How to Make an Origami Pinwheel

Last Updated: February 22, 2023

This origami pinwheel produces a flat and neat pinwheel design, as opposed to the three dimensional design of the usual paper craft pinwheel. This design can be used as a pinwheel, or has many other uses as a decorative item on crafts such as cards and gift boxes, or as a decoration on its own. Follow the instructions to make your own origami pinwheel.

Steps

1
Find a square piece of paper. If it's origami paper, start with the white side up. Fold it in half diagonally both ways. Then, unfold.
2
Fold all four corners to the center, in the same manner as making a fortune teller. This is called a blintz fold.

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3
Unfold.
4
Fold it in half. This is called a book or greeting card fold. Then, unfold.
5
Fold each side to the center so that it looks like opening French doors. This is called a cupboard fold. Do not unfold this.
6
Look at the diagonal creases at the very top. Pull them up and pinch them so they stick up. Then pull them down to the middle so that the shape appears as in the image.
7
Turn the origami around so that the unfolded end is facing away from you and the folded end is facing you. Repeat step six on the unfolded side.
8
Take the left flap on the top and fold it up, as shown in the image.
9
On the bottom portion, fold the right flap down. It's finished!
10
Make use of your origami pinwheel. Here are some ideas for using your origami pinwheel:
- Make a pinwheel: find a pushpin and a chopstick/pencil. Push the pushpin through the paper and into the chopstick or pencil and it looks like a real pinwheel. If you leave room on the pushpin for the wheel to slide back and forth and you blow, it works like a real one.
- Garden decoration: These origami pinwheels look pretty in the garden. They'll last until it rains, or keep them sheltered.
- Cards: Glue the origami pinwheel to cards. Either draw a stick or glue on a thin stick to create a 3D pinwheel effect on the card. Or be imaginative and use the pinwheel to create other designs on the card, such as a windmill, a Ferris wheel, etc.
- Festive decorations: Tie a row of origami pinwheels together along a piece of string or ribbon and hang for festive effect. Try using different colors of paper for best effect, or use colors that are themed to the occasion.
- Gift boxes: Attach an origami pinwheel to a gift box as the "seal" or as a design feature. Pinwheels could also be attached to gift wrapping paper for a 3D effect.
11
Finished.

Community Q&A

Question

I don't have a chopstick, can I use barbecue sticks instead of a pencil?

Community Answer

Yes, as long as they are sturdy enough to hold up your pinwheel. If not, use something more sturdy.
Question

What can I use instead of a thumb tack?

Community Answer

There are other methods in which you don't need a thumb tack, but only a piece of square paper. Do an internet search for "origami pinwheel."
Question

I don't have a pin. Can I use crumpled paper instead?

Community Answer

Using crumpled paper as an alternative to a pin is a bad idea. Paper is too weak to penetrate through the stick of your pinwheel.