How to make a paper fan
Paper Fan: try all 15 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
An Origami Tutor paper fan with twelve radial panels and a rounded rim. One square folds into a doubled leaf, gathers into a narrow packet and opens into a broad half-circle, without cuts or glue.
- You need
- One square of thin two-color paper, a ruler, a pencil and a protractor. No cuts or glue.
- Start
- Start white side up with an edge at the top. After folding the square in half, use a protractor to mark eleven rays, 15° apart, from the middle of the lower edge. All the pleats meet at that point.
- Tips
- Start every radial line at the same lower middle point.
- Use thin paper so the doubled pleats gather easily.
- Leave the pleats slightly folded when you spread the fan.
Your model is ready
Hold the gathered point lightly between your fingers. Keep the rounded leaf open and wave it gently to make a breeze.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–6
- 1
Double the square
Fold the upper edge down to meet the lower edge. Keep the long folded edge at the top.
- 2
Round the left corner
Fold the upper left corner behind through both layers. The line meets the left edge about 3.2 cm above its bottom and the upper edge about 4.5 cm from its left end.
- 3
Round the right corner
Fold the upper right corner behind by the same amount. Keep the two sloping corners equal.
- 4
Close radial pleat 1
From the left edge, use the ray 15° around the lower middle point. Fold the gathered left panels forward over the next wedge, keeping all layers together.
- 5
Close radial pleat 2
From the left edge, use the ray 30° around the lower middle point. Fold the gathered left panels behind over the next wedge, keeping all layers together.
- 6
Close radial pleat 3
From the left edge, use the ray 45° around the lower middle point. Fold the gathered left panels forward over the next wedge, keeping all layers together.
Steps 7–12
- 7
Close radial pleat 4
From the left edge, use the ray 60° around the lower middle point. Fold the gathered left panels behind over the next wedge, keeping all layers together.
- 8
Close radial pleat 5
From the left edge, use the ray 75° around the lower middle point. Fold the gathered left panels forward over the next wedge, keeping all layers together.
- 9
Close radial pleat 6
From the left edge, use the ray 90° around the lower middle point. Fold the gathered left panels behind over the next wedge, keeping all layers together.
- 10
Close radial pleat 7
From the left edge, use the ray 105° around the lower middle point. Fold the gathered left panels forward over the next wedge, keeping all layers together.
- 11
Close radial pleat 8
From the left edge, use the ray 120° around the lower middle point. Fold the gathered left panels behind over the next wedge, keeping all layers together.
- 12
Close radial pleat 9
From the left edge, use the ray 135° around the lower middle point. Fold the gathered left panels forward over the next wedge, keeping all layers together.
Steps 13–15
- 13
Close radial pleat 10
From the left edge, use the ray 150° around the lower middle point. Fold the gathered left panels behind over the next wedge, keeping all layers together.
- 14
Close radial pleat 11
From the left edge, use the ray 165° around the lower middle point. Fold the gathered left panels forward over the next wedge, keeping all layers together.
- 15
Spread the fan
Keep the lower middle point gathered and gently spread both ends. Leave a shallow zigzag in every pleat, with the rounded rim forming a broad half-circle.
- ✓
Finish
Hold the gathered point lightly between your fingers. Keep the rounded leaf open and wave it gently to make a breeze.
Fold next
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King's crown ↗
The traditional four-point paper crown, with a square band.
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