How to make an origami snowflake (modular)
Origami Snowflake (Modular): try all 124 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
An Origami Tutor snowflake of six long, thin points round a white middle. Each point is a narrow kite folded from a small square in seven easy folds. Twelve smaller narrow kites make the side branches; a small folded white cap covers the joined ends.
- You need
- Six 3 × 3 in blue squares, twelve 1 × 1 in blue squares, blue on both sides; one 0.6 in white square; glue.
- Start
- Use six 3 in blue squares for the arms, twelve 1 in blue squares for the branches, and a 0.6 in white square for the middle. Use paper blue on both sides; start each square flat, with a corner pointing up.
- Tips
- Fold every arm the same way so they are all the same length.
- Glue each arm's square end under the white middle as you place it.
Your model is ready
The snowflake is ready. Glue the square ends under the white middle, or glue everything onto a card. The finished snowflake, with its six slender arms and twelve side branches round the small middle.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–7
- 1
Fold the left edge in
On the first square, fold the upper left edge to the middle line, so the top corner becomes the tip of a kite.
- 2
Fold the right edge in
Fold the upper right edge to the middle line too. You have a kite.
- 3
Narrow the left side
Fold the new upper left edge to the middle line, so the kite gets thin.
- 4
Narrow the right side
Fold the new upper right edge to the middle line too. The arm is long and thin.
- 5
Narrow the first arm's lower left edge
Fold the lower left edge to the middle line. The end that joins the centre becomes slender too.
- 6
Narrow the first arm's lower right edge
Fold the lower right edge to the middle line to match.
- 7
Square off the end
Fold the bottom corner behind a little way, so the end that lies at the middle is square.
Steps 8–14
- 8
Fold the second arm's left edge in
Fold the upper left edge to the middle line.
- 9
Fold the second arm's right edge in
Fold the upper right edge to the middle line too.
- 10
Narrow the second arm's left side
Fold the new upper left edge to the middle line.
- 11
Narrow the second arm's right side
Fold the new upper right edge to the middle line.
- 12
Narrow the second arm's lower left edge
Fold the lower left edge to the middle line. The end that joins the centre becomes slender too.
- 13
Narrow the second arm's lower right edge
Fold the lower right edge to the middle line to match.
- 14
Square off the second arm's end
Fold the bottom corner behind.
Steps 15–21
- 15
Fold the third arm's left edge in
Fold the upper left edge to the middle line.
- 16
Fold the third arm's right edge in
Fold the upper right edge to the middle line too.
- 17
Narrow the third arm's left side
Fold the new upper left edge to the middle line.
- 18
Narrow the third arm's right side
Fold the new upper right edge to the middle line.
- 19
Narrow the third arm's lower left edge
Fold the lower left edge to the middle line. The end that joins the centre becomes slender too.
- 20
Narrow the third arm's lower right edge
Fold the lower right edge to the middle line to match.
- 21
Square off the third arm's end
Fold the bottom corner behind.
Steps 22–28
- 22
Fold the fourth arm's left edge in
Fold the upper left edge to the middle line.
- 23
Fold the fourth arm's right edge in
Fold the upper right edge to the middle line too.
- 24
Narrow the fourth arm's left side
Fold the new upper left edge to the middle line.
- 25
Narrow the fourth arm's right side
Fold the new upper right edge to the middle line.
- 26
Narrow the fourth arm's lower left edge
Fold the lower left edge to the middle line. The end that joins the centre becomes slender too.
- 27
Narrow the fourth arm's lower right edge
Fold the lower right edge to the middle line to match.
- 28
Square off the fourth arm's end
Fold the bottom corner behind.
Steps 29–35
- 29
Fold the fifth arm's left edge in
Fold the upper left edge to the middle line.
- 30
Fold the fifth arm's right edge in
Fold the upper right edge to the middle line too.
- 31
Narrow the fifth arm's left side
Fold the new upper left edge to the middle line.
- 32
Narrow the fifth arm's right side
Fold the new upper right edge to the middle line.
- 33
Narrow the fifth arm's lower left edge
Fold the lower left edge to the middle line. The end that joins the centre becomes slender too.
- 34
Narrow the fifth arm's lower right edge
Fold the lower right edge to the middle line to match.
- 35
Square off the fifth arm's end
Fold the bottom corner behind.
Steps 36–42
- 36
Fold the sixth arm's left edge in
Fold the upper left edge to the middle line.
- 37
Fold the sixth arm's right edge in
Fold the upper right edge to the middle line too.
- 38
Narrow the sixth arm's left side
Fold the new upper left edge to the middle line.
- 39
Narrow the sixth arm's right side
Fold the new upper right edge to the middle line.
- 40
Narrow the sixth arm's lower left edge
Fold the lower left edge to the middle line. The end that joins the centre becomes slender too.
- 41
Narrow the sixth arm's lower right edge
Fold the lower right edge to the middle line to match.
- 42
Square off the sixth arm's end
Fold the bottom corner behind.
Steps 43–49
- 43
Fold the first arm's left branch's left edge in
Fold the upper left edge to the middle line, as on the arms.
