How to make a lace snowflake from paper
Lace Snowflake Pattern (Paper): try all 13 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
Use the same real 30° packet as the easy snowflake. Four separate lace cuts leave bridges and an intact centre; the folded blade lines are a printable guide.
- You need
- Very thin paper, a pencil, a ruler, a 30°/60° set square or the printed angle guide, and small scissors.
- Start
- Begin with a 12 × 12 cm square of very thin paper and a 30°/60° set square.
Your model is ready
Ease the creases flat. Lift the opened paper by an uncut edge to see the whole pattern. Hold the opened paper upright and flat, with the whole pattern.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–7
- 1
Fold the square in half
Bring the bottom edge to the top edge. The midpoint of the folded edge is the snowflake centre; mark it lightly.
- 2
Fold the left third across
At the marked midpoint, use the 60° corner of a set square to mark a ray up and left. Fold the left side over that ray; its folded edge now points up and right.
- 3
Fold the right third across
Fold the right side over the matching 60° ray up and right. Line its folded edge up with the left sloping edge. All three sectors should match at the centre.
- 4
Halve the wedge
Bring the left sloping edge to the right sloping edge. Fold straight up from the centre to make a narrow 30° packet with twelve layers near its point.
- 5
Trim the uneven tips
Cut straight across 48 mm above the folded centre. Keep the centre and remove the uneven ends.
- 6
Cut the pointed crown
Cut the bent line from the straight folded edge out through the top. Keep the right corner to form each long point.
- 7
Cut the first folded-edge window
Cut a small angular notch in the straight folded edge. Leave the strip above and below it uncut.
Steps 8–13
- 8
Cut the long side window
Cut the sloping edge inward, turn down and return to the same edge. Keep the band toward the centre intact.
- 9
Cut the small inner window
Snip a shallow triangle from the straight folded edge. Stop well before the centre so the six arms remain joined.
- 10
Open wedge half
Open this crease gently, leaving the earlier folds closed. Keep the uncut joins together.
- 11
Open right third
Open this crease gently, leaving the earlier folds closed. Keep the uncut joins together.
- 12
Open left third
Open this crease gently, leaving the earlier folds closed. Keep the uncut joins together.
- 13
Open half
Open this crease gently, leaving the earlier folds closed. Keep the uncut joins together.
- ✓
Finish
Ease the creases flat. Lift the opened paper by an uncut edge to see the whole pattern. Hold the opened paper upright and flat, with the whole pattern.
Fold next
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