Origami Iris

Start with a square sheet: fold and unfold the paper along the diagonals (in both directions). This gives you an “X” shaped crease.

In this example, the paper is the same color on both sides. If you are using paper which is white on the back side, then start with the colored-side facing up.

Turn the paper over.
Fold in half from left to right.
Unfold

Fold the paper in half (top to bottom).

Gently push the top-left and top-right corners of the paper towards each other. The top layer of paper will lift up along the pre-made creases.

Keep pushing the corners together.

Watch the movement of the green dot.

Swivel the flap of paper towards the right. There should be a similar flap of paper behind the model. Swivel this back flap towards the left.

When done (see next photo), you will get a square shaped piece of paper that is a quarter of the size of the original paper. This form is called a “Preliminary Base” and it is commonly used in the making of many origami models.

We will make a “squash fold”. First, lift the right-flap of paper back up towards you.

Repeat the squash fold. First, lift up the right-flap.

Note: If you used paper that is white on one side and colored on the other side, the model would look more like the one on the left. Some of the white is showing.

Squash the paper down.

Like turning the pages of a book, swivel the squashed-flap from the right towards the left.

Time to do the third squash: lift the right-flap up.

Squash down the paper.

This is how the model should look like. Turn the model over.

Perform the final squash fold: lift the right-flap….

…pry open the layers and squash the paper down.

Now we start the four “Petal Folds”.
First, fold the bottom-left and bottom-right edges of the paper towards the vertical crease .

Unfold.

Lift up the top-layer of paper (green dot).

The sides of the model will fold inwards because of the creases made in previous step.

Keep lifting the paper up at the green dot.

A new triangular flap is made; fold down this small triangular flap.

This is the completed “petal fold”. You will need to do this three more times for the other three petals.
Turn the model over and get ready to repeat-on-the-other-side.

Fold the bottom-left and bottom-right edges of the paper towards the vertical midline as shown.

Unfold the previous step.

Lift the paper at the green dot.

The sides of the paper will automatically fold inwards.

Fold the triangular flap down and you’re done the second petal fold. Two more to go.

Like turning the pages of a book, turn two flaps from the right towards the left.
Do the same at the back side of the model: turn two flaps from right to left.

Time for the third petal fold: fold and unfold the bottom-left and bottom-right edges of the paper towards the central midline.

Lift the paper at the green dot and allow the sides to fold inwards.

Fold the triangular flap down.

Turn the model over for the last petal fold.

Note the abbreviated way of showing the petal fold. Not all steps are shown

Like turning pages in a book: swivel one flap of paper from the right towards the left. At the back of the model, swivel one layer from right to left.

This is how the model looks like. The next few steps will make the “tube” part of the origami iris flower more narrow.

Fold the top-left and top-right edges of the model towards the center.

Turn the model over.

Repeat the narrowing process: fold the top-left and top-right edges towards the center.

Swivel two layers from the right towards the left (do the same at the back side of the model)

Repeat: fold the top-left and top-right edges to the center.

Turn over.

For the last time: fold top-left and top-right edges to the center.
The model is looking pretty narrow!