Credits and Resources:
Design: Lindy van der Merwe/Traditional/Unknown
Text-Only Instructions - copyright 2025 by Lindy van der Merwe
accessorigami.com
Paper to be used: 10 squares - any kind of paper should work for this model, though very smooth, shiny paper may cause your units to disassemble themselves more easily, in which case you might need glue for the sake of durability.
If you don't like using glue, normal colored origami or craft paper should work fine.
Folding level: Easy/Beginner
Steps: 16
Description and more information:
There are a myriad of origami wreaths and wreath-like models, so, of course, this is only a fairly simple design. It uses square paper, but there are many wreaths using rectangular sheets as well.
With wreaths and stars, the type, size and ratio of rectangles may often make a big difference to the end result.
Not being able to find clear instructions for a wreath that would be easy to fold and that would actually stay together without glue, I am hoping the design as described in the text instructions below should satisfy both these requirements.
Folded from 10 squares, it holds well together so no glue is needed for light use.
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.
This is a flat, two-dimensional wreath, with 10 triangular points forming the outline, while the inside of the figure seems rounded and open, hence the model's likeness to a wreath as opposed to a star.
You can use 1 or 2 colors for this wreath. If using 2 colors, make sure you alternate them, so that they will make a nice pattern.
Remarks:
Wreaths are always beautiful to fold for many different occasions, including religious holidays like Christmas,as new seasons arrive or just for fun throughout the year.
You can use colors like silver, gold, red, green or blue and tie with matching ribbon to hang the wreaths on a door or around the house.
Use on cards or as decorations on gifts.
Make as a project with children and decorate with glitter, sequence or any other embellishments if preferred.
Glue the shape onto a card or other base to make a photo frame or coaster.
If you are using two-sided paper, make sure that the side you want for the outside of the wreath is facing down before you start to fold.
Note that, in the instructions below, the correct positioning of the model during both the folding and assembly process is very important, so take extra care to orient your paper correctly for each step.
PHASE 1: CREATING THE UNITS
You will be folding 10 similar units to form your wreath.
Step 1
Place a square down with its edges left and right, top and bottom.
Step 2
Fold the top edge to meet the bottom edge. Crease and leave folded.
Step 3
Fold the bottom edge, the top layer only, up to meet the top edge. Crease and leave folded.
Step 4
Flip the unit over from left to right so you have a rectangle with a smooth surface.
Step 5
Fold the bottom left and right corners diagonally upwards and inwards so they meet each other along the center of the rectangle.
The result will be a triangle, made up of 2 smaller triangles, that will be pointing towards you.
Step 6
Fold the small corners that you will find on the left and right side, near the top of the unit, diagonally inwards so they fold over the larger triangles.
Step 7
Close the upsidedown triangle by bringing the left edge over to meet the right.
Crease well and leave folded.
Step 8
Rotate the model slightly to the right, so that the long edge of the resulting triangle is nearest you in a horizontal position.
The small triangle will be on the left and the larger diagonal shape will be on the right.
This completes the basic folded unit.
Phase 2: Fold more similar units
Repeat steps 1 to 8 9 more times so you have 10 similarly shaped units to work with.
If using 2 colors, group your units accordingly and make sure to place them all in the orientation described in Step 8 above.
Step 9
Explanation:
First look at one of your folded units.
* Think of the entire unit as a mountain with a blanket of snow hanging over its right side.
* Put in another way, your unit should be placed that its bottom edge is nearest you, forming a straight, horizontal line.
* On the left will be a small triangle and on the right, the rectangle with its point toward the right.
* Each unit is closed or hinged on the left and is open on the right.
* On the right, each unit has 2 separate, sharp points.
* If you see the unit as a mountain, there is a line separating the small left triangle and the larger part, the snow, on the right.
* Coming from the left corner, you will find a diagonal pocket where the 2 parts meet. This is where the point of another unit will be inserted.
* All will become clearer as you start the next phase.
Phase 3: Assembling your model
Step 10
Take your first unit and hold it in your left hand as indicated in Step 8 above.
Step 11
Take unit 2 in your right hand, so it is in exactly the same orientation as unit 1.
Step 12
Now, slightly open the points on the right of unit 1 and slide unit 2 to the left and over these points.
You might need to first open the diagonal pockets of unit 2 before doing the sliding motion.
Put in another way, the points of unit 1 will disappear under the snowy part of unit 2.
Step 13
Once you feel the 2 units sliding together, press unit 2 all the way to the left as far as it will go.
This will ensure they won't easily disassemble themselves.
You will know you have done it correctly if you can feel almost no movement between the units.
Step 14
Rotate your figure to the left so the last unit is horizontal, ready for the next unit to be added from the right.
Step 15
Continue adding units until you are able to connect unit 10 with unit 1.
Don't worry if the units seem to overlap each other as your circle grows. You can simply press the end of the circle where you started down and insert the last 2 or 3 units above it.
If your first and last units seem to overlap, gently push all the units in the circle towards the center, until you feel that the overlap becomes smaller.
You might have to force the circle a little to get the last unit fitted. This won't be a problem once all units are set.
It will actually ensure your wreath stays closed.
Step 16
To ensure all is well, check all the points by holding one in your left hand and pressing the one next to it to the left until it stops moving.
Make sure the points are inserted into both the back and front of the wreath.
Ruby's Wreath is ready for use.
Making origami accessible through text-based instructions.
For non-commercial use only.
Compiled by Lindy van der Merwe, May 2025
This text copyright 2025 by accessorigami.com
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