How to Fold a Traditional Origami Butterfly
Are you up for folding a symbol of transformation and beauty? Today, we will show you how to make your own traditional origami butterfly.
In Japanese culture, butterflies symbolize the soul, renewal, and the delicate nature of life. Origami butterflies are often folded during spring festivals and other celebrations and used as decorations to represent the beauty and fleeting nature of the season.
Our easy, step-by-step instructions will help you fold this elegant model, even if you’re new to origami. With just a square sheet of paper and a few minutes of your time, you can create a stunning origami butterfly that captures the simplicity and grace of this timeless art form.
Let’s get started!
Traditional Origami Butterfly Step-by-Step Instructions
- Difficulty: Easy – Beginner Level 3
- Folding time: 10-15 minutes
- Model designer: Traditional
- Paper: Kami 15×15 cm
Step 1
Start with a square sheet of paper with the white side up. Fold it in half horizontally, crease it well, and then unfold it.
Step 2
Fold the paper in half vertically, crease it well, and then unfold it.
Step 3
Fold the top quarter of the paper along the dotted line to the center line. Crease this fold well and then unfold it.
Step 4
Fold the bottom quarter of the paper along the dotted line to the center line. Crease this fold well and then unfold it.
Step 5
Fold the right quarter of the paper along the dotted line to the center line. Crease this fold well and then unfold it.
Step 6
Fold the left quarter of the paper along the dotted line to the center line. Crease this fold well and then unfold it.
Step 7
Fold the paper in half diagonally. Crease it well and then unfold it.
Step 8
Fold the paper in half diagonally the other way. Crease it well and then unfold it.
Step 9
Turn the paper over so the colored side is facing up.
Step 10
Fold the corner of the paper to the center along the dotted line. Crease this fold well and then unfold it. Do the same for all the corners.
Step 11
Turn the paper over so the white side is facing up again.
Step 12
Fold the two sides of the paper towards the center along the dotted line. You already have a crease here. Only fold the middle half of the paper where the dotted lines are. Don’t fold the top or bottom parts of the existing crease.
You should have a shape that resembles what you see on the second diagram. Fold both the top and bottom of the model along the dotted lines to the center.
▶️ Watch the video below if you have trouble with this step.
Step 13
This is a completed Boat Base. Fold the bottom two flaps of paper down along the dotted lines.
Step 14
Flip the model over.
Step 15
Fold the top part of the paper down along the dotted line.
Step 16
Flip the model over again.
Step 17
Fold the top flap of paper on the right along the dotted line towards the center. The dotted line goes from the top corner to halfway down the diagonal line at the bottom, as you can see in the diagram.
Fold the top flap of paper on the left along the dotted line towards the center. The dotted line goes from the top corner to halfway down the diagonal line at the bottom, as you can see in the diagram.
▶️ Watch the video below to see how to fold this step. Note: I precreased the paper for the purpose of the video.
Step 18
Flip the model over.
Step 19
Valley Fold along the dotted line in the direction of the arrow in the diagram. Crease this fold well and then unfold it.
Do the same on the other side in the direction of the arrow in the diagram.
🦋 Folding tip: Once you’re done with the first crease, fold one side on top of the other to get perfect symmetry. See the video above to see how.
Step 20
Pinch the middle of the model along the two folds you just made and form a Mountain Fold along the vertical line in the middle. This gives the butterfly its final shape.
The Completed Traditional Origami Butterfly.
How did your origami butterfly turn out? We’d love to see your beautiful creations, so feel free to share a photo in the comments below.
If you have any trouble or questions about the steps, just ask! We’re here to help you perfect your folding skills.
Remember, the traditional paper butterfly is not just a simple project; it’s a symbol of transformation and elegance. Try different colors and patterns to make your butterflies even more unique.
Download the Full Origami Butterfly Printable PDF Instructions
We’d love to keep you in the loop, so by sharing your email with us, you’ll be signed up for our mailing list. Don’t worry; we won’t bombard you with spammy emails, and your information is safe with us – we won’t share it with anyone else.
Hey everyone! I just wanted to let you know that we’ve added some images, gifs, and videos to make this traditional origami butterfly a lot easier for you. Steps 19 and 20 are now step 12. Enjoy 🦋
I am going 2 make these for a party what type of paper do u suggest
Hi Tia, The Kami 15×15 is great in terms of budget and colors. You can go smaller for cuter butterflies, but it’s going to be more difficult to fold them. You can find our paper guide here.
thanks
could be easier but in the end really really really cute
I made a garland with these and origami flowers and it is really pretty! This tutorial is really useful and easy for beginners.
Thank you for sharing with us
Beautiful folds! Thank you for sharing your creation with us, Geeshani.
Absolutely lovely tutorial! Just decided to get into origami, and this was the first tutorial I landed on. Perfectly paced, explained, and provided additional detail where I would need it. Genuinely- Thank you. 🙂
Thank you for your kind comment Pascal! I hope you’ll enjoy the rest of the site and everything that’s to come 🙂
I believe that steps 19-20 require either more pictures, or maybe a video. Thank you.
I updated the step 19 with a gif and a video.
Sorry for the frustrated message, the step 19 to 20 makes absolutely no sense to me either. I think we see here the limits of following instruction in 2D. I don’t think origami is for me, at least with instruction in 2D.
How do you post a photo?
Hi Kathryn, There is a small icon just above the “Post Comment” button. I’d love to see more pictures in the comments 🙂
I did the crane, jumping frog, box and butterfly. I think I did pretty good for my first try! Thanks for the easy diagrams, they are so easy to follow!
What is step #20 a picture of? Can someone take a picture and show a picture of what that step looks like? I’m struggling to understand it. Please help me.
and 20
i got stuck with 21 and 22