Origami Nut » Stars

That Simple Unit (TSU)

Origami Nut — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:24:14 +0000

A modular unit from which you can assemble anything you want. Courtesy of Charles Esseltine. I gave some examples of what you can assemble with the TSU, but there is really no limit of what you can do with it.

I made a total of 16 modules, you can assemble in any way you like from 3 modules to infinity. I’d recommend 4 or 5 units for starters. You can find some examples from Anniefolds website.

Paper to use

You need square papers to make this one, in the video I used 10cm wide paper.

Diagrams

Diagrams on Annie’s archived website.

Froebel Star

Origami Nut — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:49:37 +0000

This Froebel star by Froebel Friedrich (1782-1852) is made from 4 strips of paper – it is also known as German star, Swedish star, Polish star, Danish star, Pennsylvanian star, advent star, Moravian Star and probably by some other names too.

While tucking the strips it’s helps to cut the ends so that they would fit more easily.

On the website where I discovered it there are some interesting ideas like how to make a basket out of these.

Paper to use

I used an A4 format paper and made the strips 1cm wide.

Diagrams

Diagrams here.

8 Point Star

Origami Nut — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:46:05 +0000

A shuriken like modular star by Robert Neale. It’s also called octagon star or “Pinwheel-Ring-Pinwheel”. It’s easy to make and once all the modules are assembled they slide in place.

It can be either a ring or a pointy throwing star (that’s why the “Pinwheel-Ring-Pinwheel” name), but it doesn’t change shape on the fly.

Paper to use

Made with 8 square papers, I used 10cm square papers, but for its function it might be better to use smaller squares.

Diagrams

Diagrams here.

Sprinkler

Origami Nut — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:44:53 +0000

A very good modular for beginners, the modules only need 8 creases and the assembly is really straight forward. Made by Paula Versnick.

You can do as many modules as you want and assemble them in various ways, the video shows how to fold a module, how to connect it to another one and some examples.

The modules can also be “sinked”, it’s a really good model for practicing that technique.

Paper to use

6 or 12 square papers, depending on what you want to make. I used 10cm square paper.

Diagrams

Diagrams here.

Omega Star V2

Origami Nut — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:04:49 +0000

Since a lot of people were asking for a slower video of the omega star here it is. Unfortunately I still had to speed it up a little, but I did it on the easier bits.

The very last part had to be left out because I got to the 10 minute limit, but it’s just the same step over and over again.

The other video was too fast, so I hope you can understand this one. But I will never repeat myself enough: look at the diagrams, I made it looking at the diagrams, this video should help you fold it if you have trouble with the diagrams.

Paper to use

You need one square paper, the smaller the harder to fold. I used 20cm wide paper for this one.

Diagrams

Diagrams here.

Spiked Icosahedron

Origami Nut — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:14:50 +0000

A spiked icosahedron made with Nick Robinson’s trimodules. Before you begin this one note that folding a single module correctly takes about 2 to 5 minutes, you need 30 of them, it gets boring fast.

The final model is about 17cm from spike to spike. The one I made has only 2 colors, it might have looked better with 3 different colors.

At first, when assembling, it will not hold together very well, but once all the pieces are in place it’s very sturdy.

You can also assemble it with less modules if you’re really fed up with folding.

Paper to use

You’ll need 30 square papers, I used 10cm wide paper.

Diagrams

Found on Nick Robinson’s website.

Lesser Stellar Dodecahedron

Origami Nut — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:05:28 +0000

The Lesser Stellar Dodecahedron by Meenakshi Mukerji takes quite some time as it’s made from 30 modules. It’s not the sturdiest modular, but holds together nevertheless.

The modules are 36 degree isosceles triangle units which are quite easy to fold. The assembly is a bit tricky as one unit interlocks using 2 other units.

You can also try to assemble a different number of units too, on the pictures one is made of 6 modules and the other 12.

Paper to use

30 square papers.

Diagrams

Diagrams courtesy of Meenakshi.

Mennorode Star

Origami Nut — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:59:37 +0000

A modular composed of 12 pieces, very easy to fold, but a bit frustrating to assemble. When connecting the last module to the first I didn’t bother locking them because I would have torn the whole thing apart and it was sturdy enough as it was. A stellar origami by Carmen Sprung.

Paper to use

12 square papers, 6 of one one color and 6 of another.

Diagrams

Diagrams on Carmen’s website.

Star Box

Origami Nut — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:44:53 +0000

A modular box by Robin Glynn. I made one of these a while ago, but couldn’t get it to hold together. I wouldn’t recommend trying to do this from the video, you should take look at the diagrams before doing anything.

This model is very unstable, unless you use glue or some adhesive tape.

I tried to make the lid, but the modules didn’t hold together as well as I wanted, so I didn’t film that.

Paper to use

6 square papers for the box and 6 for the lid, same size.

Diagrams

The diagrams are on Robin Glynn’s website.

Six Pointed Star

Origami Nut — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:30:22 +0000

A six pointed star that doesn’t fly very well. Made from a single A4 format paper, folded in an equilateral triangle. The star is sturdy and won’t unfold.

It’s not the most exciting model, but great for beginners.

Paper to use

One A4 format paper, but really you need an equilateral triangle, so you can cut it out from any format.

Diagrams

Made and diagrammed by David Petty.