The origami lotus is one of those models that looks fussy but isn't. You fold one square of paper, work the corners into the center a few times, then peel the layers up to open the petals. That last part is the fun bit.
This one comes from Paper Kawaii, who has been teaching origami online for years. She uses a memory trick for the folds, "31", so you won't lose your place halfway through. Grab a square of patterned paper and take it slow. Make two lotuses and nest them for a bigger, fuller flower.
What you need
- One square of origami paper, 15 cm (6 inches) is the easy size
- A bone folder, or a thumbnail
- A flat, hard table
Choosing the paper
Standard 15 cm kami works well. It is thin enough to take several layers of folding and still bend when you peel. Thick cardstock or scrapbook paper will fight you and usually tears at the base of the petals.
Foil paper is worth a try once you have the folds down. It holds the curl of each petal, so the bloom stays open on its own. A bigger square, 20 cm or more, is easier for small children and older hands.
Why the creases have to be sharp
Every petal you peel up is a flap that was folded flat earlier. If those creases are soft, the flap has nothing to hinge on and the paper bends in the wrong spot or rips. Run a bone folder or your thumbnail along each fold, every round. It feels slow. It is the difference between a lotus and a crumpled square.
Peeling petals without tearing
Hold the base of the model with one hand the whole time. Use the other to roll each flap up from its tip, a little at a time, instead of yanking it. Open the outer ring of petals before the inner ones, and go round all four sides evenly so no corner takes all the strain.
If a flap won't move, check underneath. It is often trapped by the layer below, and easing that one first frees it.
For the nested double lotus, fold the second one from a square about 2 cm smaller. Drop it into the center of the first and the inner petals sit up through the outer ring. A dab of glue underneath keeps the pair together if it is going on a table.
Ways to use a paper lotus
- Scatter a few down a dinner table or around place cards
- Float one in a shallow bowl (foil paper lasts longer in water)
- Line a mantel or doorway as a Diwali decoration
- Tie one on top of a gift instead of a bow
Paper burns fast, so keep any lotus well away from candles and diyas.
Common mistakes
- Corners missing the center. A small gap at round one becomes uneven petals by round three. Line the tips up every time.
- Peeling the inner layer first. The outer petals lock it in, so it tears. Work from the outside in.
- Tearing at the base. Usually from no support underneath. Keep a finger on the back of the model while you lift.
Want more to fold? Try the classic origami crane, a bunch of paper roses, or the wider set of paper flowers to sit next to your lotus.
