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Butterfly

How to fold an origami butterfly

Paper
One square sheet of paper.
Preparation
No cutting or gluing is included in these folding steps. Begin with “Mark the center between the left and right edges”.
What you will make
A butterfly with a pinched body and spread wings.

Make a butterfly by flattening the pockets, spreading the lower corners, and folding the upper half behind. Near the end, crease and unfold along the center, then pinch the body and spread the wings. View the model from the side to distinguish the body from the wings.

Follow the 15 steps above by scrolling. Drag the model to inspect a fold from another angle, and scroll back to review a previous step.

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Read all 15 folding steps
  1. Mark the center between the left and right edges
  2. Mark the center between the top and bottom edges
  3. Fold the right edge to the center
  4. Fold the left edge to the center
  5. Crease the top edge toward the center and unfold
  6. Crease the bottom edge toward the center and unfold
  7. Open the bottom pocket and squash it flat
  8. Open the top pocket and squash it flat
  9. Fold the free lower left corner down
  10. Fold the free lower right corner down
  11. Fold the top half behind
  12. Narrow the lower right wing
  13. Narrow the lower left wing
  14. Crease the vertical center and unfold
  15. Pinch the body and spread the wings

Tricky points and what to check

Which way does the upper half fold?

Steps to review: 9・10・11

After lowering both free bottom corners, fold the upper half behind. Check from the side to distinguish this from folding it forward.

Where should I pinch the body?

Steps to review: 12・13・14・15

Narrow both lower wings, then crease and unfold along the center. Use that center crease to pinch the body, comparing the illustrations before and after the wings spread.

Step 15：Pinch the body and spread the wings

Three views from the same 3D folding sequence. Read from top to bottom.

Butterfly with its wings connected flat before pinching the body
Butterfly with its wings connected flat before pinching the body

After step 14. Compare with the next image to identify the part that moves.

Before：After step 14. Compare with the next image to identify the part that moves.
Butterfly center narrowing as the lower wings begin to separate
Butterfly center narrowing as the lower wings begin to separate

Pinch the body along the center crease and spread the wings. Compare the narrow lower wings as they open.

During：Pinch the body along the center crease and spread the wings. Compare the narrow lower wings as they open.
Completed butterfly with four wings spread on either side of a narrow body
Completed butterfly with four wings spread on either side of a narrow body

After “Pinch the body and spread the wings”. Compare the corners and layers with the first image.

After：After “Pinch the body and spread the wings”. Compare the corners and layers with the first image.
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SCROLL TO FOLD

Make a butterfly by flattening the pockets, spreading the lower corners, and folding the upper half behind.

Completed origami butterfly

Completed model · Loading 3D…

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