Text-Only Instructions
Credits and Resources:
This is likely to be a traditional model.
If you are aware of any other source where this model or similar might be listed, please let me know so I can reference it under this heading.
Although the name of this model is quite descriptive, it is not folded from the pinwheel base, but uses precreases and a collapsing method instead.
Slight adaptations were made so as to make the instructions easier to follow and the model easier to fold without sight.
Paper to be used: Square, any size; a square made from construction, copy or printer paper will work well for this model.
Folding level: Intermediate
Steps: 15
Description: This model is a flat or 2D star that reminds one of a pinwheel since all the points of the star face in the same direction. One side of the star features a fairly large, prominent square with the 4 points of the star seeming to radiate outwards from underneath the square.
The other side is made up of 4 triangular shapes coming together at the center of the star. These triangles also have flaps facing in the same direction with each point of the star extending outwards at an angle from the central square.
It turns out there are many four-pointed stars as well as pinwheel models, so this is only one of them.
Remarks:
Stars are always beautiful to fold for many different occasions, including religious holidays and celebrations like the 4th of July in the U.S. or just for fun throughout the year.
Use colors like silver, gold, red, green or blue and tie with matching ribbon to hang the stars from a tree or around the house.
Stars are also great on cards or as decorations on gifts or as hanging decoration for around the house or at a party.
Make as a project for children and decorate with glitter, sequence or any other embellishments if preferred.
If using two-sided origami paper, lay your paper with the patterned or colored side down before starting to fold.
NOTE: This model requires folding your square into thirds. A folding method is described below in Step 2, but if you prefer, you could use a template to help.
Try to create a template from cardstock or similar durable paper if you are able to use the method in Step 2, or consider asking someone to help you make a template from the size of squares you most often use.
You can then keep this template in your origami kit for use at any time.
Step 1
Place a square piece of paper down on a hard, flat surface with its edges to the left and right, top and bottom.
Step 2
Divide and fold your square into thirds.
The easiest method I have found to do this is to pick up your paper and gently fold the sides over to their opposite edges. Adjust your folds on both sides before making small creases right at the edges of the paper to mark where you will fold.
Don't worry if this is difficult at first. It will become easier with practice.
Unfold all the way again.
Using the small marks you have made, fold the top edge of the square down a third of the way and then over once more, like you would a letter going into an envelope.
Crease well and unfold so you have a square with two lines across it.
Step 3
Turn your model 90 degrees and repeat the previous step so that your square is now divided into 9 blocks by two vertical and 2 horizontal lines.
Step 4
Create 2 diagonal folds across your paper by bringing the top left corner to its diagonally opposite corner and creasing, then opening it and repeating the fold with the other corner.
You will end up with an X across your paper.
Step 5
Next, you will be folding your starting square into a square that will be one-ninth of its original size.
To do this:
Fold the open square closed, first by folding over the left and then the right edges towards the center. Press down so you now have a tall thin piece of triple ply paper.
Then fold this long piece closed by bringing the top and bottom edges across each other.
You now end up with a small, thick square of paper, 1/9 of the original size of the paper.
Step 6
Fold corners diagonally toward each other from both directions to make an X crease across this small square.
Step 7
Flip the small square over and repeat Step 6 on the other side.
Step 8
Unfold all the way again so you have the square positioned as in Step 1.
You will notice that there are now 9 blocks with diagonal creases running through each square.
All folds have been created, so you will now move on to the next phase, which can loosely be described as collapsing the model into the star shape.
Step 9
Identify the square at the center of the 3 by 3 grid you have created. This square will stay flat while you will form the 4 points around it.
Step 10
Start with the top right corner of the model.
Pinch the corner between two fingers while moving from the outer point until you reach the central square. As you do this, the previous folds will cause the top right point to rise up together with the top and right sides of the paper.
It will look like a sharp triangular point that is sort of floating in the air. You can bend the end of the triangle gently to the left and then let it just hang there for the moment.
Step 11
Now repeat the pinch folds and the bending of the points with the three remaining corners in order to form a floppy shape with 4 points hanging around on each corner.
Step 12
Starting at the top right corner again, gently press the pointed triangle that is standing up so it folds flat to the left.
You might have to coax the paper a little here, but the precreases should help a lot. You will know that the first arm has been folded correctly if it folds flat onto the square. The fold will actually start on top of the central square itself and the point will be a two-layered flap with an opening to the left. The first arm of the star should point straight up, away from you and the triangle will slant upwards to the left.
Step 13
Next, move to the left side of the central square to form the second arm of the pinwheel star. You might find that the paper is already almost in position or on the other hand, the paper might have folded itself into the wrong position.
Looking at the central square only, the fold of the second arm will actually start from underneath the fold of the first arm.
So try to hold the first arm in place near its point while creating the second arm, although you might notice the paper shifting near the central square, the first arm should stay in place while you work on the second one.
To make the correct fold, gently grab the triangular point on the left of the central square and pull it towards the ceiling. Make sure you have a nice sharp point as you lift the triangle up.
Once you have the sharp point between your fingers, gently pull or press it flat, to the left so it will form the second arm of the star.
Once again, the arm will be a two-layered triangle with its opening towards you. It will point straight out from the central square to the left and it will slope upwards to the left.
Step 14
Repeat the steps with the two remaining arms of the star, first with the bottom point and lastly folding the right point into place.
You will notice that the precreases have enabled the paper of the central square to overlap and fold into the beautiful rotating pattern of the 4-pointed pinwheel star.
Step 15
If your folds seem not to want to collapse as described above, don't be discouraged. This is an intermediate model, so it might take more than one try to get it right. Once you understand how the folds are created on top of each other, all radiating from the central square, you will realize that the folds are not difficult in themselves, though the collapsing in an anti-clockwise manner is what makes the model so brilliant and beautiful.
Making origami accessible to visually impaired crafters through text instructions.
for non-commercial use only.
Compiled by Lindy van der Merwe, May 2019
Revised, January 2023, with thankful acknowledgement to Claire Ozel
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