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Easy Flat Origami Pumpkin

Make a flat pumpkin from one square, with a narrow central panel and a small folded stalk. Open and shape two complete flap packets, then round the outline for an autumn card or Halloween display.

Preparation + 24 numbered steps

Materials

6-inch square · 6 × 6 inches

One 6 × 6-inch square (15.24 × 15.24 cm), preferably thin origami paper. A ruler and pencil help place the finishing folds. Optional pen for a face. No cuts or glue.

Start the interactive guide ↓
Read all illustrated steps ↓Download PDF ↓ · one-page illustrated guide
Flat paper pumpkin with rounded sides, a narrow central panel and a small triangular stalk
Finished flat pumpkin · central panel and folded stalk

Follow along

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 track two original halves of one sheet, not literal pumpkin colors. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange marks moving paper and hinges.

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 track two original halves of one sheet, not literal pumpkin colors. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange marks moving paper and hinges.

  1. 0. Prepare a diamond
  2. 1. Crease between edge midpoints
  3. 2. Open the first crease
  4. 3. Make the crossing crease
  5. 4. Open the second crease
  6. 5. Turn to the colored side
  7. 6. Fold corner to corner
  8. 7. Open the diagonal
  9. 8. Turn back for the base
  10. 9. Close the square base
  11. 10. Turn the right page left
  12. 11. Narrow the lower left edge
  13. 12. Narrow the upper left edge
  14. 13. Return the shaped page right
  15. 14. Turn the left page right
  16. 15. Narrow the lower right edge
  17. 16. Narrow the upper right edge
  18. 17. Return the shaped page left
  19. 18. Flatten the bottom point
  20. 19. Shorten the top
  21. 20. Turn to the back
  22. 21. Round the left side
  23. 22. Round the right side
  24. 23. Raise the stalk
  25. 24. Turn to the finished front
  1. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesPrepare a diamond

    PREPARATION · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Prepare a diamond

    Place the square with a corner up and the intended pumpkin color down.

    Layers: One uncut sheet.

    Check: The four corners point up, down, left and right.

    Explore this step ↑
  2. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesCrease between edge midpoints

    STEP 1 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Crease between edge midpoints

    Bring the lower right edge onto the upper left edge. Match both ends and press the sloping fold between the midpoints of the other two edges.

    Layers: Move the whole lower-right half.

    Check: Opposite edges meet exactly.

    Explore this step ↑
  3. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesOpen the first crease

    STEP 2 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Open the first crease

    Return the folded half to its original position.

    Layers: Open the same half fully.

    Check: The diamond lies flat again.

    Explore this step ↑
  4. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesMake the crossing crease

    STEP 3 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Make the crossing crease

    Bring the lower left edge onto the upper right edge. Match the corners and press the second sloping midpoint fold.

    Layers: Move the whole lower-left half.

    Check: This crease crosses the first at the center.

    Explore this step ↑
  5. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesOpen the second crease

    STEP 4 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Open the second crease

    Unfold the paper completely.

    Layers: Open the same half.

    Check: Two sloping creases cross in the middle.

    Explore this step ↑
  6. TURN THE WHOLE PACKETBlue / gold: original paper halvesTurn to the colored side

    STEP 5 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Turn to the colored side

    Turn the whole square over from side to side, keeping a corner at the top.

    Layers: Turn all the paper.

    Check: The pumpkin color now faces you.

    Explore this step ↑
  7. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesFold corner to corner

    STEP 6 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Fold corner to corner

    Bring the bottom corner to the top corner and press the horizontal fold through the left and right corners.

    Layers: Move the complete lower half.

    Check: The paper forms a triangle.

    Explore this step ↑
  8. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesOpen the diagonal

    STEP 7 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Open the diagonal

    Lower the folded half until the diamond is flat.

    Layers: Open the same half fully.

    Check: The horizontal crease crosses the center.

    Explore this step ↑
  9. TURN THE WHOLE PACKETBlue / gold: original paper halvesTurn back for the base

    STEP 8 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Turn back for the base

    Turn the square over again, with the pumpkin color facing down.

    Layers: Turn the whole sheet.

    Check: All three creases are visible from the starting side.

    Explore this step ↑
  10. CLOSE ALONG THE PRECREASESBlue / gold: original paper halvesClose the square base

    STEP 9 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Close the square base

    Keep the lower diamond panel in place. Raise the other panels and guide the left and right corners inward as the top corner comes down to the bottom corner. Flatten along the prepared folds.

    Layers: The side panels bend together; do not detach or pull apart the inner triangles.

    Check: A smaller diamond has a closed top point and four original corners together at the bottom.

    Explore this step ↑
  11. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesTurn the right page left

    STEP 10 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Turn the right page left

    Swing the front right flap across the vertical center to the left, like a book page.

    Layers: Carry both joined layers of this flap; leave the rear right flap in place.

    Check: There are three flap packets on the left and one on the right.

    Explore this step ↑
  12. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesNarrow the lower left edge

    STEP 11 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Narrow the lower left edge

    Bring the lower left sloping edge of the front packet to the vertical center line. Press the new crease from the bottom point upward.

    Layers: Move both joined layers of the front packet; leave the other pages flat.

    Check: The old lower-left edge runs along the center.

