One square of paper, nine folds, no glue.

inthink.guide
Back to home

Creativity in every crease

Yoshizawa butterfly

Transform a square sheet into a butterfly with nine clear folds.

  • Super easy
  • 9 steps
  • About 10 minutes
  • 1 square sheet

Paper: One 6 × 6 in (15 × 15 cm) square of Kami or Chiyogami paper.

Your butterfly is ready!

9

folds from flat square to butterfly

4

creases you make before folding

15cm

square Kami paper works perfectly

0

cuts, glue or tape needed

Before you fold

Every diagram uses the same three marks. Learn them once and the rest of the page reads itself.

  • Dashed line

    Fold along here. The line disappears inside the model once folded.

  • Curved arrow

    Which way the paper travels. A dashed arrow means fold it behind.

  • Solid arrows

    Push here with your fingers while the layers move apart.

  • Grey and white

    Grey is the back of the sheet, white is the side facing you.

Work on a hard, flat table and press each crease with your thumbnail. Sharp creases are what gives the wings their shape.

Fold your butterfly

Step 1 of 9

  1. Step 1: Make two centre creases

    Step 01

    Make two centre creases

    Start with the coloured side facing up. Fold and unfold the paper in half horizontally and vertically.

    You should seeTwo creases crossing at the centre of the square, the sheet flat again.

  2. Step 2: Turn the paper over

    Step 02

    Turn the paper over

    Flip the paper so the uncoloured side faces up.

    You should seeThe plain side facing you, with the two creases from step 1 still visible.

  3. Step 3: Make diagonal creases

    Step 03

    Make diagonal creases

    Fold and unfold the square along both diagonals.

    You should seeFour creases in total: two straight and two diagonal, all crossing at the centre.

  4. Step 4: Collapse the waterbomb base

    Step 04

    Collapse the waterbomb base

    Collapse the paper along the creases from steps 1 and 3 to form a waterbomb base.

    You should seeA triangle made of four layers, with two loose corners on each side.

  5. Step 5: Lift the front corners

    Step 05

    Lift the front corners

    Fold the top layer's two corners up so they meet at the top corner.

    You should seeA diamond on the front, with two new folded edges meeting along the centre.

  6. Step 6: Turn the model over

    Step 06

    Turn the model over

    Flip the folded model to work on the other side.

    You should seeThe plain back of the model, one large triangle pointing down.

  7. Step 7: Fold the lower corner up

    Step 07

    Fold the lower corner up

    Fold the top layer's bottom corner up, making sure its point extends beyond the top edge.

    You should seeA point sticking out past the top edge of the model.

  8. Step 8: Fold the point back

    Step 08

    Fold the point back

    Fold back the corner that extends beyond the edge, then turn the model over.

    You should seeA small folded tab holding the wings together at the centre.

  9. Step 9: Shape the wings

    Step 09

    Shape the wings

    Fold both wings inward until they meet at the centre crease, then unfold them.

    You should seeTwo broad upper wings and two pointed lower wings, with a crease down the middle.

Use the arrow keys to move between steps

Step 1 of 9: Make two centre creases

Completed Yoshizawa paper butterfly with two broad upper wings and two pointed lower wings.

Your butterfly is ready!

Bend the wings up a little along the centre crease so the butterfly looks ready to fly.

The finished Yoshizawa butterfly is ready to display.

If the wings will not stay
press the centre crease firmly once more from the underside.
If it tears at step 4
collapse the base slowly and let the existing creases guide the layers.
To make it hang
thread a fine cotton through the body crease and suspend it from above.
More origami models