HOW TO MAKE A HEXAGON FROM A SQUARE OR A RECTANGLE WITH ONE CUT

 `Since some origami models require some more unusual shapes like pentagons and hexagons, it is helpful to know how to create these shapes.
The two tutorials below will show you how to create a SINGLE-LAYERED hexagon or six-sided shape. You have the choice of either starting from a square or a rectangle.
Both tutorials explain the various folds to be made and creating the final hexagonal shape with a single, straight cut with a pair of scissors. This [accessible] method of folding and cutting does not require any measuring and allows one to [independently] create a regular hexagon that will, with a little practice, be accurate enough to use as a starting point for origami models that require this shape.

My sincere thanks go to Cathryn Miller of Byopia Press, for her time and expertise in creating this method and the accompanying instructions, especially for those of us who are unable to make use of templates, drawings or other visual methods to create shapes.

Cathryn's website, Byopia Press, has a focus on artist's books/altered books but you will also find information related to her artistic work and many posts on various other paper crafts in general.

 
Apart from using your hexagons for various paper crafts, one of the origami models I recently came across that require this shape as a starting point is called "Blooming Flower". This action model was designed by Bill Reyes and has been submitted by Paula Versnick as a verbal diagram on the CFC website.
To check it out, go to
Blooming Flower

TUTORIAL 1 - HOW TO FOLD A HEXAGON FROM A SQUARE PIECE OF PAPER

1.  Lay the square paper in front of you with one side parallel to the front edge of your work surface. This will be the bottom edge.
2.  Fold the left edge over to match the right edge. Press the vertical fold firmly.
3.  Open flat.
4.  Fold the bottom edge up to match the top edge. Press the horizontal fold firmly.
5.  Open flat.
6.  Fold the bottom edge up to match the horizontal crease. Press the fold firmly.
7.  Open flat.
8.  Fold the lower left corner up and to the right to create a triangle. The upper edge of the triangle should begin at the middle horizontal crease. The   right hand point of the triangle should meet the lower horizontal crease. Press the folded side of the triangle firmly.
9.  Flip your paper over vertically so that the angled corner is at the upper left.
10. Fold the bottom edge of your paper up to match the upper edge. (This reverses the original horizontal fold at the middle.)
11. Fold the top left corner of the upper layer down and to the right so that the angled fold matches the angled fold on the back layer. Press the fold firmly. You should have four layers of paper where the triangular shape is on the surface. The folds on the upper left side of the triangles should match exactly.
12. Unfold the two triangles at the upper left to return to a two-layer rectangle with a fold at the bottom.
13. Fold the left end of your paper (both layers) down and to the right. The lower end of the fold begins where the vertical crease intersects the fold at the bottom. The point where the former vertical crease touches the edge of the paper on the upper layer should touch the visible horizontal fold near the right end of the lower layer. The new angled fold should be exactly parallel to the first angled crease. Press the fold firmly.
14. Fold the lower folded corner of the paper up so that its folded edge matches the angled fold on the upper left. The sides of your figure should match exactly after this fold.
15. You now have a six-layer triangular shape with a point at the left and an irregular right edge. Rotate the triangle so that the point is at the bottom. Cut straight across the crease that is visible near the upper edge.
16. Discard the bits from the upper end and open your hexagon.

TUTORIAL 2 - HOW TO FOLD A HEXAGON FROM A RECTANGULAR PIECE OF PAPER

1.  Lay the rectangular paper in front of you with a long side parallel to the front edge of your work surface. This will be the bottom edge.
2.  Fold the bottom edge up to match the top edge. Press the horizontal fold firmly.
3.  Open flat.
4.  Fold the bottom edge up to match the horizontal crease. Press the horizontal fold firmly.
5.  Open flat.
6.  Fold the lower left corner up and to the right to create a triangle. The upper edge of the triangle should begin at the middle horizontal crease and the right hand point of the triangle should meet the lower horizontal crease. Press the folded side of the triangle firmly.
7.  Flip your paper over horizontally.
8. Fold the bottom left corner up and to the right so that the former bottom edge meets the right edge. A large triangular shape will result, with the pointy end nearest you.
9.  Flip your paper over horizontally.
10. Fold the point at the bottom straight up, folding along the visible horizontal crease. There will now be a multi-layered triangle on top of the irregular larger shape. Its base will be along the edge nearest you.
11. Fold the piece in half by bringing the right top corner to meet the left top corner, using a backwards or mountain fold. You are forming a triangle again, with one of its points nearest you. The left and right sides of the triangle should match up perfectly.
12. Untuck the flap at the upper left edge of the visible triangle.
13. Cut along the visible crease at the top of the triangle.
14. Discard the off-cut bits and unfold your hexagon.       

© 2025 - Cathryn Miller/Byopia Press and
Lindy van der Merwe/accessorigami.com