16 Sided Tree

16 sided tree
16-sided tree
The 16 Sided Tree is made the same way as the 8-Sided Tree. the only difference is that each of the flaps of the 8-Sided Tree is squashed to make two more flaps. Thus the 8 flaps will become 16 flaps.
You can see the progression from 8-sided to 16 sided above, or detailed instrucitons below

Instructions for Origami 16-Sided Tree

16-sided tree

Step 1:

Start with a square sheet of paper with the colored-side facing up. Fold and unfold along the diagonals to get an X-shaped crease.
16-sided tree

Step 2:

Turn the paper over. Fold and unfold from left to right.

16-sided tree

Step 3:

Fold in half (top to bottom).
16-sided tree

Step 4:

Collapse into a Preliminary Base. To do this, push the top-left and top-right corners towards each other.

16-sided tree

Step 5:

Allow the front to come up towards you.
16-sided tree

Step 6:

Swivel the front flap towards the right. There should be an equivalent flap pointed back, swivel this one towards the left.
16-sided tree

Step 7:

Make a Squash Fold. To do this, lift the top-left flap up towards.

16-sided tree
Press the corner down to squash it flat.
16-sided tree
Try to squash evenly so the crease line is exactly in the middle and the left and right halves are of equal size.
16-sided tree
Turn the model over.
16-sided tree

Step 8:

Repeat Squash Fold. Lift up the right flap.

16-sided tree

Squash down evenly.
16-sided tree

Step 9:

Like turning the pages of a book, swivel the top-right flap towards the left. Behind the model, swivel one flap from the left-side to the right-side.

16-sided tree

Step 10:

Repeat the Squash Fold: lift the right flap up…

16-sided tree
and press down evenly.
16-sided tree

Step 11:

Repeat Squash Fold on the last flap.

16-sided tree

Step 12:

The model should look like this. Like turning pages, swivel one flap from right to left (swivel left to right on the back side of the model).
16-sided tree

Step 13:

The model looks a little like an upside down kite; we will make it look like a tree. Fold and unfold the bottom of the kite to get a crease line.

16-sided tree

Step 14:

Change the valley fold crease made above to a mountain fold. Tuck the flap of paper underneath the model.
16-sided tree

Step 15:

Turn the model over and repeat.

Step 16:

Once that is done, turn the “pages” and repeat two more times so all lower flaps are hidden and the shape is like a triangle.

If you wanted an 8-Sided Tree, you would stop here; otherwise, keep going.

Step 17:

Lift the top-right flap towards you…

and squash down.
16-sided tree

Step 18:

Repeat the Squash Fold seven more times so all the flaps have been squashed to make a total of 16 flaps.

Step 19:

Flare open the layers to get a cone shape.

Top view.
16-sided tree

16 Sided Tree is done!
16-sided tree
Make a Lucky Star and glue it on top to make it a Christmas Tree.

16-sided tree
If your paper is big enough, you can go further and squash the 16 flaps into 32 flaps. However there is a limit to how often you can divide each flap. First of all, it becomes increasingly difficult to make the flaps squash evenly so the peak of the tree tapers to a clean, sharp point. Secondly, the model becomes increasingly floppy as you manipulate the model more and more. For the most part, 16-sided is quite nice and good enough. Shown on the right is a 32-sided tree.

 

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