Butterfly Model

Two paper butterflies on calendula flowers

There may well be over 20,000 different species of butterfly worldwide, which any good lepidopterists would know. Butterflies are actually matured caterpillar, the fuzzy worm like creatures that devour trees and leaves. After eating enough, the caterpillar folds itself into a butterfly. Many butterflies have remarkable colors and pattern, to scare predators and attract other butterflies. When folding the origami butterfly model, you are encouraged to use brightly patterned paper.

Did you know ? : Though some people believe the word 'butterfly' comes from swapping letters in the word 'flutterby', the truth of the matter is that the Dutch called them buttorfleoge. It seems the Dutch believed that butterflies stole milk

The classic origami butterfly is made with a rectangular piece of paper, twice as long as it is high.

Begin the butterfly model with a rectangular piece of paper, twice as wide as it is high. Start with the colored side down.

Butterfly Model Step 2

Valley fold the paper in half forming a square with the colored side of the paper exposed.

Valley fold the paper in half, forming a square with the pattern exposed. Crease well and unfold.


Diagonally valley fold the top two corners to meet at the middle of the bottom edge.

Diagonally valley fold the top left and right corners to meet on the bottom edge, in the center. Crease well.


Mountain fold two creases halfway from the center of the bottom edge and the corners, to the center of the top edge. Crease well and lay flat.

On the lower layer, mountain fold the two triangles in half. The creases will extend from tip of the triangle, to the bottom edge, halfway between the center and the valley crease. The top triangles will fold behind the model, creating a diamond behind a triangle.

 

Butterfly Model Step 3

Valley fold the top to the bottom, crease well and unfold. Valley fold the top point to the center of the model. Crease well.

Valley fold the top tip to the bottom tip, crease well and unfold. Valley fold the top tip to the center of the model, crease well.


Refold the center crease, sliding the top point under the pocket that is formed just below the center of the model.

Valley fold the model through the center crease you just made. The tip needs to slide into the pocket, locking the flap down.


You may need to relax some of the folds to get the tip in place.

Relax the fold on the bottom just slightly to get the tip into the pocket, and the work it all the way in.

 

Butterfly Model Step 4

With the tip securely under the pocket, lay the model flat.

Once the tip is in position, the butterfly will once again lay flat.


Valley fold the left and right of the pocket you slid the tip into, below the top layer.

The lock in the butterfly model is created by mountain folding the sides of that pocket, to lock the top flap in place. This also defines the seperation between the top and bottom set of wings.


You will need to open the wing of the butterfly slighty to crease this valley fold. It creates the little triangles that seperate the top and bottom wings.

The lock in the butterfly model is created by mountain folding the sides of that pocket, to lock the top flap in place. This also defines the seperation between the top and bottom set of wings.

 

Butterfly Model Step 5

Crease the fold back as far as it will go, locking the pocket in place and defining the top wings.

Open the wing slightly to reveal the lower layer.


Valley fold under the left wing as well, and flatten the butterfly model.

Create the fold as far back as you can, and crease well.


Mountain fold the butterfly down the center.

The angle of the fold will create a small triangle of negative space between the wings. Lay the wing flat, and do it on the other side.

Butterfly Model Step 6

Two diagonal valley folds, like a paper airplane, extending just below center to the top edge, just slightly to the left and right, will define the head of the butterfly and seperate the bottom wings.

Mountain fold the butterfly in half through the center line.


The completed butterfly model has beautiful sharp angles that lend great contrast to the gentleness of the butterfly.

Two valley folds, extending from the center crease just below the top edge, to the top edge just to the left and right of the center crease, will define the head of the butterfly, and seperate the bottom wings.


Two paper butterflies on calendula flowers.

I enjoy the contrast between the sharp angular folds in this model, and the soft, gentleness of the butterfly.