Text-Only Instructions -
Credits and Resources:
This is a traditional model.
See, for example,
wikihow.com
Folding level: Intermediate
Paper to be used: Rectangular - this note will only work with a sheet of 8.5 x 11 inch paper (or A4 paper cut to 210 x 271 mm).
It will help if the paper is not too thick; thin paper will be easier to fold into this fairly small shape.
Steps: 10
Description: This is one of the many ways to fold an ordinary rectangular piece of paper into an interesting shape.
This note is not only one of the smallest notes around, but it has a beautiful pinwheel motif on one side and is smooth on the other.
It is the ultimate way to fold a small, secure note in classrooms everywhere.
Very small objects can be hidden within the 4 folded triangles of the note or write something on each flap.
Remarks:
This envelope can be used in scrap books, on top of gifts, for enclosing cards, notes, money, any small, flat object.
The model is quite secure as long as you do not fill it with things that are heavy or bulky.
Alternatively, a note can simply be folded into this model and decorated for a quick children's project or a personal touch.
Fold 24 notes from large squares to make a unique advent calendar.
If using two-sided paper, lay your paper with the patterned or colored side down before starting to fold.
Step 1
Place your paper with the short sides top and bottom, or in the portrait orientation.
Step 2
Fold the left edge over to meet the right to form a vertical center crease.
Keep folded.
Step 3
Repeat the same fold once more so you will end up with a long, narrow strip of paper that is four layers thick.
Step 4
Position the paper so the long strip lies in front of you from left to right.
It does not matter if the raw edges are at the top or bottom.
Step 5
Fold and unfold the strip by bringing the left edge over to meet the right edge.
You would like to create a fold line to mark the vertical center of the strip.
Step 6
Fold a triangle over on each corner but in opposite directions.
So, fold the top left corner down at a 45 degree angle and crease well while folding the top right corner up at a similar angle.
Put in another way, bring the left, short edge of the strip diagonally down and to the right to meet the bottom of the strip.
On the right, bring the right, short edge diagonally up and to the left to meet the top edge of the strip.
Result: You will have an extremely long paralellogram.
If you start at the center of the strip and move left, you will find a folded-over triangle with its sharp point at the bottom left of the strip;
if you start at the center of the strip and move right, you will find another folded-over triangle, but this one will have its sharp point at the top right of the strip.
Step 7
Next, you are going to make two more opposite folds with the folded triangles.
This time, keeping the left triangle folded, fold it inwards and down and over the strip so it comes to rest at the bottom of the strip.
Put in another way, focus on the triangle on the left. It's edge nearest the center of the strip will be vertical.
Take the triangle and fold it diagonally downwards and to the right so that it folds completely over the strip and the vertical edge becomes horizontal. The edge should line up with the bottom, horizontal edge of the strip itself.
The triangle that was at the left end of the strip will now have changed position. It will actually now lie at the bottom left of the strip.
It is a bit like folding a book closed, but in a diagonal and downward direction.
Result: You will now have a long, diamond-shaped fold on the left of your strip.
The surface of the diamond will be smooth and it will seem to be at a slight angle in relation to the strip itself.
If you lift up the bottom point of the diamond, you will find that the triangle that was facing you in Step 6, will now face the table.
Step 8
Repeat this fold on the right side, but in the opposite direction.
So, keeping the right triangle folded, fold it away from you and up and across the strip so it comes to rest at the top of the strip.
Result: You will now have a long, diamond-shaped fold on the top right of your strip.
Looking at the entire strip, You will now have a rectangle at the horizontal center with a skinny diamond shape on each side, one pointing to the left and down and the other pointing to the right and up.
If you were to think of this shape in terms of 3 braille characters, you would have on the left, dots 3-5, at the center, dots 2-5, and on the right, the letter i or dots 2-4.
If you start at the bottom left, it is like walking up a staircase, then on a flat walkway, followed by another upwards staircase on the right.
Step 9
Explanation
Notice that you have a smooth piece of paper, the walkway, at the very center of the strip. You will now fold the left and right sides of the model straight over so the triangles will meet each other to cover the center of the strip.
Depending on how accurate you have folded and if you have the correct A4-sized paper, the space left open at the center of the strip should be a square.
If it is a rectangle, your secret note will not close properly.
This is a kind of flip fold, where you take the staircase on the left and flip it over to the right, using the vertical line just where the staircase ends.
Do the same with the top staircase on the right.
As you make the flip folds from the left and right, you should find that you have two triangles meeting each other across the center square.
Looking at what were the staircases, the smooth surface should now be hidden and you will once again discover the very first triangle you folded, this time at a point nearest you on the left and on the right, you will find the first triangle you folded on that side, at a point furthest away from you.
In fact, what was the left, bottom staircase will now look like two triangles forming a diamond shape on the left bottom of your model and there will be a similar diamond shape, made of two triangles on the top right.
Step 10
Now, consider that your model has three parts:
First,the center square that is made up of two triangles that should meet each other perfectly with a diagonal fold line running from top left to bottom right.
Second, a triangle at the top, sloping to the top left; and
Third, a similar triangle at the bottom, sloping to the bottom right.
To close your secret square:
Fold the top triangle down over the center square, tucking it into the diagonal fold nearest it and then repeat with the remaining bottom triangle.
Make sure you find the correct pocket for this last triangle.
Your secret note square is complete.
You will know it has been folded correctly if you have a small square with one smooth side and on the other side there should be 4 triangular flaps or pockets that all face in the same direction, resembling a pinwheel.
Making origami accessible to visually impaired crafters through text instructions.
for non-commercial use only.
Compiled by Lindy van der Merwe, February 2024
This text copyright 2024 by accessorigami.com
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