Woven Bookmark

origami bookmark
Learn how to make a woven bookmark using just one long strip of paper. Instructions on this page will show you how to carefully fold and weave the paper into a delightful bookmark.

The project is more stunning if you use paper that is colored on one side and white on the back side. Or, if you can, get paper that has a different color on both sides. In this example, the paper strip is 1/2″ wide and 11″ long and the finished bookmark is 3½ inches long.

Instructions for Woven Bookmark

origami bookmark

Step 1:

Take a long strip of paper and fold it in half, then unfold.

origami bookmark

Step 2:

Fold the right side downwards at a 45 degree angle. Use the crease made above as a guide to keep the folds straight.

weaved bookmark

Step 3:

Rotate the paper so it looks like an inverted V.

weaved bookmark

Step 4:

Fold the right side of the paper towards the left. Make sure that the crease is at a 45 degree angle (in this case, the crease is vertical).

weaved bookmark

Step 5:

Flip the model over. Note that the ends of the paper are now pointing towards the left but in the next image, the paper strips are pointing towards the right. The color side is facing up.

weaved bookmark

Step 6:

Fold the top-right strip of paper towards the left. Again, make a 45 degree fold using the edge of the white triangle as a guide. It is important to be as straight as possible otherwise the woven bookmark will crooked.

weaved bookmark

Step 7:

At this point, the model looks like an upside down V but with a stub of paper at the top. Weave the top strip (white) under the red strip.

weaved bookmark

Step 8:

You begin to see the checkered board pattern classic of woven projects. Fold the right strip of paper towards the left. As you might expect: make 45 degree angle so you get a vertical crease. Remember to use the edge of the white strip of paper as a guide to keep the folds straight.

braided bookmark

Step 9:

Flip the model so the strips of paper point towards the right.

braided bookmark

Step 10:

Fold the right strip at a 45 degree angle. Here you will begin to see a pattern:

  1. Fold, (shown here)
  2. weave, (next step)
  3. fold, and
  4. flip.
  5. Repeat.

braided bookmark

Step 11:

Weave white strip under red strip. If you can’t remember which strip should be on top or bottom, try to visualize how you can position the strips so you get the checker board pattern.

braided bookmark

Step 12:

Follow the Fold-Weave-Fold-and-Flip pattern.
Now is the time to make the second, 45 degree angle fold.

braided bookmark

Step 13:

Flip the model over and you are back to the beginning of the Fold-weave-fold-flip pattern.

braided bookmark

Step 14:

Fold-Weave-Fold-and-Flip. Notice of the checker board pattern is getting more and more prominent. The inverted V shape will turn into an inverted Y.

braided bookmark braided bookmark

origami bookmark

When you have folded & woven the entire length of the paper, it should look something like this. Now we have to secure the ends of the paper so it doesn’t unravel.
origami bookmark

Step 15:

Cut off the excess bit of paper and flip the model over.

origami bookmark

Step 16:

Cut off the excess bit of paper and flip the model over.

origami bookmark

Step 17:

Valley fold the remaining strip of paper up.

origami bookmark

Step 18:

Valley fold the remaining strip of paper up.

origami bookmark

If you did this correctly, the paper strip should be secure and you should have the checker board pattern. Your woven origami bookmark is done!

origami bookmark origami bookmark
You can also make this woven bookmark with the colors reversed: the central square is white and the colored areas are along the perimeter. To do this, simply start with the colored side of the paper facing up (first few steps shown below)

You can make different colors and sizes of the woven bookmark.
This woven bookmark can be converted to a hanging ornament.

Where do you want to go?

origami bookmark