How to Make a Hexagon from a Square Sheet of Paper
Peter Buchan-Symons There are many ways to turn a square sheet into a hexagon. But most of them are harder than they look. Even a small mistake can throw things off, and getting a perfect hexagon isn’t as easy as it sounds.
That changed when I discovered Peter Buchan-Symons’ technique. It’s not magic, and your first try might not be flawless, but it’s by far the most accurate method I’ve found. And when it comes to origami, accuracy really matters.
If you fold a lot of hexagon-based models, I also recommend investing in non-slip hexagon templates. Paired with a scoring tool, it makes the whole process even more reliable.
Square to Hexagon Step-by-Step Instructions
- Difficulty: Easy – beginner Level 3
- Folding time: 10 minutes
Recommended Paper
6 x 6 in (15 x 15 cm) origami paper (Kami) for a hexagon with sides of about 3 in (7.8 cm) and a diagonal of roughly 6.1 in (15.5 cm).
Step 1
Fold and unfold both diagonals.
Step 2
Fold in half horizontally from bottom to top. Then, unfold.
Step 3
Fold the bottom right corner to the crease you just made, so that the fold line passes through the top right corner. Then, unfold.
Step 4
Fold the top left corner to the horizontal crease, so that the fold line passes through the bottom left corner. Then, unfold.
Step 5
Fold the top left and bottom right corners to the circle points.
Step 6
Fold the bottom left edge up to line up with the flap you made in Step 5. Crease only about 1/4 of the length and unfold. Repeat with the top right edge.
Step 7
Fold the bottom left corner to the crease you just made, starting from the circled point. Repeat for the top right corner.
Step 8
Fold two lines that connect the circled points as shown in the diagram.
Step 9
Unfold the triangle flaps and cut them off along the fold lines.
The completed paper hexagon sheet!
Hope this method helps you fold your next snowflake, star, or tessellation with less hassle.
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