make LOVE with origami

We’re going to fold an Iris flower, a traditional origami fold which symbolizes good health. I should warn purists that this is my own adaptation of the Iris fold – you won’t find this in a book. My changes to the traditional fold indulge my symmetry fetish, and (I hope) make it easier for you.

Some of you got practice sheets, some of you did not. I did what I could with a limited supply.

First, some key origami tricks:

• You’ll be making many folds that you will immediately unfold again. These make creases in the paper so it will do what we want later on. These are called "preparatory folds."
• Remember the origami version of the Carpenter’s rule: line up twice, fold once.
• After making the fold, run the edge between a fingertip and fingernail to get a nice crease. Sharp folds make later folds easier.
• We’re making LOVE here, not Formula-1 racing. Take it slow. Breathing helps.

1. Fold the sheet in half, white side out, so you have a white rectangle.

2. Unfold, then fold the sheet in half the other way, still white side out.

3. Unfold, then fold the sheet in half along the diagonal, colored side out.

4. Unfold, then fold the sheet in half along the diagonal the other way, colored side out.

5. Put this shape down flat on the table with the triangle's point facing up (away from you).

6. Lift one triangular flap, then fold it down flat so it’s centered with a point facing down.

A bunch of preparatory folds:

8. Turn the “pages” until you’re at a page with white showing at the bottom. Fold the lower flap until its edge lines up with the vertical axis in the center.

9. Make the same fold for the other lower flap. At this point you shouldn’t see any of the white side.

10. Repeat steps 8 and 9 three more times for all the other flaps. This photo shows the result after the third (of 4) pairs of folds.

More preparatory folds:

11. Fold the entire thing in half along the horizontal axis, as shown.

12. Fold it the other way, along the same axis.

13. Turn two “pages” in either direction, then fold the entire thing in half, again, along the horizontal axis, both ways.

14. Unfold once, so it's a diamond again.

15. Unfold all the folds you made in steps 8-10. I'm not kidding.

16. Turn to a "page" with the white showing at the bottom. Lift the horizontal edge and pull it up and over to make a point, as shown. The “flaps” you folded earlier should pull in, so the whole thing is a thin diamond, the part you just folded is kite-shaped, and there’s no more white showing.

This is where most beginners tear the paper, so just take it slow & easy. It's fine if you tear it a little. You're doing great.

17. Repeat step 16 for the three other “pages” with white showing at the bottom.

18. For each of the four “pages” fold the central triangular flap upward. That is, fold it away from the single-pointed end of the diamond, and toward the end with several points, as shown below.

19. Turn to a “page” that is a flat diamond with no flaps or anything. Make sure the single “point” of your diamond is facing down (toward you).

From the bottom (single) point, fold both sides inward until the edges line up in the center with the vertical axis.

20. Repeat step 19 for the three other such “pages.”

21. You may now pull back the petals. These are the four top points. The two photos at left show the shape being held by the bottom (single) point, and the first petal being pulled out.

You can use either a Valley Fold (fold them in half lengthwise while pulling them back, then press together with your thumb and finger to make a “hinge”) or just curl them around your finger (my preferred method). Or you can combine them: first valley-fold, then curl.

curled petals	valley-fold petals	close-up of valley-fold

22. Make your preferred petal fold for each of the four petals.

Your Iris flower is complete. If you twirl it in your fingers, it will say “LOVELOVELOVE” to you – love we know you richly deserve.

If you pause at the “V” then start twirling it again, it will say “VELO” over and over. That’s French for “bicycle” – not as great as LOVE, but still pretty nice.

It you twirl it in the other direction very fast, it will say “EVOLVE” – excellent advice, to be sure. But if you’re on my 2004 mailing list, you’re probably pretty evolved already.