Needles 'n' Knowledge: Penn Folded Star Ornament

Traditional paper folding eight-pointed star,

this version with four "front-only" peaks

due to strip length restrictions of letter size stock.

Measures approx. 3.5" wide.

Attach center square to back to provide

a ribbon hole hanger with added 10mm wood bead.

Add offset "label" to back to personalize

as a gift ornament.

For a front & back dimensional star,

prepare a second star and glue back to back

with hanger in between.

Use copy weight paper (as opposed to card stock)

or other "soft" and flexible medium, and since

this style paper often is available only

as letter size, strips must be joined

before beginning.

This model uses hand-made paper.

The illustrations and explanations which follow
will assist in preparing strips and folding
to form the star.
Another excellent tutorial with line drawing
illustrations can be found at
http://www.origami-resource-center.com/german-star.html .
Step numbering in this blog roughly follows
the same steps numbering thru step 18.
Follow steps 2-18 only, then return
to this tutorial for tag and ribbon finishing.

FOLDING & ASSEMBLY:
A. Identify and cut the shapes:
(4) long strips A-D
(4) short strips a-d
E back hang tag
Not shown: optional message "label"
NOTE: slightly more than ONE star's
strips can be cut from an 8.5x11 sheet.

1. Bend short strip end tabs back, then position
and attach straight end of a long strip over
the tab. Join 4 strips pairs, then fold in half
at perforation, short strip on the bottom.

2. Weave together the four strips as shown,
so that strip B ends are both inserted between
A layers, C between B layers, A between D layers,
and D ends inserted between C layers.

Adjust all strips so that they are tightened
to form a central square,
and the "hole" at center is eliminated.

3. Form a second square by bending
strip A down . . .

. . . strip B to the right . . .

. . . strip C upward, and strip D to the left.
As final step, weave strip D under strip A.

4. Rotate so that strip A is at top right position.
Bend A behind and to the right at a 45 degree
angle that slants as tightly as possible
next to the top of strip B, and make crisp crease.

5. Bend the same strip downward at a

45 degree angle exactly next to the top of

angled fold in step 4, and make crisp crease.

6. Fold the strip so that it lies

on top of itself.

7. It should look like this.

8. Hold the stacked points in position,
then insert the tip of strip under the top strip . . .

. . . and carefully pull through until the strip
is flat.

9. Rotate the assembly one-quarter turn right,

and begin the point folding process as shown,

then follow steps 4-8 for this strip to

create point 2.

Rotate and repeat for points 3, and . . .

. . . for point 4. At the end of point 4 preparation,
it will be necessary to move strip A out of the way
in order to see the place under which the final strip
will be inserted.

10. Flip the assembly over . . .

. . . into this position.

11. Repeat steps 4-9 to create a
second set of points.

The final strip for point #8 will be tucked

under to complete a star that has 8 points,

some of which are hidden under front strips.

12. To prepare to create the front peaks,

lift strip A upward and out of the way.

13. Bend strip B down and crease (each in turn),

followed by strip C left, and strip D upward.

14. Bend strip A fully to the right, and crease.

15. Fold the top right strip to the right
and fold at a 45 degree angle; crease.

16. Bend the same strip around and upward,
taking care that the same face or side of
the strip remains outward (not flipped) during
the process . . .

. . . then insert the tip under the adjacent strip . . .

. . . and continue to slide it through.

You will see that it comes out between the

star points on the opposite side.

(The top layer strip is shown bended upward

out of the way in this frame and the next.)

Carefully continue pulling the strip end through
(shown here using tweezers to assist if necessary)
until the excess is pulled through and a peak
is formed.