How to make an origami lotus
Origami Lotus: try all 24 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
A multi-tiered Origami Tutor origami lotus with two rounds of front blintz folds, a rear blintz, folded outer sepals, and four raised center petals.
- You need
- One large square of thin, soft paper or a square napkin. No glue or scissors.
- Start
- Start white side up, with a corner pointing up. Use a large square of thin, soft paper so the later petals can turn out without tearing.
- Tips
- Keep every corner exactly at the center during each round.
- Use soft paper; do not force a thick corner when turning a petal out.
Your model is ready
Your origami lotus is ready. Gently lift each of the four center petals until they cup upwards inside the surrounding tiers of the blossom.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–7
- 1
Find the middle across
Fold the top corner to the bottom corner, press, and open.
- 2
Find the middle lengthwise
Fold the left corner to the right corner, press, and open.
- 3
Fold the top corner in
Bring the top corner to the center, where the two creases cross.
- 4
Fold the right corner in
Bring the right corner to the center.
- 5
Fold the bottom corner in
Bring the bottom corner to the center.
- 6
Fold the left corner in
Bring the left corner to the center.
- 7
Fold corner 1 in (second)
Bring the top left corner to the center, taking its folded layers together.
Steps 8–14
- 8
Fold corner 2 in (second)
Bring the top right corner to the center, taking its folded layers together.
- 9
Fold corner 3 in (second)
Bring the bottom right corner to the center, taking its folded layers together.
- 10
Fold corner 4 in (second)
Bring the bottom left corner to the center, taking its folded layers together.
- 11
Turn over
Turn the small square over before folding the back corners.
- 12
Fold corner 1 in (back)
Bring the top left corner to the center, taking its folded layers together.
- 13
Fold corner 2 in (back)
Bring the top right corner to the center, taking its folded layers together.
- 14
Fold corner 3 in (back)
Bring the bottom right corner to the center, taking its folded layers together.
Steps 15–21
- 15
Fold corner 4 in (back)
Bring the bottom left corner to the center, taking its folded layers together.
- 16
Turn out the top sepal
Fold the top flap's tip back out to form the first outer sepal point.
- 17
Turn out the right sepal
Fold the right flap's tip back out the same way.
- 18
Turn out the bottom sepal
Fold the bottom flap's tip back out.
- 19
Turn out the left sepal
Fold the left flap's tip back out. Four pointed sepals now surround the center.
- 20
Turn over
Turn the model over to the front. Four square flaps meet in the middle.
- 21
Fold the top left petal back
Fold the top left inner corner back outward along its diagonal line.
Steps 22–24
- 22
Fold the top right petal back
Fold the top right inner corner back outward to match.
- 23
Fold the bottom right petal back
Fold the bottom right inner corner back outward.
- 24
Fold the bottom left petal back
Fold the bottom left inner corner back outward. These four points form the central petals.
- ✓
Finish
Your origami lotus is ready. Gently lift each of the four center petals until they cup upwards inside the surrounding tiers of the blossom.
Fold next
Lily / iris ↗
The traditional four-petal lily, also called an iris, folded from a square with a tapered flower cup.
Tulip blossom ↗
The common inflatable paper tulip blossom, folded from a waterbomb base and locked on both sides.
Layered rose ↗
An Origami Tutor modular rose: four red squares, each with its corners raised as petals, nest inside one another, turned so every ring of petals stands between the petals of the ring outside it. The steepest, smallest square closes into the bud, and a pointed green strip makes two leaves underneath.
Tulip stem ↗
A flat Origami Tutor flower stem with a long pointed leaf branching upward from its base. Six ordinary folds turn one green square into a stalk and leaf. No cuts or glue.