- 44
Fold the first arm's left branch's right edge in
Fold the upper right edge to the middle line too. The branch is a small kite.
- 45
Narrow the first arm's left branch's left side
Fold the new left edge to the middle line, so the side branch is as slender as the main arm.
- 46
Narrow the first arm's left branch's right side
Fold the new right edge to the middle line too.
- 47
Square off the first arm's left branch's end
Fold the bottom corner behind, a little way in, so the branch has a short square end.
- 48
Fold the first arm's right branch's left edge in
Fold the upper left edge to the middle line, as on the arms.
- 49
Fold the first arm's right branch's right edge in
Fold the upper right edge to the middle line too. The branch is a small kite.
Steps 50–56
- 50
Narrow the first arm's right branch's left side
Fold the new left edge to the middle line, so the side branch is as slender as the main arm.
- 51
Narrow the first arm's right branch's right side
Fold the new right edge to the middle line too.
- 52
Square off the first arm's right branch's end
Fold the bottom corner behind, a little way in, so the branch has a short square end.
- 53
Fold the second arm's left branch's left edge in
Fold the upper left edge to the middle line, as on the arms.
- 54
Fold the second arm's left branch's right edge in
Fold the upper right edge to the middle line too. The branch is a small kite.
- 55
Narrow the second arm's left branch's left side
Fold the new left edge to the middle line, so the side branch is as slender as the main arm.
- 56
Narrow the second arm's left branch's right side
Fold the new right edge to the middle line too.
Steps 57–63
- 57
Square off the second arm's left branch's end
Fold the bottom corner behind, a little way in, so the branch has a short square end.
- 58
Fold the second arm's right branch's left edge in
Fold the upper left edge to the middle line, as on the arms.
- 59
Fold the second arm's right branch's right edge in
Fold the upper right edge to the middle line too. The branch is a small kite.
- 60
Narrow the second arm's right branch's left side
Fold the new left edge to the middle line, so the side branch is as slender as the main arm.
- 61
Narrow the second arm's right branch's right side
Fold the new right edge to the middle line too.
- 62
Square off the second arm's right branch's end
Fold the bottom corner behind, a little way in, so the branch has a short square end.
- 63
Fold the third arm's left branch's left edge in
Fold the upper left edge to the middle line, as on the arms.
Steps 64–70
- 64
Fold the third arm's left branch's right edge in
Fold the upper right edge to the middle line too. The branch is a small kite.
- 65
Narrow the third arm's left branch's left side
Fold the new left edge to the middle line, so the side branch is as slender as the main arm.
- 66
Narrow the third arm's left branch's right side
Fold the new right edge to the middle line too.
- 67
Square off the third arm's left branch's end
Fold the bottom corner behind, a little way in, so the branch has a short square end.
- 68
Fold the third arm's right branch's left edge in
Fold the upper left edge to the middle line, as on the arms.
- 69
Fold the third arm's right branch's right edge in
Fold the upper right edge to the middle line too. The branch is a small kite.
- 70
Narrow the third arm's right branch's left side
Fold the new left edge to the middle line, so the side branch is as slender as the main arm.
Steps 71–77
- 71
Narrow the third arm's right branch's right side
Fold the new right edge to the middle line too.
- 72
Square off the third arm's right branch's end
Fold the bottom corner behind, a little way in, so the branch has a short square end.
- 73
Fold the fourth arm's left branch's left edge in
Fold the upper left edge to the middle line, as on the arms.
- 74
Fold the fourth arm's left branch's right edge in
Fold the upper right edge to the middle line too. The branch is a small kite.
- 75
Narrow the fourth arm's left branch's left side
Fold the new left edge to the middle line, so the side branch is as slender as the main arm.
- 76
Narrow the fourth arm's left branch's right side
Fold the new right edge to the middle line too.
- 77
Square off the fourth arm's left branch's end
Fold the bottom corner behind, a little way in, so the branch has a short square end.
Steps 78–84
- 78
Fold the fourth arm's right branch's left edge in
Fold the upper left edge to the middle line, as on the arms.
- 79
Fold the fourth arm's right branch's right edge in
Fold the upper right edge to the middle line too. The branch is a small kite.
- 80
Narrow the fourth arm's right branch's left side
Fold the new left edge to the middle line, so the side branch is as slender as the main arm.
- 81
Narrow the fourth arm's right branch's right side
Fold the new right edge to the middle line too.
- 82
Square off the fourth arm's right branch's end
Fold the bottom corner behind, a little way in, so the branch has a short square end.
- 83
Fold the fifth arm's left branch's left edge in
Fold the upper left edge to the middle line, as on the arms.
- 84
Fold the fifth arm's left branch's right edge in
Fold the upper right edge to the middle line too. The branch is a small kite.
Steps 85–91
- 85
Narrow the fifth arm's left branch's left side
Fold the new left edge to the middle line, so the side branch is as slender as the main arm.
- 86
Narrow the fifth arm's left branch's right side
Fold the new right edge to the middle line too.
