fold under the very point on the left so you have a straight left edge. This will only be a small fold since you want the left edge to look neat. So, the bottom layer and the one you have just folded should match each other.
Crease well and leave folded.
Step 14
Now repeat Steps 13.1 to 13.4 on the right side of the model.
You will end up with a shape made up of 2 multi-layered rectangles with a small space between them running from top to bottom.
Step 15
To form your two-pocket purse, pick up the model and fold the left and right sides away from you, using a mountain fold. and then turn the model so the short sides are left and right.
The two pockets are on each side of your model. Gently place a finger inside and pull the pocket nearest you toward you so it can open. You can do the same with the pocket on the opposite side of the purse.
Alternatively, you can also fold the purse so the pockets are on the inside.
Step 16
To form the box, make sure it is folded like described for the purse in the previous step, with the pockets on the outside.
Pick up the model, turning it with the pockets on the left and right, facing you. Place a thumb into each pocket and gently pull your hands apart.
The top and bottom edges will move apart and a nice box will form.
Press along the sides to straighten them.
Simply press the top and bottom sides toward each other to collapse the model into the purse again.
Making origami accessible through text-based instructions.
For non-commercial use only.
Compiled by Lindy van der Merwe, August 2009
Revised: August 2026
This text is copyright 2026 by accessorigami.com and the author.