Text-Only Instructions
Credits and Resources:
This model was folded by me without any external reference or resource. It is likely to be a traditional model, though.
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.
Paper to be used: Rectangular, 2 sheets of a similar size; thicker paper or thin cardstock is strongly recommended.
Folding level: Beginner/Intermediate
Steps: 24 for the box; 13 for the lid.
Description:
This box is loosely based on MDL0009, the traditional rectangular box, from Accessible Origami Volume 1.
It is an open, rectangular box with two compartments. It is quite strong and secure compared to other boxes.
The two compartments are divided along the length of the box. It reminds one of the divider often used in a cutlery drawer.
This box is great as a gift box for any occasion or use it to keep things neat around your home or office.
It is, of course, especially nice for anything that can be presented as a set!
My special thanks to Nishi Sakpal for inspiring me to add a lid for this box. The lid does not have two compartments but fits over the outside of the box and can be securely tucked in so that it can be used as a closed gift box. The corners of the lid are nicely slanted, which hopefully gives the model an attractive look.
PART A - FOLDING THE BOX
Summary Explanation:
To help orient yourself, please read this section before starting to fold.
Remember to keep your sheet in portrait orientation and only turn the sheet when instructed to do so.
If you mentally number the Panels that will be formed by the Accordion Base from 1 at the top to 8 at the bottom, the long sides of your box will be formed by panels 1 and 2 furthest from you and 7 and 8, nearest you. The central dividing panels will be 2 layers thick, consisting of panels 4 and 5.
Panels 3 and 6 will form the bottom of the two compartments.
The folding of this box is divided into 5 parts:
Part 1 - The Accordion Base
Steps 1 to 12 are pre-creases that are normally folded and then creased and unfolded again.
Starting with a rectangle in portrait orientation, the Accordion Base is used to divide the sheet into 8 panels that lie across the paper horizontally or from left to right.
These folds may seem tedious, but they are necessary to create this type of box; so, try to perform them as accurately as possible.
Part 2 - Corners and outer edges
Step 13 to 17 will create creases for the corners and outer edges of the box.
Part 3 - The center panel
Step 18 will create the actual fold or two-layered panel that will divide the box.
Part 4 - Long sides
Steps 19 and 20 will complete the long, outer sides of the box.
Part 5 - Short sides and completion
Steps 21 to 24 will lock the short sides in place, completing the model.
Try to focus on one part of the folding sequence at a time. This will make things easier to follow and understand.
Part 1 - The Accordion Base
NOTE: This model starts from the Accordion Base. If you are able to achieve this without instructions, fold the Accordion Base so your rectangle has 7 creases and 8 panels lying horizontally across the rectangle when it is in portrait orientation. Then go to Step 13.
Step 1
Start with your paper color-side down.
Place your rectangle down with the short edges at the top and bottom, or in portrait orientation.
Step 2
Valley fold the bottom edge up to meet the top edge.
Crease and leave folded.
Step 3
Valley fold the top edge, front flap only, down to the bottom edge.
Crease and leave folded.
Step 4
Flip the model over from left to right.
Step 5
Valley fold the top edge, front flap only, down to the bottom edge.
Crease and leave folded.
- We now have a horizontal accordion fold with 4 panels.
Step 6
Valley fold the bottom edge, front flap only, up to the top edge.
Crease and leave folded.
Step 7
Flip the model over from left to right.
Step 8
Valley fold the bottom edge, front flap only, up to the top edge.
Crease and leave folded.
- We now have a horizontal rectangular shape composed of two wide inner flaps linked by a hinge fold at the bottom and each carrying a narrow layered accordion fold at the top.
Step 9
Lift up the model from your folding surface. Coming from the top, gently separate the model into two main flaps. While holding the front flap in place with one hand, use your other hand to move the back flap away from you, rotating it downwards.
Continue the movement all the way around until the accordion folds meet each other at the top of the rectangle.
- You will now have a long rectangle with a smooth surface on the outside. The two narrow accordions are now hidden on the inside of the folded rectangle.
