ORUThe joy of folding.
Gallery

Paper settings

Choose colors and finishes for each side.

Paper colors

Windmill

How to fold an origami windmill

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 four-bladed windmill shape, without a spindle or handle.

Make a windmill by opening and flattening the top and bottom pockets, then folding the lower-right and upper-left blades in opposite directions. These last two blades are diagonally opposite. Check the model orientation before folding each one.

Follow the 10 steps above by scrolling. Drag the model to inspect a fold from another angle, and scroll back to review a previous step.

Explore more play origami →

Read all 10 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 lower right blade down
  10. Fold the upper left blade up

Tricky points and what to check

I cannot find the creases for the pockets

Steps to review: 5・6・7・8

Review the top and bottom creases first, then open and flatten the lower and upper pockets in turn. Compare each stage separately.

Which two blades move at the end?

Steps to review: 9・10

The final blades are diagonally opposite: lower-right and upper-left. Check the model orientation, then fold the lower-right blade down and the upper-left blade up.

Step 7：Open the bottom pocket and squash it flat

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

Tall red rectangle forming the windmill base with side edges folded to the center
Tall red rectangle forming the windmill base with side edges folded to the center

After step 6. Compare with the next image to identify the part that moves.

Before：After step 6. Compare with the next image to identify the part that moves.
Lower windmill pocket opening with its white interior spreading sideways
Lower windmill pocket opening with its white interior spreading sideways

Use the crease at the bottom as a guide to open and flatten the lower pocket. Watch the corners spread to either side.

During：Use the crease at the bottom as a guide to open and flatten the lower pocket. Watch the corners spread to either side.
Flattened lower windmill pocket with red corners extending to both sides
Flattened lower windmill pocket with red corners extending to both sides

After “Open the bottom pocket and squash it flat”. Compare the corners and layers with the first image.

After：After “Open the bottom pocket and squash it flat”. Compare the corners and layers with the first image.
Explore more origami models →
SCROLL TO FOLD

Make a windmill by opening and flattening the top and bottom pockets, then folding the lower-right and upper-left blades in opposite directions.

Completed origami windmill

Completed model · Loading 3D…

Drag to rotate · Right-drag up/down to zoomSwipe to rotate · Pinch to zoom