Step 1
Take a square sheet of paper and lay it 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 well, then unfold.
additional information
- This marks the vertical axis of symmetry.
Step 3
Make a vertical valley fold by bringing the right edge to the vertical axis of symmetry.
Crease well, and leave it folded.
Step 4
Make a vertical valley fold by bringing the left edge to the vertical axis of symmetry.
Crease well, and leave it folded.
additional information
- You obtain a vertical rectangle with two double-thickness rectangular flaps, one on each side.
- On the front face, a slit follows the vertical axis of symmetry.
Step 5
Make a horizontal valley fold by bringing the bottom edge up to meet the top edge.
Crease well, then unfold.
additional information
- This marks the horizontal axis of symmetry.
Step 6
Make a horizontal valley fold by bringing the bottom edge up to the horizontal axis of symmetry.
Crease well, and leave it folded.
Step 7
Make a horizontal valley fold by bringing the top edge down to the horizontal axis of symmetry.
Crease well, and leave it folded.
additional information
- You obtain a quadruple-thickness square.
- The front upper flap is a double-thickness horizontal rectangle whose top edge is a hinge edge connecting it to the lower square.
- The front lower flap is a double-thickness horizontal rectangle whose bottom edge is a hinge edge connecting it to the lower square.
- The two front flaps meet along a horizontal slit on the axis of symmetry.
Step 8
Form a diagonal valley fold (through all layers) by bringing the bottom right corner up to the top left corner.
Crease well, then unfold.
Step 9
Form a diagonal valley fold (through all layers) by bringing the bottom left corner up to the top right corner.
Crease well, then unfold.
Step 10
Lift the front lower flap to a vertical position.
Insert your right index finger between the two layers along the right vertical valley fold.
Insert your left index finger between the two layers along the left vertical valley fold.
Push the right finger to the right and the left finger to the left simultaneously.
Then fold the vertical flap down against the model.
additional information
- The front lower flap, originally rectangular, becomes a horizontal trapezoid.
Step 11
Rotate the model half a turn without flipping it over.
additional information
- The trapezoid-shaped flap is now the front upper flap.
Step 12
Repeat the manipulations described in step 10 on the front lower flap.
additional information
- The pinwheel base is ready.
- The model is a symmetrical six-sided shape.
- The top and bottom edges are horizontal.
- The back side (against the table) is a square.
- The front side consists of two horizontal trapezoids whose longer bases meet along the horizontal axis of symmetry.
- The right and left sections are triangular, each formed by an independent double-thickness triangle separated by a horizontal slit.