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Free Guide to Strip Folding Paper Weaving 2025
Guide to Strip Folding Paper Weaving
Strip folding
Also known as paper weaving, is a captivating branch of origami that combines folding and interlacing strips of paper to create intricate patterns, decorative objects, or functional items. Unlike traditional origami, which typically uses a single sheet, strip folding involves weaving multiple paper strips to form designs like Lucky Stars, Moravian Stars, or geometric forms. This guide provides an overview of techniques, tools, history, and resources to master strip folding, suitable for beginners and enthusiasts alike.
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What is Strip Folding (Paper Weaving)?Strip folding is a hybrid of origami and weaving, where paper strips are folded, knotted, or interlaced to create two- or three-dimensional structures. The most iconic example is the Lucky Star, a small, puffy star made by folding and knotting a single strip of paper. Other creations include woven baskets, garlands, and polyhedra, blending precision with creativity. This technique is accessible, requiring minimal materials, and is often meditative, making it popular for both children and adults.Materials Needed
- Paper Strips: Lightweight paper (e.g., 24-32 lb bond, origami paper, or magazine pages) cut into strips, typically 1/2 to 1 inch wide and 8-12 inches long. Pre-cut strips are available for Lucky Stars.
- Tools: Scissors or a paper cutter for clean edges, a ruler for measuring, tweezers for precision, and optional glue or tape to secure ends.
- Optional: Creasing tool (e.g., bone folder or back of a knife) for sharp folds, graph paper for planning complex patterns.
- Preparing Strips: Cut paper into even strips (e.g., 1/2 inch wide, 8.5 inches long). Contrasting colors enhance visual patterns. Use a paper cutter for precision to avoid jagged edges, which can complicate weaving.
- Basic Weaving (Checkerboard Pattern):
- Fold a base sheet in half (hamburger style) and cut evenly spaced slits from the fold to within 1 inch of the opposite edge.
- Unfold the base sheet and weave a strip over and under the slits. Push it to the top.
- Weave the next strip in the opposite pattern (under, then over). Continue alternating until the base is filled.
- Secure ends with glue or tape, or fold them over for a clean finish.
- Lucky Star Folding:
- Start with a long strip (e.g., 1/2 inch wide, 10 inches long).
- Form a loop and knot it to create a pentagon shape.
- Wrap the remaining strip around the pentagon, folding tightly, and tuck the end under a layer.
- Pinch each corner to puff out the star.
- Advanced Techniques:
- Experiment with knotology (coined by Heinz Strobl), where strips are folded into triangles or quadrilaterals and woven into polyhedra without glue.
- Use decorative papers (e.g., printed magazine pages) or vary strip widths for visual complexity.
- Try shifu, a Japanese technique weaving paper threads into cloth-like textiles, often using konnyaku starch for durability.
- Experiment with knotology (coined by Heinz Strobl), where strips are folded into triangles or quadrilaterals and woven into polyhedra without glue.
Tips for Success
- Use contrasting colors to highlight patterns.
- Keep strips straight and evenly spaced for a polished look.
- For complex designs, plan patterns on graph paper to map warp and weft strips.
- Practice fine motor skills for tight, precise weaves, especially for small models like Lucky Stars.
- 7th–16th Century: Paper folding in Japan, including early ceremonial forms, emerged after paper’s introduction from China via Korea around 610 CE. Washi paper, developed in the Heian period (794–1185), was used for folded decorations in Shinto ceremonies, laying the groundwork for origami. Strip folding likely evolved from these practices, though specific evidence is scarce.
- 17th–18th Century: By the Edo period (1603–1868), recreational origami, including strip folding, gained popularity. A 1680 poem by Ihara Saikaku references butterfly origami for weddings, suggesting paper folding’s cultural integration. Strip-based designs, like woven decorations, may have been used in ceremonies.
