Blintz Fold

The blintz fold is a beginner-friendly yet highly useful technique in origami.

By folding all four corners of a square into the center, you create a strong foundation for countless models, from decorative designs to functional creations.

This fold is used in projects like the butterfly origami, paper photo frame, cat origami box, and paper tulips. Let's walk through the steps!

The blintz fold is one of the most straightforward origami techniques, yet it plays a vital role in many designs.

The blintz fold is a basic origami technique where all corners of a square sheet are folded into the centre. It is commonly used as a starting step in more complex models and helps create a compact, symmetrical base shape.

The result is a smaller, compact square that serves as the base for various models.

The blintz fold is commonly used in decorative origami, modular origami, and even functional designs.

It provides a symmetrical starting point for models like the butterfly origami and paper tulips while also forming the foundation of practical projects like this paper photo frame and cat origami box.

If you're just starting your origami journey, the blintz fold is a great technique to master early on.

It teaches symmetry, precision, and fold alignment-skills that will help you with more complex models.

For more beginner-friendly folds, check out our collection of easy origami for beginners.

Now, let's get started!

Skill Level

★☆☆☆☆ (Very Easy)

Video Tutorial

Struggling with a tricky fold or want to see it done in real time?

You're not alone - that's why we created a full step-by-step video tutorial for this design available in The Fold Collective shop (an Easy Foldable Creations exclusive community).

We guide you through each fold at a pace that's easy to follow, so you can fold along with confidence and enjoy the process.

Access this exclusive video tutorial in the shop.

Or, why not join The Fold Collective which gives you access to a library of video tutorials and printable PDF tutorials - all designed to inspire you, help you improve, and make folding even more fun.

The Fold Collective is more than just exclusive video tutorials and printable PDF patterns.

It's about building a thriving community of paper crafters from all over the world.

If you want to be part of something special, and gain access to a growing library of exclusive tutorials, join The Fold Collective and start folding today.

Prefer the step-by-step photo tutorial instead?

No problem, the full photo guide is waiting just below.

Materials Needed

1 square sheet of origami paper

Instructions

Step 1: Start with the color you want on the outside facing down.

Step 2: Fold the bottom edge up to meet the top edge.

Step 3: Unfold previous step.

Step 4: Fold the left edge to meet the right edge.

Step 5: Unfold previous step.

Step 6: Fold the bottom left corner in to meet the middle where all the creases meet.

Step 7: Repeat previous step for remaining corners. Completed blintz fold.

Common Uses

The blintz fold is used in many popular origami projects, including:

• Butterfly Origami - A decorative design that starts with a blintz fold for a symmetrical base.
• Paper Photo Frame - A practical and stylish way to frame small pictures or notes.
• Cat Origami Box - A cute and functional box featuring cat-like details.
• Paper Tulips - A floral design that benefits from the strong, structured shape of the blintz fold.

Related Folds

Once you've mastered the blintz fold, try these next:

• Petal Fold - A fold that helps create pointed or layered shapes, often used in floral models.
• Square Base - A fundamental base that is used in many traditional origami designs.
• Water Bomb Fold - A similar folding technique that leads to collapsible, inflatable models.

Helpful Origami Tips

If you're curious to learn more about origami, you might like to look at our basic guides on how to make some common origami folds.

Start with the valley fold and mountain fold-these are the foundation of most origami models.

Once you're comfortable, you might like to try the petal fold for 3D shapes, and explore the bird base and square base for more complex designs.

The water bomb base is also great for creating inflatable or geometric models, like this inflatable origami rabbit.

Useful Paper Craft Terms

Want to learn a little more about paper crafts and origami?

We've made this helpful printable just for you. It explains common terms and helpful tips you might come across when you are folding origami or making a paper craft project.

You can download the useful paper craft terms printable PDF here.