Credits and Resources:
Designer: Lindy van der Merwe
Text-Only Instructions - Copyright 2024 by Lindy van der Merwe
accessorigami.com
Dedication: This flower is for a friend.
Origami has brightened our world with fragrant flowers that always bloom and stars that shine beyond this finite time and space.
Steps: 25
Folding level: Easy/Beginner
Description and more information:
This flower is assembled from 8 units folded from square paper.
All units are folded in exactly the same way.
This model is a medium-sized, flat modular flower with eight petals. On one side, the model is star-like, with various points or petals radiating out from the center in a swirling motif.
The opposite side is much smoother with the eight outer petals peeking from underneath the rounded border.
The flower holds together well with no glue and makes a beautiful decoration or display.
Paper to be used: Speciality origami paper or colored paper of a medium thickness is recommended.
You can use alternating colors if preferred, make your flower from only one color or go to the other extreme and create a multi-colored flower, as long as the squares you choose are all the same size.
All folds should be made as valley folds unless a mountain fold is explicitly indicated in the instructions below.
Phase 1 - Folding the module
NOTE: This model starts from the Waterbomb or Balloon Base.
If you are able to achieve this without instructions, fold the base, then go to Step 9.
You can also learn about the Waterbomb and other origami bases at the following link:
https://www.accessorigami.com/p/introduction-to-folds-and-bases-used-in.html
Step 1
Position a square of paper on your work surface so that its edges are facing up and down, left and right.
Step 2
Bring the left edge over to meet the right edge. Crease and unfold.
Step 3
Bring the top edge down to meet the bottom edge. Crease and unfold.
Step 4
Turn the paper over and position the square so that its points are facing up and down, left and right.
Step 5
Bring the left point over to meet the right point. Crease and unfold.
Step 6
Bring the top point down to meet the bottom point. Crease and leave folded.
Step 7
Grasp the resulting triangle at its left and right sides and push inward. The folds you made previously should allow the model to collapse into a triangular shape with one folded flap sticking out towards the front of the model and one sticking out towards the back.
Step 8
Fold the front flap to the left and fold the back flap to the right so that your model will lie flat.
The model will have one open end, which will be facing you.
Step 9
Rotate the model sideways, so that its closed point is to the left with 2 of its flaps pointing up and 2 down.
Step 10
Working with the top flap, grasp the top corner of the triangle, front layer only, and fold it downwards and to the right, so the top edge meets the horizontal center of the model.
Starting at the left, closed point, make a nice, even crease.
Result: The top edge of the triangle will come down to lie straight along the horizontal center crease to form a long, skinny triangle with a point that will extend past the right side of the model.
Step 11
Working with the bottom flap, grasp the bottom corner of the triangle, front layer only, and fold it upwards and to the right, so the bottom edge meets the horizontal center of the model.
Starting at the left, closed point, make a nice, even crease.
Result: The bottom edge of the triangle will come up to lie straight along the horizontal center crease to form a long, skinny triangle with a point that will extend past the right side of the model.
Step 12
Now, rotate the figure so its closed point is nearest you.
Result: The center of the unit will comprise a kite shape made up of two long triangles that are positioned along the vertical center of the unit.
Step 13
Two small triangles will extend above the top edge of the figure.
Gently lift the long triangles away from the folding surface a little, to reveal the single-layered straight edge underneath.
Tuck the two small, pointy triangles so they disappear over this edge to come to rest on the inside of the unit.
You are aiming to use these triangles to lock the layers of the unit together, so make sure they are tucked over the single-layered edge just mentioned.
Result: The bottom edge of the unit will now be straight and the two larger triangles will be secured, forming the slit we will be using shortly.
Step 14
Rotate the unit 180 degrees so that its pointy end is now facing away from you.
The straight edge will be nearest you.
Step 15
Notice that two large triangles will be peeking out from behind the two tall center triangles.
Lift up your model and, using a mountain fold, swing the left triangle towards the back, around to the right.
Result: The two tall triangles with the slit will now be on the left while the two two-layered large triangles will be lying on top of each other, stretched out on the right.
Your unit is finished. You can set it aside as is or for extra neatness, place it under a heavy book.
Phase 2 - Folding more modules.
Make 7 more of these units.
Explanation
Before moving on to assembly of your flower, make sure you have 8 modules that are all folded in the same way.
With the long, straight edge nearest you, note the following for each unit:
*1 On the left, you will find the two tall triangles with a slit that divides them from top to bottom.
*2 The slit will serve as a pocket, which will always be accessed from the right side.
*3 On the right, there will be two large two-layered triangles.
*4 These triangles will have their points folded over to lock the units in place.
*5 Don't worry, it will make sense once you start doing the assembly.
Let's start:
Phase 3 - Assembly
Step 16
Make sure your first unit is placed with the long, straight edge nearest you. The vertical slit will run from top to bottom.
Step 17
Orient your second unit in exactly the same way and place it just to the right of unit 1.
Step 18
Slide the left point of unit 2 at an angle into the slit of unit 1 as far as it will go.
Make sure to pull the new unit towards the center of the figure, so that it won't be able to move once it has been settled.
Step 19
Holding the two units together on the left, slide your finger from the top point of the figure downwards along the far right edge of the entire shape until you find two fairly small points that seem to be protruding from behind the assembly.
Step 20
Grasp both small points and fold them towards you and slightly downwards.
They should hug the side of unit 2, locking it in place.
Make a strong crease.
Your two units should not move when trying to pull them lightly by their sides.
Step 21
Turn the assembly of the 2 units slightly to the left, so you have the last unit placed in front of you vertically with its long edge nearest you again.
Step 22
You can now add unit 3 in the same way as you did unit 2, each time following the steps above, and remembering to turn the figure to the left and adding the new units on the right.
Step 23
Continue like this until you have united unit 8 with unit 1, always making sure that you slide the new unit in all the way and securing the model on the side, by folding over the small points as mentioned above.
Step 24
A rounded shape will start to form as you add units.
Note that you might have to bring unit 1 from underneath unit 8 in order for the two to be joined.
Once the last unit is joined to the first, the circle will be closed.
Step 25
Once all folds have been completed on this side of your flower, make sure all flaps are symmetrical and neatly tucked in on both sides of the model.
Your Modular Flower is done.
You can now pick it up without it falling apart.
For a neat appearance and a model that holds well together, place your units and/or the finished modular creation under a heavy book for a few hours.
Feel free to experiment with variations of these units and different ways of assembly.
It will give you an excellent start if you would like to design your own models.
Making origami accessible through text-only instructions.
For non-commercial use only.
Compiled by Lindy van der Merwe, September 2024
This text copyright 2025 by accessorigami.com
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