Step 10
Valley fold the top edge, front flap only but including the narrow accordion panel, down to the bottom edge.
Crease and leave folded.
- You should now have a rectangle divided along its center, with the bottom part being slightly thicker than the top.
Step 11
Flip the model over from left to right.
Step 12
Valley fold the top edge, front flap only but including the narrow accordion panel, down to the bottom edge.
Crease and leave folded.
- You should end up with a long, skinny strip or an eight-fold accordion base.
Part 2 - Corners and outer edges
Step 13
Open the page all the way again and fold the top and bottom edges up and down so they meet at the horizontal center once more.
Leave folded.
Step 14
Fold all 4 corners of the folded rectangle inwards at an angle so they meet at the horizontal center crease.
- With the large corners folded, you will obtain a six-sided shape, with the corners being 4 layers thick.
Crease well and unfold all the corners so you have a two-layered rectangle again.
Step 15
Form 4 smaller corners by folding the same 4 points so they meet the first horizontal crease you encounter.
These horizontal creases may feel somewhat faint, since they were created when you made the accordion folds. If you have trouble finding them, try to lift the top and bottom edges into an upright position and recrease the first horizontal folds from the top and bottom.
Crease well and make sure these 4 small corners are cymmetrical and straight.
Leave folded.
You will now have an eight-sided rectangular shape.
Step 16
Now use the 4 small triangles as guides to Form the left and right edges of the box.
Try to fold the edges, that will become the short sides of your box, as straight as possible and make strong creases before unfolding again.
- You will be left with a rectangle again, now with 2 vertical creases near the left and right sides and various diagonal fold lines.
Step 17
Fold the edges that are lying along the horizontal center up and down to meet the top and bottom edges of the rectangle.
This should be easy because there will already be creases from previous folds.
- You should now have a large rectangle with bands at the top and bottom that are both 3 layers thick and a larger, single-layered area at the center of the model.
- The bands at the top and bottom edges will also now cover the small folded corners.
Part 3 - The center panel
Step 18
Notice that you will have a valley crease running from left to right at the very center of the rectangle.
Focusing on this crease, place your fingers underneath the paper on both sides of the rectangle. Gently lift the center of the model and, using the existing creases, press the panels that are next to the center crease together.
Put in another way, you will be bringing the two center panels together using a mountain fold.
- The center crease will rise up into the air and a two-layered panel should form. This move will form the central division of your Box.
- This two-layered panel should now be able to stand and stay in an upright position at the center of your model.
- Don't worry if the panels seem to want to pull apart. You can hold or press them together as you work on your box.
- They will be locked securely into place soon.
Part 4 - Long sides
Step 19
Now focus on the three-layered part of the box that is nearest you. It will still be flat on the table, but will now become the long side of the box comprised of one layer that will remain on the table to form the bottom and two layers will form the side with corner folds at the left and right.
So, lift the two top layers of the long edge nearest you, pulling them towards you. The side of the box will form. Gently press the side and corners into place.
- One compartment of the box will have formed on the side nearest you.
Step 20
Rotate the model 180 degrees and repeat the previous step on the other side.
- If all went well, your model will now have 2 long sections divided along its center.
- There will still be 2 flaps sticking out on the short sides of the box and it will seem floppy at this stage.
Part 5 - Short sides and completion
Step 21
Now turn your rectangle so one of the short sides is facing you.
You should have a triangular flap poking out towards you on the side of your box.
Step 22
Press this triangle away from you, to the right or left, until it lies flat along the side of the box.
Then gently tuck it in under the square flap that you will find underneath it.
Push it in all the way so that the two squares which now form the side of the box will be pulled close together.
- The flap will be hidden now and will help to lock the side of your box into place.
Step 23
Rotate the model 180 degrees and repeat the previous step on the other side.
Step 24 (Optional
If preferred, fold all four flaps on the short sides of the box inwards at a 45 degree angle, using mountain folds. This will create a different look for the short sides of the box.
