MDL0101 - ORIGAMI - BOW TIE (FROM A RECTANGLE)

Text-Only Instructions - Copyright accessorigami.com 2024
Credits and Resources:
This is a traditional model.
See, for example,
gatheringbeauty.com
where you will have access to written, visual as well as video instructions.
With thankful acknowledgement to Reiner Delgado for folding and help with corrections/revisions of the text.
Folding level: Beginner to Intermediate
Paper to be used: Rectangular - If you take a 15 x 15 cm square of origami paper and cut or tear it in half, you will be able to make 2 bow ties out of each square.
For a larger version, you can also use A4 or colored construction paper, but thin paper is recommended for this model.
Steps: 20
Description: This model is a very recognizable bow tie with a square at its center, representing the knot, and the left and right sides that seem to originate from behind the square. The tie itself has the typical flared appearance, but The shape may be varied by folding in or shaping the outer points of the finished model.
Remarks:
This model is useful in many ways - as decor for a party, on top of a gift or as an ornament for the Christmas tree.
It makes a great gift for a male family member or friend, or you can whip it up as a last minute option for a tie or a hair decoration for a dress-up party.
Alternatively, a note can simply be folded into this model and decorated for a quick children's project or a personal touch.
Keep in mind that this is one of those models that may not turn out well with your first try. Don't give up. Some practice may be needed before you will be able to get the model to turn out well.
It is also one of those models that needs very precise, strong creases for the end result to collapse properly and to look neat.
If using two-sided paper, lay your paper with the patterned or colored side down before starting to fold.
Step 1
Place your paper down with the short sides left and right, or in landscape orientation.
Step 2
Fold the bottom edge up to meet the top edge to form a horizontal center crease.
Unfold.
Step 3
Fold all 4 corners inwards to meet the center crease you have just created, so you have a six-sided shape.
Take your time with these folds, to make sure they are cymmetrical. You want neat, sharp end points for your bowtie that look similar on both sides.
Step 4
Now, fold the bottom and top raw edges up and down so they meet the horizontal center crease.
Leave folded.
Step 5
Take the left point of the shape and fold it over to meet the right point to create a vertical valley crease.
Make a strong crease and then unfold.
Step 6
Fold the long figure closed by bringing the bottom edge to meet the top edge.
Keep folded for the next step.
Step 7
We are now going to make diagonal creases in order to help us with the collapse of our shape in a later step.
7.1 Take the left point of the shape and fold it diagonally, all the way inwards and upwards to the right.
You want the bottom edge to align with the vertical center crease.
The folded left side will look like an arrow that is pointing away from you.
Make a nice crease and leave folded.
7.2 Repeat on the right by bringing the right point upwards and inwards so the bottom edge also meets the same vertical crease line.
Crease and leave folded.
Result: It will look like the two arrows are now side by side.
7.3 Unfold both arrows so you have the long strip again.
You will have 3 valley creases now: One at the vertical center and a diagonal crease on each side.
Step 8
You are now going to open the long shape again by bringing the top edge, the top layer only, down towards you.
Press flat so the shape looks the same as for Step 4 above.
Result: You should now have a vertical valley crease at the very center of the model, and also diagonal crease lines that feel like a crosss or the print letter x.
Step 9
You will notice that the two diagonal creases nearest you are mountain folds, standing up a little.
We want to turn these into valley  folds.
So, working with the two bottom diagonals only, pick up your model and gently bend the folds away from you so they become valley folds.
They should look the same as the two top diagonal folds.
Don't be afraid to do these bends. Use whichever way is comfortable for you to change the direction of the paper.
Step 10
We also need to turn the valley fold at the center of the model into a mountain fold, to fascilitate the collapse.
You can either make the mountain fold by picking up the model and, folding it away from you,  make a strong vertical crease at its center, or folow the steps below, which will accomplish the mountain fold step by step.
10.1 Flip the model over from left to right.
10.2 Fold the left point of the long shape straight over to meet the right point.
Make a strong crease on the left side and open again.
10.3 Flip back over from left to right again.
Step 11
It is finally time for the actual collapse of the model.
For this step, we are basically going to close our long rectangular shape as if it is a book, but we want to pay special attention to the center of the shape.
Before doing this step, you can gently press the top and bottom edges of the model together, but only at the very center point of the shape.
