How to make a square paper doily: cut-and-fold pattern
Square Paper Doily: try all 10 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
Fold a square twice into four layers, cut the square paper doily pattern, and open the creases in turn.
- You need
- Thin paper, a pencil and scissors.
- Start
- Begin with a 12 × 12 cm square of thin paper.
Your model is ready
Ease the creases flat. Lift the fully opened paper by an uncut edge to see the complete pattern. Hold up the complete opened sheet, flat so all four reflected parts can be seen.
Step-by-step diagrams
- 1
Fold the square in half
Bring the bottom edge up to the top edge. Match the corners and press the crease.
- 2
Fold into four layers
Bring the right edge to the left edge. The bottom-right corner of this packet is the folded centre.
- 3
The upper side notch
Cut a short rectangular notch through all four layers from the left edge.
- 4
The lower side notch
Cut a second rectangular notch farther down the left edge, leaving the bridge between them.
- 5
The first top notch
Cut the first small rectangular notch inward from the top edge.
- 6
The second top notch
Cut the next top notch. Leave the paper between this cut and the folded edge intact.
- 7
The folded-side opening
Cut a shallow notch through the folded right edge. Leave the centre corner and both end bridges joined.
- 8
The folded-bottom opening
Cut a shallow notch through the folded bottom edge. The uncut bridge beside the centre holds the sheet together.
- 9
Open the quarter fold
Open the last fold first. The cut paper spreads into two matching halves.
- 10
Open the half fold
Open the first crease and spread the entire cut sheet flat.
- ✓
Finish
Ease the creases flat. Lift the fully opened paper by an uncut edge to see the complete pattern. Hold up the complete opened sheet, flat so all four reflected parts can be seen.
Fold next
Round paper doily ↗
Fold a circle into eighths and cut an original lace pattern. Leave the central hub and the bands between the notches intact.
Five-point star with one cut ↗
The historical angle-division method folds a half-sheet into two and a half sectors, folds the remaining half sector under, then halves the packet. One straight cut opens into a five-point star.
Fold-and-cut paper turkey ↗
Fold a square in half, cut a joined body, fan and feet through both layers, then open a symmetric turkey silhouette.
Chinese window flower (chuanghua) ↗
An Origami Tutor window flower: fold a red square twice, make four cuts through four layers, then open a round flower with eight scalloped petals.