- Your beautiful, practical origami two-compartment box is ready for use.
PART B - FOLDING A LID
Making a lid that fits perfectly may take some practice and a little guesswork, so experiment with copy or other scrap paper first.
Make sure the paper used for the lid is exactly the same size as that used to fold the box.
Step 1
Start with your paper color-side down.
Place your rectangle down with the short edges at the left and right, or in landscape orientation.
Step 2
Fold the left, short edge over to meet the right edge. Crease and unfold.
Step 3
Fold both the left and right edges in to meet at the vertical crease line you have just created. Crease and unfold.
Step 4
Fold the left and right edges in once again, to meet the first crease line you encounter.
Crease well and leave folded.
Step 5
Now, fold the top edge down to meet the bottom edge. Crease and unfold.
Step 6
Locate the horizontal crease that you have just created.
You will be folding in the top and bottom edges next, but placing your edge just past the center crease line.
To do this:
6.1
Fold the entire bottom edge up, feeling for the horizontal center crease line. Move about 1 cm past this line and, while holding the paper in position with one hand, make a strong crease nearest you.
Unfold.
6.2
Rotate the model 180 degrees and repeat Step 6.1 on this side of the model.
Remember to unfold.
Step 7 (Optional)
Before continuing, you can test if you have made the creases correctly, by using your already-folded Two-Compartment Box.
To do this, place your finished box at the center of the lid you are creating. The lid should still be in landscape mode.
Now, lift the top and bottom edges up along the fold lines you have created.
If you find that the long sides of the lid fits snugly against the box, you are on the right track.
It may take some trial and error, but the two main things you want to do is to make sure your 2 crease lines are the same distance from the edges of the sheet of paper itself and that the space between the lines are just slightly larger than the width of your box.
If you feel the gap or space between the box and the crease lines for the lid is too large, rather start over than trying to refold new creases over the old ones.
Step 8
Once you have made the 2 creases for the long edges to your liking, it is time to bring the left and right sides into an upright position while also forming the corners.
8.1
To form the first corner, bring the two-layered band on the left side of the model into an upright position.
While holding the band upright, take the edge nearest you and fold it away from you until it reaches the first horizontal crease you encounter,, forming a 90 degree corner and resulting in a triangular shape that will lie flat on the table nearest you.
Put in another way, you are aiming to keep the sides of the model in place, while swiveling or pivoting the paper to form a 90 degree corner.
Pinch the corner so it will stay in place.
8.2
Repeat the previous step, but in the opposite direction, bringing the right edge of the model upright and folding it away from you to form a second 90 degree corner.
Step 9
Note that the left and right panels nearest you, which are now upright, will not meet.
There will be a gap and a triangular flap nearest you, that is lying flat on the table, which was formed during the last step.
This fairly large triangle should be folded away from you so it rests against the side of the lid nearest you. It will point towards the ceiling and will be higher than the long side of the lid.
Make a strong crease along the bottom edge of the model to secure the triangular fold against the side panel of the lid.
Step 10
Next, fold the part of the triangular shape that is sticking out above the side of the lid down, away from you, so it folds over the side you have just formed.
Press the paper flat so it rests against the inside wall of the lid.
Make a really strong crease since this will secure the side of the model.
Step 11
Now, turn the model 180 degrees and repeat Steps 8, 9 and 10 on this side.
Step 12
All that remains is to reinforce the corners of your lid.
Then pick it up and gently place it over the box.
It should fit perfectly.
Step 13
To secure the box and lid together, gently lift the triangular flaps on the inside of the long sides of the lid and tuck them in underneath the pockets you will find on the long sides of the Two-Compartment Box.
Congratulations! You have folded a beautiful box with perfectly matching lid.
Making origami accessible to visually impaired crafters through text instructions.
for non-commercial use only.
Compiled by Lindy van der Merwe, November 2021
Revised, August 2023, with thankful acknowledgement to Claire Ozel and Nishi Sakpal for their much appreciated advice and assistance
Comments
Post a Comment