- 19th Century: In Europe, Friedrich Fröbel introduced paper folding and weaving in kindergartens, including the Froebel Star, a strip-folded Christmas ornament. In Japan, ceremonial origami evolved, with strip folding used for decorative crafts. Victorian-era Europe saw paper weaving’s popularity for intricate designs.
- 20th Century: Akira Yoshizawa’s 1954 notation system modernized origami, including strip folding. The Lucky Star became a global phenomenon, often used in garlands or as wishing stars. In North America, Lillian Oppenheimer popularized origami, including strip folding, in the 1950s. Heinz Strobl advanced knotology, creating complex polyhedra.
- 21st Century (2000–Present): Strip folding thrives in digital communities, with tutorials on platforms like YouTube and Instagram. Artists like Helen Hiebert and David Samuel Stern experiment with paper weaving, blending it with art and photography. Shifu weaving gains niche interest, with workshops in Japan and beyond.
Famous People in Strip Folding
- Akira Yoshizawa: Modernized origami with notation; influenced all folding techniques.
- Lillian Oppenheimer: Popularized origami in the U.S., including strip folding.
- Heinz Strobl: Developed knotology, creating complex strip-folded polyhedra.
- Helen Hiebert: Created the 100 x 100 Paper Weavings Project in 2013, exploring artistic weaving.
- David Samuel Stern: Weaves photographs into surreal paper art.
- Susan J. Byrd: Authored books on shifu, advancing paper weaving techniques.
- Hiroko Karuno: Japanese artist teaching shifu weaving workshops.
- Friedrich Fröbel: Introduced paper weaving in education, creating the Froebel Star.
- Naomi Kendall: Demonstrates paper weaving techniques in educational videos.
- June Gilbank: Runs PlanetJune, offering strip folding tutorials like Lucky Stars.
- Japan: Origami Tanteidan
- Website: https://www.origami.gr.jp
- Email: [email protected]
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JapanOrigami
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/origamitanteidan
- UK: British Origami Society
- Website: https://www.britishorigami.org
- Email: [email protected]
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BritishOrigami
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/britishorigamisociety
- USA: OrigamiUSA
- Website: https://www.origamiusa.org
- Email: [email protected]
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/OrigamiUSA
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/origamiusa
- Europe: Origami Deutschland
- Website: https://www.origami-deutschland.de
- Email: [email protected]
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/OrigamiDE
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/origamideutschland
- Europe: Centro Diffusione Origami (Italy)
- Website: https://www.origami.it
- Email: [email protected]
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/CDO_Origami
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centrodiffusioneorigami
YouTube Videos on Strip Folding
- Paper Weaving Techniques and Ideas (2025): Explores basic and complex weaving patterns. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example1
- Simple Paper Weaving (2020): Beginner-friendly tutorial using two sheets of paper. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example2[](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wJbzJV_Q5c)
- How to Make Origami Lucky Stars (2023): Step-by-step guide to folding Lucky Stars. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example3
- Advanced Paper Weaving with Photographs (2022): Demonstrates weaving with printed images. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example4
- Shifu: Weaving Paper into Cloth (2024): Tutorial on Japanese shifu weaving. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example5
Conclusion (150 Words)Strip folding, or paper weaving, is a versatile and engaging origami technique that blends creativity with precision, offering endless possibilities for artistic expression. From the meditative process of folding Lucky Stars to the intricate patterns of shifu and knotology, this art form appeals to beginners and experts alike. Its history, rooted in Japan’s Edo period and enriched by global influences like Fröbel’s educational crafts, highlights its cultural and educational significance. Modern innovators like Helen Hiebert and Heinz Strobl have elevated strip folding into contemporary art, while online communities and clubs like OrigamiUSA foster its growth. With minimal materials and accessible techniques, anyone can start weaving vibrant patterns or sculptural forms. Whether creating a simple bookmark or a complex polyhedron, strip folding invites exploration and personal flair. Dive into this craft to discover a rewarding blend of tradition, innovation, and hands-on creativity that continues to inspire across generations.
Paul (Poison Fish) Manjyu Woodman
