How to make Ocho and Mecho origami butterflies
Ocho and Mecho Origami: try all 12 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
Fold the ceremonial butterfly pair: Ocho, the male, has wing pleats in front; Mecho, the female, has them behind. Both have the same small folded head.
- You need
- Two matching squares of thin paper for the pair, one for each butterfly. Ceremonial display may add a separate mizuhiki tie.
- Start
- Start with a square, one corner pointing up. Plain white paper suits the classical ceremonial form. Put the colored side up if using two-color paper. These steps make Ocho. For Mecho, use a second square: skip “Show the front”, fold the wing pleats, then turn over just before “Lift the small head”.
- Tips
- Open each guide crease completely before marking the next one.
- The small difference is the side of the wing pleats: front for Ocho and back for Mecho. Move the turn-over; keep the same wing and head folds.
Your model is ready
Press the little head pleat flat. Keep the central point above the two narrow wings. For Mecho, repeat on a second square, moving the turn-over from before the wing pleats to after them. The female butterfly has the smooth middle in front and pleats behind. Display the two together; a separate tie is optional. The classical Ocho butterfly, with its wing pleats in front.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–7
- 1
Mark the middle
Bring the top corner to the bottom corner. Press the middle crease and open flat.
- 2
Mark the first diagonal
Bring the upper right edge to the lower left edge. Press the diagonal and open flat.
- 3
Mark the other diagonal
Bring the upper left edge to the lower right edge. Press the other diagonal and open flat.
- 4
Mark one wing root
Fold along the line through the middle, halfway between the vertical and the left diagonal. Press and open flat.
- 5
Mark the other wing root
Fold along the matching line on the right of the vertical. Press and open flat.
- 6
Turn over
Turn the creased square over, keeping one corner at the top.
- 7
Gather the wings
Hold the upper middle panel still. Gather the lower and side panels along the guides, bringing the two broad wing triangles forward. Press the packet flat with a small triangle above the wings.
Steps 8–12
- 8
Show the front
Turn the broad wings over, keeping the small central triangle at the top.
- 9
Narrow the left wing
Fold the left wing's outer sloping edge to its inner sloping edge. Keep the middle panel flat.
- 10
Narrow the right wing
Fold the right wing's outer sloping edge to its inner sloping edge. Keep the middle panel flat.
- 11
Lift the small head
Fold the bottom point upward across a short horizontal line, making a small triangle over the middle panel.
- 12
Turn the head point down
Fold the small triangle's point down again. Leave a narrow pleat across its base and a little point below it.
- ✓
Finish
Press the little head pleat flat. Keep the central point above the two narrow wings. For Mecho, repeat on a second square, moving the turn-over from before the wing pleats to after them. The female butterfly has the smooth middle in front and pleats behind. Display the two together; a separate tie is optional. The classical Ocho butterfly, with its wing pleats in front.
Fold next
Crane envelope ↗
An Origami Tutor gift envelope decorated with a separate paper crane. A long neck, bent beak, pointed tail and a raised wing make the ornament recognisable.
Noshi ↗
The traditional red-and-white folded wrapper for a noshi, an auspicious Japanese paper decoration attached to celebratory gifts.
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.