- 87
Square off the fifth arm's left branch's end
Fold the bottom corner behind, a little way in, so the branch has a short square end.
- 88
Fold the fifth arm's right branch's left edge in
Fold the upper left edge to the middle line, as on the arms.
- 89
Fold the fifth arm's right branch's right edge in
Fold the upper right edge to the middle line too. The branch is a small kite.
- 90
Narrow the fifth arm's right branch's left side
Fold the new left edge to the middle line, so the side branch is as slender as the main arm.
- 91
Narrow the fifth arm's right branch's right side
Fold the new right edge to the middle line too.
Steps 92–98
- 92
Square off the fifth arm's right branch's end
Fold the bottom corner behind, a little way in, so the branch has a short square end.
- 93
Fold the sixth arm's left branch's left edge in
Fold the upper left edge to the middle line, as on the arms.
- 94
Fold the sixth arm's left branch's right edge in
Fold the upper right edge to the middle line too. The branch is a small kite.
- 95
Narrow the sixth arm's left branch's left side
Fold the new left edge to the middle line, so the side branch is as slender as the main arm.
- 96
Narrow the sixth arm's left branch's right side
Fold the new right edge to the middle line too.
- 97
Square off the sixth arm's left branch's end
Fold the bottom corner behind, a little way in, so the branch has a short square end.
- 98
Fold the sixth arm's right branch's left edge in
Fold the upper left edge to the middle line, as on the arms.
Steps 99–105
- 99
Fold the sixth arm's right branch's right edge in
Fold the upper right edge to the middle line too. The branch is a small kite.
- 100
Narrow the sixth arm's right branch's left side
Fold the new left edge to the middle line, so the side branch is as slender as the main arm.
- 101
Narrow the sixth arm's right branch's right side
Fold the new right edge to the middle line too.
- 102
Square off the sixth arm's right branch's end
Fold the bottom corner behind, a little way in, so the branch has a short square end.
- 103
Add the second arm
Set the next arm round the middle, turned a sixth of the way round from the last one, with its thin point outward.
- 104
Add the third arm
Set the next arm round the middle, turned a sixth of the way round from the last one, with its thin point outward.
- 105
Add the fourth arm
Set the next arm round the middle, turned a sixth of the way round from the last one, with its thin point outward.
Steps 106–112
- 106
Add the fifth arm
Set the next arm round the middle, turned a sixth of the way round from the last one, with its thin point outward.
- 107
Add the sixth arm
Set the next arm round the middle, turned a sixth of the way round from the last one, with its thin point outward.
- 108
Add a branch to the first arm
Set the small kite on the arm halfway out, its square end on the arm and its tip turned a sixth of a turn away from the arm's own direction.
- 109
Add a branch to the first arm
Set the small kite on the arm halfway out, its square end on the arm and its tip turned a sixth of a turn away from the arm's own direction.
- 110
Add a branch to the second arm
Set the small kite on the arm halfway out, its square end on the arm and its tip turned a sixth of a turn away from the arm's own direction.
- 111
Add a branch to the second arm
Set the small kite on the arm halfway out, its square end on the arm and its tip turned a sixth of a turn away from the arm's own direction.
- 112
Add a branch to the third arm
Set the small kite on the arm halfway out, its square end on the arm and its tip turned a sixth of a turn away from the arm's own direction.
Steps 113–119
- 113
Add a branch to the third arm
Set the small kite on the arm halfway out, its square end on the arm and its tip turned a sixth of a turn away from the arm's own direction.
- 114
Add a branch to the fourth arm
Set the small kite on the arm halfway out, its square end on the arm and its tip turned a sixth of a turn away from the arm's own direction.
- 115
Add a branch to the fourth arm
Set the small kite on the arm halfway out, its square end on the arm and its tip turned a sixth of a turn away from the arm's own direction.
- 116
Add a branch to the fifth arm
Set the small kite on the arm halfway out, its square end on the arm and its tip turned a sixth of a turn away from the arm's own direction.
- 117
Add a branch to the fifth arm
Set the small kite on the arm halfway out, its square end on the arm and its tip turned a sixth of a turn away from the arm's own direction.
- 118
Add a branch to the sixth arm
Set the small kite on the arm halfway out, its square end on the arm and its tip turned a sixth of a turn away from the arm's own direction.
- 119
Add a branch to the sixth arm
Set the small kite on the arm halfway out, its square end on the arm and its tip turned a sixth of a turn away from the arm's own direction.
Steps 120–124
- 120
Fold the middle's top left corner behind
Fold one corner of the small white square behind, a little way in.
- 121
Fold the middle's top right corner behind
Fold the next corner of the white square behind the same way.
- 122
Fold the middle's bottom right corner behind
Fold the next corner of the white square behind the same way.
- 123
Fold the middle's bottom left corner behind
Fold the next corner of the white square behind the same way.
- 124
Add the white middle
Set the white middle over the space where the square ends meet, and glue the ends under its edge.
- ✓
Finish
The snowflake is ready. Glue the square ends under the white middle, or glue everything onto a card. The finished snowflake, with its six slender arms and twelve side branches round the small middle.
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