Step 1
Place a square sheet of paper flat on the table, with the bottom edge horizontal.
additional information
- The corners of the square are: top left, top right, bottom right, and bottom left.
Step 2
Make a vertical valley fold by bringing the right edge over to the left edge. Crease firmly, then unfold.
additional information
- This marks the vertical center crease, which is a valley fold.
Step 3
Make another vertical valley fold by bringing the right edge to align with the vertical center crease.
Crease firmly and leave folded.
Step 4
Make a vertical valley fold by bringing the left edge to align with the vertical center crease.
Crease firmly and leave folded.
additional information
- You now have a vertical rectangle with two free, single-thickness rectangular flaps at the front (one on the right, one on the left), each attached to the rectanglar pannel by a hinge edge.
- The meeting line between these two flaps forms a slit along the vertical center crease.
- This creates a "gate fold."
Step 5
Make a valley fold, horizontal, by bringing the bottom edge up to the top edge.
Crease well, then unfold.
additional information
- This marks the horizontal center crease, which is a valley fold.
- The intersection of the horizontal center crease and the vertical slit indicates the center of the original square.
Step 6
Place the index finger of your left hand on the vertical slit, just below its intersection with the horizontal center crease.
With your other hand, take the top left corner of the right flap and bring it outward, beyond the rectangular pannel. This forms a valley fold connecting the center point to the top right corner.
Crease firmly and leave folded.
additional information
- The right flap now forms a right-angled triangle, with its 90° corner outside the rectangular pannel.
Step 7
Place the index finger of your left hand on the vertical slit, just above its intersection with the horizontal center crease.
With your other hand, take the bottom left corner of the right flap and bring it outward, forming a valley fold connecting the center point to the bottom right corner.
Crease firmly and leave folded.
Step 8
Rotate the entire model 180° clockwise on the table so that the front left flap moves to the right.
additional information
- The front right flap is now a smooth rectangular flap attached to the rectangular pannel by a vertical hinge on the right.
Step 9
Repeat the actions from Steps 6 and 7 on this new flap.
additional information
- You now have a triple-layer structure:
- A vertical rectangle on the table side,
- Two free triangular flaps in the middle, each attached to one long edge of the underlying rectangle by a hinge,
- The tips of the two triangular flaps meet at the center of the model.
- Each triangular flap has two visible front triangles, one of whose edges connects the center point to a corner of the rectangular pannel.
- The next steps create seven evenly spaced horizontal valley folds between the top and bottom edges of the model.
Step 10
Make a valley fold by bringing the top edge down to the horizontal center crease.
Crease firmly, then unfold.
Step 11
Make a valley fold by bringing the bottom edge up to the horizontal center crease.
Crease firmly, then unfold.
additional information
- You now have three horizontal valley folds: bottom, middle, and top.
Step 12
Make a valley fold by bringing the top edge down to the lower horizontal crease.
Crease firmly, then unfold.
Step 13
Make a valley fold by bringing the bottom edge up to the upper horizontal crease.
Crease firmly, then unfold.
Step 14
Make a valley fold by bringing the top edge down to the upper horizontal crease.
Crease firmly, then unfold.
Step 15
Make a valley fold by bringing the bottom edge up to the lower horizontal crease.
Crease firmly, then unfold.
additional information
- You now have seven horizontal valley folds dividing the height into eight equal horizontal panels.
- Name them from top to bottom: Panel 1 to Panel 8.
Step 16
Flip Panel 8 upward onto Panel 7 using the valley hinge between them.
Then make a horizontal valley fold by bringing the top edge of Panel 8 down to the hinge connecting it to Panel 7.
Crease firmly and leave folded.
additional information
- The lower part of Panel 7 is now triple-thickness and begins forming an accordion.
Step 17
Flip Panel 7 upward onto Panel 6 using the hinge fold.
The accordion section is now between Panels 7 and 6.
Make a horizontal valley fold by bringing the top edge of Panel 7 down to the hinge connecting it to Panel 6.
Crease firmly and leave folded.
additional information
- The lower part of Panel 6 is now five layers thick.
- The accordion returns to the upper side.
Step 18
Flip Panel 6 upward onto Panel 5 using the hinge fold.
The accordion lies between Panels 6 and 5.
Make a horizontal valley fold by bringing the top edge of Panel 6 down to the hinge connecting it to Panel 5.
Crease firmly and leave folded.
additional information
- The accordion returns to the upper side.
Step 19
Flip Panel 5 upward onto Panel 4.
The accordion lies between Panels 5 and 4.
Make a horizontal valley fold by bringing the top edge of Panel 5 down to the hinge connecting it to Panel 4.
Crease firmly and leave folded.
additional information
- The accordion returns to the upper side.
Step 20
Flip Panel 4 upward onto Panel 3.
Make a horizontal valley fold by bringing the top edge of Panel 4 down to the hinge connecting it to Panel 3.
Crease firmly and leave folded.
additional information
- The accordion returns to the upper side.
Step 21
Flip Panel 3 upward onto Panel 2.
Make a horizontal valley fold by bringing the top edge of Panel 3 down to the hinge connecting it to Panel 2.
Crease firmly and leave folded.
additional information
- The accordion returns to the upper side.
Step 22
Flip Panel 2 upward onto Panel 1.
Make a horizontal valley fold by bringing the top edge of Panel 2 down to the hinge connecting it to Panel 1.
Crease firmly and leave folded.
additional information
- Panel 1 is now connected to the accordion by its hinge.
Step 23
Turn the entire model from right to left.
additional information
- Panel 1 is now on top, connected to the accordion beneath it.
Step 24
Make a horizontal valley fold by bringing the top edge of Panel 1 down to the hinge connecting it to the accordion.
Crease firmly and leave folded.
additional information
- You now have a 16-flap accordion, with 8 mountain folds and 7 valley folds alternating.
Step 25
Using a semi-rigid wire (such as a twist tie), tie the accordion at the mark of the original vertical crease.
Step 26
Gently spread the accordion flaps on each side of the tie to form the butterfly’s wings.
additional information
- The free ends of the wire become the butterfly’s antennae.