Method and Text Instructions copyright 2025 by Annette Carr and by accessorigami.com
Introduction
The text below explains an alternative method for constructing an octahedron using 12 Sonobe units. If you are not familiar with the Sonobe unit, you can visit the following page to learn how to fold it.
Sonobe Unit
You will also find other structures you can create from the Sonobe units on this page, namely:
1 - hexahedron from 3 Sonobe units;
2 - Small Cube from 6 Sonobe units;
3 - Large cube from 12 Sonobe units;
4 - Octahedron from 12 Sonobe units;
5 - Icosahedron from 30 Sonobe units.
It is suggested that you at least complete the 3 and 6 unit Sonobe assemblies before trying out the octahedron.
Also make sure to read the post about the octahedron on the page listed above, especially if you have not made structures with Sonobe units and/or pyramids before.
Note: You will need at least six paperclips for this method of construction.
Instructions
This tutorial is divided into five parts. It may be helpful to read through to the end of the tutorial before starting the assembly.
Part 1 - Build pyramid 1:
1. Make a Pyramid or a half cube with 3 sonobe units. We will call this pyramid 1.
2. Place a paperclip on each of the 3 flaps of the pyramid.
Note: I define the flap as the triangular section hanging off of the bottom of the pyramid, it is made up of a pocket and the point.
I have the point folded under the portion with the flap before putting the paperclip on it.
Part 2 - Build pyramids 2, 3 and 4:
3. Remove a paperclip from 1 flap of pyramid 1.
4. Using Sonobe units 4 and 5, build pyramid 2 on that flap.
Note: I inserted the point from the flap of pyramid 1 into the pocket of unit 4, and inserted the point of unit 5 into the pocket of pyramid 1. Then I inserted the point from unit 4 into the adjacent pocket on unit 5.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to build pyramid 3 off of pyramid 1, adding units 6 and 7.
6. Repeat steps 3 and 4 again to build pyramid 4 on the remaining flap of pyramid 1, adding units 8 and 9.
7. Place a paperclip on each of the 6 flaps. There are 2 flaps at the base of pyramid 2, 3 and 4.
Note: Again, I folded the point under the pocket section of the flaps before putting on the paperclips.
Part 3 - Connect pyramids 2, 3 and 4 to each other:
8. Lay the structure on the table with its open side down. You should find:
A. the top point of each of the 4 pyramids pointing up to the ceiling.
B. As you trace the perimeter created by the base of the pyramids you should find a triangle shape.
I have the structure oriented so that one point of the triangular perimeter is pointing away from me.
C. You will find 6 flaps extending off of the triangular perimeter, 2 on each edge.
D. Each pyramid has 2 of the 6 flaps associated with it, 1 on one edge of the perimeter, and the second on the adjacent edge. They are separated by the corner of their associated pyramid.
9. Hold the structure with the open side facing the table, and one of the flaps pointing away from you.
We will be working with the pyramid at this top point, calling it pyramid 2.
It has a flap on its left edge that will be referred to as the left flap, and a flap on its right edge which will be referred to as the right flap.
10. Remove the paperclip from the right flap of pyramid 2. The flap has a pocket and a point.
Note: For me, the point is pointing up and to the left, and the pocket is on the right edge of the flap.
11. Keeping your left hand on pyramid 2, move clockwise around the structure away from pyramid 2 and locate the adjacent pyramid, which we will call pyramid 3.
12. Remove the paperclip from the left flap of pyramid 3.
13. Connect the left flap of pyramid 3 to the right flap of pyramid 2 by inserting the point of pyramid 3 into the pocket of pyramid 2.
14. You should now find:
A. 3 mountain folds with valley folds between them. The mountain fold on the left belongs to pyramid 2, and the mountain fold on the right belongs to pyramid 3.
The center mountain fold will be a future pyramid.
B. moving along the edge from left to right you should find the left flap of pyramid 2 with a paperclip, a point sticking out of the left edge of the almost formed new pyramid, a right edge of the soon to be pyramid with a pocket, and a right flap with a paperclip belonging to pyramid 3.
15. Move your hands around the structure in a clockwise direction so that you can now work with pyramids 3 and 4.
Repeat step 10-13 to connect pyramids 3 and 4.
16. Your structure looks almost like a bowl when the open end is facing up toward the ceiling. You will find 2 points without paperclips sticking up, and 2 flaps with paperclips.
You now need to make the connection between pyramid 4 and pyramid 2.
17. To prevent any confusion as you make the final connection, fold each of the points without paperclips inside the structure and place a paperclip on each one to keep it out of the way and give you a point of reference if you set the structure down.
18. Flip the structure over so that the open side is facing the table. Position it so that the 2 flaps with the paperclips are facing away from you. The flap with the paperclip on the left belongs to pyramid 4, and the flap on the right with the paperclip belongs to pyramid 1.
19. Remove both paperclips.
20. Insert the point from pyramid 1 into the pocket of pyramid 4.
21. You now should find:
A. A bowl-like shape.
B. 1 point without a paperclip.
C. 2 points held inside the structure with paperclips.
D. 3 edges with pockets in them.
Part 4 - Build the final pyramid
22. Using the final 3 Sonobe units, build a pyramid.
23. Place a paperclip on 2 of the 3 flaps of this final pyramid.
Note: Again, I have the points folded under the pockets before putting on the paperclips.
Part 5 - Attach the final pyramid to the larger structure
24. Remove the paperclips from the large structure.
25. Orientate the larger structure with its open side facing the ceiling, and in the other hand, orientate the single pyramid with its open side facing down to the table.
Note: I had the larger structure in my left hand, and the final pyramid in my right hand.
26. Starting with the loose flap on the final pyramid that does not have a paperclip, insert it into any pocket on the larger structure.
27. Gently reach into the large structure to the right of where you made the connection in the previous step and pull out the points.
28. You will notice that the point that you just brought out is leaning over the pocket of the flap that you just used to connect the final pyramid to the larger structure. Tuck this point into the pocket.
29. There are 2 remaining flaps with paperclips, and 2 points without paperclips. If you cannot find the 2 points, gently reach into the structure, and pull them out. You might need to do this by hooking 1 index finger under the hidden point and pull it out.
30. Remove 1 of the remaining paperclips and tuck the point from the flap into the pocket below it on the larger structure.
31. You should find a point standing up from the larger structure, tuck it into the flap you were just working with.
32. Remove the final paperclip.
33. Tuck the point from this last flap into the pocket below it on the larger structure.
34. Tuck the remaining point from the larger structure into the pocket on the flap you were just working with.
Your octahedron is complete.
This text copyright 2025 by the author and by accessorigami.com
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