Petal fold

A petal fold is a move where you lift one layer of a point upward while its sides fold inward, producing a long, narrow diamond.

Start by folding the side edges in to the center and folding the top triangle down to create guide creases, then unfold them. Lift the bottom corner of the top layer along the horizontal crease, let the sides fall inward along their creases, and press everything flat.

The petal fold fails when the guide creases are weak or the sides do not meet at the center. Press the top triangle crease firmly, and guide the sides with your fingers as the flap rises. It appears twice in the Paper Crane.

How to fold a petal fold, step by step

1
Start with a preliminary base, or another square flap, with the open end pointing toward you.
2
Fold the lower left and right edges of the top layer in to the center line and crease firmly.
3
Fold the small top triangle down over those flaps, crease along its base, then lift it back up.
4
Unfold the two side flaps so only the guide creases remain.
5
Lift the bottom corner of the top layer and swing it upward, hinging on the horizontal crease from step 3.
6
As it rises, let the sides fold inward along their creases until they meet in the middle.
7
Press everything flat into a long, narrow diamond.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

The sides don’t meet in the middle
The side creases were not on the center line. Redo them precisely before lifting; the petal fold only follows the creases you give it.
Wrinkles appear at the top of the diamond
The horizontal crease is too weak to act as a hinge. Sharpen it with a fingernail and try again.
One side of the diamond is taller than the other
Guide both sides in with your fingers as the flap rises, and check the symmetry before you press it flat.

When you’ll use it

The petal fold is the heart of the traditional crane, the flapping bird and the lily, and it is the move that separates beginner models from intermediate ones. It looks complicated because several creases move at once, but it is really one motion: lift a flap and let the creases you made earlier do the work. Once it feels natural you will notice it in other bases too; the frog base needs four of them, one on each of its squashed flaps. Folding ten petal folds in a row on scrap squares is the fastest way to make the Paper Crane feel easy.

Practice it on these models

Advanced15 min · 19 steps

Paper Crane

The origami crane is the traditional Japanese orizuru, a bird with spread wings folded from a single square without cuts or glue. It is an advanced model: expect about 15 minutes for your first one, mostly spent learning the petal fold and inside reverse fold.

Petal fold: questions

Why is it called a petal fold?+

The long, pointed diamond it creates looks like a flower petal, and the move is used in flower models such as the traditional lily.

Which models use a petal fold?+

The Paper Crane uses two, one on each side of the preliminary base, to make the bird base. It is the step most beginners find hardest in the crane, so practice it on a large square first.

Can I make a petal fold without the guide creases?+

Experienced folders sometimes do, but the creases are what make the move reliable; without them the sides rarely meet in the middle. For your first dozen petal folds, always make all three guide creases first.