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Origami Bamboo Shoot

Three diagonal pleats form a layered bamboo shoot. Follow the complete folding sequence with one uncut square.

Preparation + 19 numbered steps

Materials

6-inch square · 6 × 6 inches

One 6 × 6-inch square (15.24 × 15.24 cm) of thin origami paper. Ruler and pencil for shaping landmarks. Optional pen for decorative details. No scissors or glue.

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Read all illustrated steps ↓Download PDF ↓ · one-page illustrated guide
Origami Bamboo Shoot: three diagonal pleats form a layered bamboo shoot
Three diagonal pleats form a layered bamboo shoot

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Preparation

The interactive guide needs JavaScript. Read every illustrated step below.

Camera only; does not change the fold.
Help · controls & diagram

Play or drag the progress slider to watch a fold from 0% to 100%. Use the view buttons or drag the diagram to look from another angle.

Blue and gold identify the original left and right halves, not the literal paper colors. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange highlights moving paper and its hinge.

With the diagram focused: Space plays or pauses, ←/→ change steps, and Home resets.

Every step, at a glance

Compare your paper with each diagram after completing the action. Blue and gold identify the original left and right halves, not the literal paper colors. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange highlights moving paper and its hinge.

  1. 0. Prepare the diamond
  2. 1. Crease the lower guide
  3. 2. Open the lower guide
  4. 3. Start the rolled band
  5. 4. Roll the band again
  6. 5. Finish the lower band
  7. 6. Turn to the back
  8. 7. Fold the right third inward
  9. 8. Fold the left third inward
  10. 9. Return to the front
  11. 10. Start the lower diagonal pleat
  12. 11. Return the lower pleat
  13. 12. Start the middle pleat
  14. 13. Return the middle pleat
  15. 14. Start the upper pleat
  16. 15. Return the upper pleat
  17. 16. Taper the right shoulder
  18. 17. Taper the left shoulder
  19. 18. Bevel the lower right
  20. 19. Bevel the lower left
  1. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldPrepare the diamond

    PREPARATION · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Prepare the diamond

    Place one point upward with the intended shoot color facing up.

    Layers: One uncut square.

    Check: Top and bottom corners are aligned.

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  2. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCrease the lower guide

    STEP 1 · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Crease the lower guide

    Bring the bottom point to the original square center.

    Layers: Fold the lower triangle.

    Check: The point meets the center.

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  3. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the lower guide

    STEP 2 · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Open the lower guide

    Return the lower point to the table.

    Layers: Open the same triangle.

    Check: A crease crosses halfway between the bottom and center.

    Explore this step ↑
  4. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldStart the rolled band

    STEP 3 · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Start the rolled band

    Fold the bottom point up on a horizontal line 0.71 inches above it.

    Layers: Move the small bottom triangle.

    Check: The tip points toward the guide crease.

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  5. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldRoll the band again

    STEP 4 · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Roll the band again

    Fold the entire lower packet up on a line 1.41 inches above the original bottom point.

    Layers: Carry the previously folded tip.

    Check: The band is doubled.

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  6. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFinish the lower band

    STEP 5 · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Finish the lower band

    Fold the lower packet upward on the original guide crease.

    Layers: Carry all band layers.

    Check: A contrasting band runs along the shortened base.

    Explore this step ↑
  7. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldTurn to the back

    STEP 6 · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Turn to the back

    Turn the whole sheet over. Keep the point at the top.

    Layers: Carry the rolled band with the sheet.

    Check: The plain reverse faces you.

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  8. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the right third inward

    STEP 7 · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Fold the right third inward

    Fold on a vertical line 1.41 inches right of center.

    Layers: Carry all layers in the right side, including the band.

    Check: The side corner reaches the opposite third line.

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  9. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the left third inward

    STEP 8 · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Fold the left third inward

    Mirror the fold 1.41 inches left of center.

    Layers: Move the whole left packet.

    Check: A narrow pointed column remains.

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  10. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldReturn to the front

    STEP 9 · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Return to the front

    Turn the complete column over.

    Layers: Keep every layer together.

    Check: The bottom band faces you below the pointed shoot.