    Explore this step ↑
  13. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesNarrow the upper left edge

    STEP 12 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Narrow the upper left edge

    Bring the upper left sloping edge of the same packet to the vertical center line. Fold over the small part of the earlier fold that lies beyond this new hinge.

    Layers: Carry the complete outer packet, including its already folded triangle.

    Check: The front page is now a narrow half-diamond.

    Explore this step ↑
  14. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesReturn the shaped page right

    STEP 13 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Return the shaped page right

    Swing the complete narrowed page back to the right of the center. Keep both shaping folds closed.

    Layers: Turn both layers and their folded tips together.

    Check: The smooth side of the narrowed page faces you.

    Explore this step ↑
  15. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesTurn the left page right

    STEP 14 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Turn the left page right

    Swing the broad front left flap across the center to the right.

    Layers: Move both joined layers of this next flap, leaving the rear left page still.

    Check: The unshaped packet is now accessible on the right.

    Explore this step ↑
  16. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesNarrow the lower right edge

    STEP 15 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Narrow the lower right edge

    Bring the lower right sloping edge of the front packet to the center line.

    Layers: Fold both layers of this packet only.

    Check: Its lower edge aligns with the vertical center.

    Explore this step ↑
  17. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesNarrow the upper right edge

    STEP 16 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Narrow the upper right edge

    Bring the upper right sloping edge to the center line, carrying the folded material beyond the hinge.

    Layers: Move the entire outer section of the same packet.

    Check: This page matches the narrow page on the other side.

    Explore this step ↑
  18. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesReturn the shaped page left

    STEP 17 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Return the shaped page left

    Swing this narrowed page back to the left, keeping its folds closed.

    Layers: Move the complete shaped packet.

    Check: A narrow central diamond sits over a wider diamond.

    Explore this step ↑
  19. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesFlatten the bottom point

    STEP 18 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Flatten the bottom point

    Measure about 0.81 inch (2.05 cm) up from the bottom point along the center. Fold all material below that level behind along a horizontal crease.

    Layers: Move every layer of the lower tip together.

    Check: The bottom is straight; the front narrow panel reaches this new base.

    Explore this step ↑
  20. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesShorten the top

    STEP 19 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Shorten the top

    Measure about 0.95 inch (2.42 cm) down from the top point. Fold the complete upper tip behind along a horizontal crease.

    Layers: Carry all layers above the crease.

    Check: The front now has a level top and bottom.

    Explore this step ↑
  21. TURN THE WHOLE PACKETBlue / gold: original paper halvesTurn to the back

    STEP 20 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Turn to the back

    Turn the whole model over from side to side.

    Layers: Keep all folded packets closed.

    Check: The returned upper and lower tips are visible.

    Explore this step ↑
  22. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesRound the left side

    STEP 21 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Round the left side

    From the left point, mark about 0.56 inch (1.43 cm) along the upper sloping edge and 0.72 inch (1.82 cm) along the lower sloping edge. Fold the point inward along the line joining these marks.

    Layers: Move every layer outside this side crease.

    Check: The upper body is a little narrower than the base.

    Explore this step ↑
  23. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesRound the right side

    STEP 22 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Round the right side

    Repeat on the right: measure about 0.56 inch along the upper sloping edge and 0.72 inch along the lower edge from the point. Fold inward along the line joining the marks.

    Layers: Move the whole right side packet.

    Check: The two sides look balanced.

    Explore this step ↑
  24. END STATEBlue / gold: original paper halvesRaise the stalk

    STEP 23 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Raise the stalk

    On the folded upper tip, mark a horizontal line about 0.32 inch (0.81 cm) below the top edge of the body. Fold the part of that tip below the mark upward. Keep the body behind it still.

    Layers: Move only the returned top packet, including its small inner layers.

    Check: A triangular stalk rises about 0.32 inch above the body.

    Explore this step ↑
  25. TURN THE WHOLE PACKETBlue / gold: original paper halvesTurn to the finished front

    STEP 24 · Traditional flat pumpkin

    Turn to the finished front

    Turn the complete pumpkin over. Press it flat for a card or display. You may draw a face with a pen after folding.

    Layers: Turn the whole sheet; any drawn face is ink, not another paper fold.

    Check: The flat pumpkin is complete, with a central panel, rounded sides and a small stalk.

    Explore this step ↑
Sources & notes

Traditional design; photo tutorial by Origami Guide, How To Make An Easy Origami Pumpkin (2026 web tutorial).

Square-base preparation ↗ · Paired flap shaping ↗ · Outline and stalk ↗

Origami Guide identifies this easy pumpkin design as Traditional. Its photography and tutorial text have separate rights and are not reproduced here. These English instructions, material geometry, diagrams and PDF are original. Attribution does not grant a project-wide license.

Adaptation: Uses the traditional square-base flat pumpkin, not the named-designer jack-o-lantern or a three-dimensional pumpkin. We begin with the square already in a diamond orientation, separate each fold from reopening and each side-shaping action, and supply numerical finishing landmarks where the source leaves shaping to judgement. We omit the optional standing folds in photo 25 and turn back to the front for a flat finish. The square-base animation holds the lower diamond panel while the other panels close along their connected creases; paper thickness is not simulated.

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 continuous 36-square-inch sheet; a coupled square-base collapse, complete two-layer flap packets and rigid finishing folds. Zero-thickness teaching geometry does not simulate paper thickness, friction or a standing base. Real-paper folding has not been tested.