How to make an origami bracelet
Origami Bracelet: try all 18 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
Fold one square into a patterned bracelet with a diamond band and a two-pocket end lock. Fourteen narrow pleats make the band; its upper and lower tips tuck into the opposite pocket halves together. No cuts or glue.
- You need
- One 18 cm square of thin paper with a colored face and a white back, plus a ruler for the guide marks. No cuts or glue.
- Start
- Begin with one 18 cm square, colored side up, with a corner pointing up. Divide the top-to-bottom diagonal into sixteen equal intervals with a ruler. The pleats run parallel to the horizontal diagonal.
Your model is ready
Your bracelet is finished. Both halves of its free end sit inside the opposite pockets. Keep both pockets tucked when putting it on or taking it off.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–7
- 1
Find the horizontal diagonal
Bring the top point to the bottom point, press, and open. Keep this middle crease flat throughout the pleating.
- 2
Find the vertical diagonal
Bring the left point to the right point, press, and open. Use this diagonal to locate the sixteen equal intervals before folding the parallel pleats.
- 3
Upper pleat 1
Work inward from the top corner. Fold the gathered end forward across guide 1, keeping its collected layers together. Leave the horizontal middle crease open.
- 4
Upper pleat 2
Work inward from the top corner. Fold the gathered end behind across guide 2, keeping its collected layers together. Leave the horizontal middle crease open.
- 5
Upper pleat 3
Work inward from the top corner. Fold the gathered end forward across guide 3, keeping its collected layers together. Leave the horizontal middle crease open.
- 6
Upper pleat 4
Work inward from the top corner. Fold the gathered end behind across guide 4, keeping its collected layers together. Leave the horizontal middle crease open.
- 7
Upper pleat 5
Work inward from the top corner. Fold the gathered end forward across guide 5, keeping its collected layers together. Leave the horizontal middle crease open.
Steps 8–14
- 8
Upper pleat 6
Work inward from the top corner. Fold the gathered end behind across guide 6, keeping its collected layers together. Leave the horizontal middle crease open.
- 9
Upper pleat 7
Work inward from the top corner. Fold the gathered end forward across guide 7, keeping its collected layers together. Leave the horizontal middle crease open.
- 10
Lower pleat 1
Work inward from the bottom corner. Fold the gathered end forward across guide 1, keeping its collected layers together. Leave the horizontal middle crease open.
- 11
Lower pleat 2
Work inward from the bottom corner. Fold the gathered end behind across guide 2, keeping its collected layers together. Leave the horizontal middle crease open.
- 12
Lower pleat 3
Work inward from the bottom corner. Fold the gathered end forward across guide 3, keeping its collected layers together. Leave the horizontal middle crease open.
- 13
Lower pleat 4
Work inward from the bottom corner. Fold the gathered end behind across guide 4, keeping its collected layers together. Leave the horizontal middle crease open.
- 14
Lower pleat 5
Work inward from the bottom corner. Fold the gathered end forward across guide 5, keeping its collected layers together. Leave the horizontal middle crease open.
Steps 15–18
- 15
Lower pleat 6
Work inward from the bottom corner. Fold the gathered end behind across guide 6, keeping its collected layers together. Leave the horizontal middle crease open.
- 16
Lower pleat 7
Work inward from the bottom corner. Fold the gathered end forward across guide 7, keeping its collected layers together. Leave the horizontal middle crease open.
- 17
Bring the band into a ring
Bring the two pointed ends around to meet. Overlap them by one quarter of the band’s length, forming twelve short flat sections around the ring. Keep the pattern outside.
- 18
Tuck both halves of the end
Open the two pocket halves at the opposite point. Slide the upper and lower halves of the free point between their matching skins together. Ease the pleats, then press both pockets closed while keeping the ring shape.
- ✓
Finish
Your bracelet is finished. Both halves of its free end sit inside the opposite pockets. Keep both pockets tucked when putting it on or taking it off.
Fold next
Witch hat ↗
Fold the traditional flat witch’s hat from one square. Two corner folds form the pointed crown, while the doubled lower band makes a broad brim. This is a flat paper decoration.
Crane ↗
The crane begins with a square base. Two petal folds turn it into a bird base with separate points for the neck and tail; the broad flaps become the wings. Work through one side of the body before repeating the narrowing folds on the back.
Swan ↗
The traditional kite-base swan, with a pointed tail, a long neck and a small head.
Flapping bird ↗
The traditional action bird: broad wings, a downturned beak and a pointed tail that makes the wings flap.