How to make an origami wreath
Origami Wreath: try all 18 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
A wreath of eight identical units, each one square folded once into a bar. The bars overlap round an octagon, and each one hooks its pointed end behind the next, so the ring holds together without glue.
- You need
- Eight equal squares of thin origami paper, four dark and four light. No glue or scissors.
- Start
- Take eight squares of the same size, four dark green and four light green. Set them in two columns of four, dark on the left and light on the right, all with the same side up.
- Tips
- Crease each bar sharply so its edge shows clearly.
- Alternate dark and light units so each overlap stays easy to see.
- Press each hooked end flat before you move to the next corner.
Your model is ready
Eight bars cross round the ring, each held by the end of its neighbour. Press every corner flat. The finished modular wreath, a ring of eight overlapping bars in two greens.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–7
- 1
Fold the left squares in half
Fold the left edge of each left-hand square over to its right edge, press, and leave each as a bar.
- 2
Fold the right squares in half
Fold the right edge of each right-hand square over to its left edge, press, and leave each as a bar.
- 3
Lay down the first unit
Lay the first bar at the top of the ring.
- 4
Lay unit 2 under unit 1
Slide unit 2 under the end of unit 1 so the two bars cross at a corner of the ring.
- 5
Lay unit 3 under unit 2
Slide unit 3 under the end of unit 2 so the two bars cross at a corner of the ring.
- 6
Lay unit 4 under unit 3
Slide unit 4 under the end of unit 3 so the two bars cross at a corner of the ring.
- 7
Lay unit 5 under unit 4
Slide unit 5 under the end of unit 4 so the two bars cross at a corner of the ring.
Steps 8–14
- 8
Lay unit 6 under unit 5
Slide unit 6 under the end of unit 5 so the two bars cross at a corner of the ring.
- 9
Lay unit 7 under unit 6
Slide unit 7 under the end of unit 6 so the two bars cross at a corner of the ring.
- 10
Lay unit 8 under unit 7
Slide unit 8 under the end of unit 7 so the two bars cross at a corner of the ring.
- 11
Hook the end of unit 1
Fold the pointed end of unit 1 back behind unit 2. The next unit now lies between two layers.
- 12
Hook the end of unit 2
Fold the pointed end of unit 2 back behind unit 3. The next unit now lies between two layers.
- 13
Hook the end of unit 3
Fold the pointed end of unit 3 back behind unit 4. The next unit now lies between two layers.
- 14
Hook the end of unit 4
Fold the pointed end of unit 4 back behind unit 5. The next unit now lies between two layers.
Steps 15–18
- 15
Hook the end of unit 5
Fold the pointed end of unit 5 back behind unit 6. The next unit now lies between two layers.
- 16
Hook the end of unit 6
Fold the pointed end of unit 6 back behind unit 7. The next unit now lies between two layers.
- 17
Hook the end of unit 7
Fold the pointed end of unit 7 back behind unit 8. The next unit now lies between two layers.
- 18
Hook the other end of unit 1
Fold the pointed start of unit 1 back behind unit 8. Now the last unit is held too.
- ✓
Finish
Eight bars cross round the ring, each held by the end of its neighbour. Press every corner flat. The finished modular wreath, a ring of eight overlapping bars in two greens.
Fold next
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