    Explore this step ↑
  11. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldStart the lower diagonal pleat

    STEP 10 · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Start the lower diagonal pleat

    Mark a crease rising to the right: it crosses the center line 0.7 inches below the original center and has a rise of 0.7 inches per inch across. Fold the upper packet toward you.

    Layers: Move the whole shoot above that diagonal.

    Check: The lower band remains still.

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  12. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldReturn the lower pleat

    STEP 11 · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Return the lower pleat

    On the lowered packet, make a parallel crease 0.12 inches below the previous diagonal, measured perpendicular to it. Fold the lowered upper packet back upward.

    Layers: Move only the lowered packet beyond the new crease.

    Check: A narrow diagonal step remains.

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  13. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldStart the middle pleat

    STEP 12 · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Start the middle pleat

    Make a line falling to the right, crossing the original center line 0.9 inches above the original center, with a fall of 0.3 inches per inch across. Fold the upper packet down.

    Layers: Move every layer above the marked diagonal.

    Check: The first diagonal step stays below this fold.

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  14. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldReturn the middle pleat

    STEP 13 · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Return the middle pleat

    Fold the lowered upper packet back on a parallel line 0.12 inches below the previous diagonal, measured perpendicular to it.

    Layers: Move the lowered packet beyond the return crease.

    Check: The second step slopes opposite the first.

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  15. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldStart the upper pleat

    STEP 14 · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Start the upper pleat

    Make a line rising to the right, crossing the original center line 2.1 inches above the original center, with a rise of 0.35 inches per inch across. Fold the top packet down.

    Layers: Move all layers above the diagonal.

    Check: The lower two steps stay still.

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  16. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldReturn the upper pleat

    STEP 15 · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Return the upper pleat

    Return the upper packet on a parallel crease 0.12 inches below the previous line, measured perpendicular to it.

    Layers: Move the lowered upper packet only.

    Check: Three alternating diagonal steps remain.

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  17. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldTaper the right shoulder

    STEP 16 · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Taper the right shoulder

    At the lower band, mark 1.41 inches right of the original center line. From that mark draw a line that moves inward 0.18 inches for each inch it rises. Fold the outer edge behind on this line.

    Layers: Carry the whole outer packet.

    Check: The right outline narrows toward the tip.

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  18. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldTaper the left shoulder

    STEP 17 · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Taper the left shoulder

    Mirror the taper on the left.

    Layers: Carry the whole outer packet behind.

    Check: The pointed top sits above three diagonal bands.

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  19. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldBevel the lower right

    STEP 18 · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Bevel the lower right

    Fold a tiny 0.15-inch triangle behind at the bottom right corner. Use a 45-degree crease.

    Layers: Move every layer in the corner.

    Check: The base corner is blunt.

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  20. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldBevel the lower left

    STEP 19 · Origami Club construction; measured adaptation

    Bevel the lower left

    Mirror the tiny corner fold. Optionally add dots to the pale bottom band.

    Layers: Move the entire small corner. Optional dots are ink.

    Check: The flat bamboo shoot is complete.

    Explore this step ↑
Sources & notes

Diagram credit: Fumiaki Shingu / Origami Club; design origin unestablished, Origami Club: Origami Bamboo Shoot (web diagram).

Construction diagrams ↗

The reference credits copyright to Fumiaki Shingu. This does not establish that the model is traditional or grant a design-reuse license. Reference artwork and prose are not reproduced. These English instructions, continuous geometry and diagrams are independently authored. No project-wide reuse license is implied.

Adaptation: Follows the bottom rolled band, side thirds and three alternating diagonal step folds in diagrams 1–11. The source leaves pleat widths free; this guide uses 0.12-inch perpendicular pleat spacing and explicit sloping lines. Each step fold is split into two continuous hinge actions. The result is flat, not a freestanding plant.

Original instructions and diagrams, made with AI assistance. About & reuse

Accuracy notes

Real-paper follow-along and paper weight have not been tested. Diagrams illustrate the sequence, not paper thickness, contact, collisions or exact layer visibility. One uncut square with original material coordinates and rigid hinge motions. Shaping distances are authored teaching landmarks, not measurements supplied by the reference. Zero-thickness teaching diagrams do not certify thickness, contact or physical foldability. Real-paper folding has not been tested.