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.
Other Origami Butterflies:
Download the Full Origami Butterfly Printable PDF Instructions
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Watch the Origami Butterfly Video Tutorial
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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.
I think I miraculously ended up with a correct butterfly, although I didn’t understand Steps #28-#30 because I don’t understand the terminology of Valley Fold and Mountain Fold.
If you click on the link at the top names “Paper Guide” the first entry explains what mountain and valley folds are
I finally did it ????????
How can i upload a photo of it?
Super its really easy I like it
Super
Hi everyone, I’m 11 and this was tricky for me too but I would definitely recommend an adult to help you.
Overall its easy , but there are certain step that get me to think how. My butterfly is perfect.
It’s easy…. But little difficult too
This is really hard I think I will give this a 3 star rating because I’m 11 and this is difficult.
Mine didn’t turn out right, the tail was in one piece.
I got 19 just I don’t know how to do 20
I don’t get number 19 and when I did it it just turned into a square
its easy but also hard
Steps 19-20 make absolutely no sense to me at all. Can someone please explain in plain English??
I loved it, I just had to search separately how to do a boat base but that did help.
What’s step 19?
Fold just along the dotted lines and the rest of the paper should start to take on the shape from step 20 based on the previous creases you made.
Yes! Thank you. I couldn’t understand why my butterfly kept ending with a one-piece tail.
Hi! I had the same problem, but when looking through the other comments found Frank’s, which said “I think step 21 is wrong. You should turn it 90 degrees to have the two separate triangles pointing down that will form the tails at the end.” I tried it and it worked for me, maybe it’ll work for you too.
This site is really very helpful for beginners. I have learned to make origami butterflies from here and also tried many things for surprising my kids. They have also become a fan of your tutorials. Thanks a lot for sharing such unique step by step tutorials with us.
We were having trouble from step 19 because we couldn’t figure out how to decipher step 20. Still struggling.
Step 19 is not working please show how to do it as it won,t come out that way like in step 20
The tops turn into 3D triangle sort of things
I think step 21 is wrong. You should turn it 90 degrees to have the two separate triangles pointing down that will form the tails at the end.
I haven’t finished step ten. I think I having trouble with folding. Please send help. But I completed a Wasa origami bowl. But can’t figure the step ten in the butterfly. It looks easy, but I haven’t figured it out. It looks easy, we with the mountain and valley folds.
Step 10 is simply unfolding the paper from the previous step. Was it a different step that was giving you difficulty?