As you accentuate or press the top and bottom folds together, the diagonal folds will start to rise a little so they will be able to fold into place as well.
The idea is for the paper to collapse by itself, so if your vertical and diagonal folds are strong enough, this should happen as you close the sides of the shape.
So, to do the actual collapse, pick up the figure by holding it at each end and bring your hands together, as if you are closing a book.
Once it is closed, the end points will meet.
Lay it flat with the pointy ends at the right and the hinge or fold on the left.
You should now be able to check if your collapsing folds have worked. If the left end of your model has a pointy end, like an arrow, you are okay to continue with the next step.
If it is a straight, vertical edge, it is possible that you might need to either open and refold the shape or you can check the result and help the folds along if necessary.
Explanation
The shape you want is similar to that of the Waterbomb Base, with 4 triangles meeting at a central point. In this case, however, the point is on the left, while the triangles on the inside of the folded bow tie are very small while those on the outside are the actual body of the bow tie.
So, if your left edge is still straight, you can gently insert your fingers on the left of the model, in between the layers of the paper.
Coming from the top and bottom of the shape, pinch the inside folds together into a point.
If you imagine that the left point of the long shape is the top of the Waterbomb Base, you should have 4 two-layered flaps radiating out from the central point on the left of the model.
The rest of the model, which should still be flat on the table, will be a long rectangle with two end points to the right.
Step 12
Next, rotate the shape so the closed fold or hinge is at the bottom, nearest you,  and the two end points of the bow tie should be furthest away from you.
Step 13
Take the top point, the top layer only, and bend it towards you, all the way down, until you can feel the horizontal crease near the bottom, that is part of the inside center of the model.
This edge will be revealed once you bring the top point almost all the way down.
Align the folded-down paper with this horizontal edge. Press flat.
Make a strong crease and leave folded.
One of the end points of the bow tie will now be facing you and the other will still be facing away.
Step 14
Turn the shape over from left to right and repeat Step 13 on this side.
Now, the top edge of the model will be a straight horizontal edge and both end points wil be facing you.
 Step 15
Focus on the top edge of the figure.
Taking the top layer only, fold both the small top left and right corners of the shape down and inwards so they fold over on themselves and meet each other along the vertical center of the shape.
Step 16
Flip the shape over from left to right and repeat Step 15 on this side.
The top of the model will now be cymmetrical.
Step 17
Rotate the figure so the two end points are on the right again.
Keep the model in this orientation as you open it in the next step.
Step 18 - Opening
Explanation
To open your bow tie, you have two choices:
You can either keep it flat on the table or you can pick the model up, holding an end point in each hand.
If you keep it on the table, gently lift the end point on the right and fold it to the left, while holding the right end point down so it stays in place.
It is important that for this step, you only separate the two end points before performing the last step.
So, very gently open the model by grasping the two end points and opening them to the left and right, but take care not to pull them apart yet.
The sides of the model will open easily, but you will feel a resistance in the paper that is concentrated at its center.
We are ready to perform the final step to reveal our carefully folded bow tie.
Step 19 - Flattening
Explanation
First place the model flat on the table and find the small point that is standing up at the very center of the bow tie.
This is the same point that was earlier described as similar to the top point of the Waterbomb Base.
The last step involves two different actions:
You need to overcome the resistance of the paper, gently pulling the two sides of the bow tie away from each other while, at the same time, pressing down on the point that is standing up at the center of the bow.
Try to do this movement in a fluid, but controlled, motion. If you pull too hard, you will undo the folds and the center of the bow tie will be undone completely.
Your aim is to pull and press the center of the model completely flat into a small, perfectly-formed square.
Once this is done, your bow tie is complete.
All the folds and raw edges will be at the back,while the front of the model will be a smooth six-sided structure on both sides, with a flat, square at its center.
You might need a few tries to really get the square to fold nicely, so don't be discouraged if it does not turn out perfectly the first time.
Step 20 (Optional)
You can leave the points of the bow tie as they are, or if you prefer a more square shape for the tie, fold under the points using mountain folds so that both edges are straight.
Press flat so that your creation looks neat and tidy.
Making origami accessible through text-only instructions.
for non-commercial use only.
Compiled by Lindy van der Merwe, June 2024
Revised, July 2024
This text copyright 2024 by accessorigami.com

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