Woven Twist Ornament

weave twist ornament

These woven twist ornaments can be used to decorate your Christmas tree. But with a proper choice of patterns and colors, these hanging decorations can be used in weddings and other celebratory events.

It’s best to use paper that is the same color on both sides. In the example below, the paper strip is 1/2″ wide and 11″ long and the finished ornament is 3-dimensional and 3½ inches long.

The project is done in two parts. First you make the woven paper. Second you twist. Let’s start:

Instructions for Woven Twist Ornament

weave twist ornament

Step 1:

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

weave twist ornament

Step 2:

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

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Step 3:

Rotate the paper so it looks like an inverted V.

origami ornament

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 in the vertical direction).

origami ornament

Step 5:

Flip the model over. Note that in this image, the ends of the paper are now pointing towards the left. In the next image, the ends of the paper will point towards the right.

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Step 6:

Fold the right strip of paper towards the left. Again, make a 45 degree fold using the edge of the left strip of paper as a guide (yellow arrow).

It is important to be as straight as possible so the woven twist ornament will be straight and not crooked.

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Step 7:

At this point, the model looks like an inverted V but with a stub of paper at the top.

Weave the top-left strip under the bottom-right strip.

origami ornament

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 the crease is in the vertical direction. Remember to use the edge of the left strip of paper as a guide to keep the folds straight (yellow arrow).

origami ornament

Step 9:

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

origami ornament

Step 10:

Fold the right strip at a 45 degree angle. Here you will begin to see a pattern:
– Fold, (shown here)
– weave, (next step)
– fold,
– flip.
– Repeat.

origami ornament

Step 11:

Weave top strip under bottom 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 interwoven, checker board pattern.

origami ornament

Step 12:

Follow the Fold-Weave-Fold-and-Flip pattern.

Now is the time to make the second, 45 degree angle fold.

origami ornament

Step 13:

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

origami ornament

Step 14:

Here, you begin the pattern again: Fold-Weave-Fold-and-Flip. Now is the time to do the first fold.

origami ornament

Step 15:

Now is the time to weave.

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

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Step 16:

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

Step 17:

First, you will work with the layer of paper that is under: cut off the excess bit of paper then valley fold the bottom layer up. Tuck the small triangular flap in between the layers of paper.

Step 18:

Flip the model over.

Step 19:

Cut off excess paper as shown and fold the triangular flap up and tuck into the existing layers of paper.

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Step 20:

It is time to twist the model into a 3D ornament. Hold the paper at the blue dots. Use your thumb and forefinger to twist the top section of the paper. The result is shown in the second panel.

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Continue holding (blue dots) and twisting (yellow arrows).

When you are done, you would have made a woven twist ornament. String a thread through one of the gaps and the woven twist ornament is ready for hanging.

Great job!


The first part of this woven twist ornament project can be used as a woven bookmark.

Where do you want to go?

origami ornament