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Origami Flared Skirt

A broad flared skirt with two folded side panels. Make a small paper model with measured folds and a complete illustrated guide.

Preparation + 11 numbered steps

Materials

6-inch square · 6 × 6 inches

One 6 × 6-inch square (15.24 × 15.24 cm) of thin paper, a ruler and a pencil. Contrasting paper sides help show hems. No scissors or glue.

Start the interactive guide ↓
Read all illustrated steps ↓Download PDF ↓ · one-page illustrated guide
Origami Flared Skirt: a broad flared skirt with two folded side panels
A broad flared skirt with two folded side panels

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

  1. 0. Prepare the square
  2. 1. Crease the vertical center
  3. 2. Open the sheet
  4. 3. Crease across the middle
  5. 4. Open the square
  6. 5. Bring in the right edge
  7. 6. Bring in the left edge
  8. 7. Flare the right panel
  9. 8. Flare the left panel
  10. 9. Fold the top behind
  11. 10. Bevel the right waist corner
  12. 11. Bevel the left waist corner
  1. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldPrepare the square

    PREPARATION · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Prepare the square

    Place the intended skirt color down, with horizontal top and bottom edges.

    Layers: One uncut square.

    Check: The edges are level.

    Explore this step ↑
  2. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCrease the vertical center

    STEP 1 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Crease the vertical center

    Bring the right edge to the left edge and press.

    Layers: Move the entire right half.

    Check: The side edges meet.

    Explore this step ↑
  3. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the sheet

    STEP 2 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Open the sheet

    Return the folded half completely to the table.

    Layers: Open the same half.

    Check: The center crease remains.

    Explore this step ↑
  4. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCrease across the middle

    STEP 3 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Crease across the middle

    Bring the bottom edge to the top edge.

    Layers: Move the entire lower half.

    Check: The edges meet.

    Explore this step ↑
  5. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the square

    STEP 4 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Open the square

    Return the lower half to the table.

    Layers: Open the same half.

    Check: Both center creases remain.

    Explore this step ↑
  6. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldBring in the right edge

    STEP 5 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Bring in the right edge

    Fold the right edge to the vertical center crease.

    Layers: Move the outer right quarter.

    Check: The crease is 1.50 inches from the right edge.

    Explore this step ↑
  7. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldBring in the left edge

    STEP 6 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Bring in the left edge

    Fold the left edge to the center.

    Layers: Move the outer left quarter.

    Check: The two free edges meet.

    Explore this step ↑
  8. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFlare the right panel

    STEP 7 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Flare the right panel

    On the center line mark a point 1.50 inches above the square center. Join it to the lower-right corner of the folded rectangle. Fold the lower right flap outward on that line.

    Layers: Move only the folded right quarter; leave the backing flat.

    Check: The right panel spreads beyond the original rectangle.

    Explore this step ↑
  9. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFlare the left panel

    STEP 8 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Flare the left panel

    Mirror the fold from the same center mark to the lower-left corner.

    Layers: Move only the folded left quarter.

    Check: Two flared panels surround a central trapezoid.

    Explore this step ↑
  10. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the top behind

    STEP 9 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Fold the top behind

    Fold the upper half away from you on the original horizontal center crease.

    Layers: Carry all layers above the center.

    Check: The top edge is now the skirt waist.

    Explore this step ↑
  11. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldBevel the right waist corner

    STEP 10 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Bevel the right waist corner

    On the waist edge mark 0.25 inches inward from the right corner. Fold the small corner behind on a 45-degree line down toward the right edge.

    Layers: Move the whole little corner.

    Check: The waist corner is slanted.

    Explore this step ↑
  12. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldBevel the left waist corner

    STEP 11 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Bevel the left waist corner

    Mirror the small corner fold and flatten the finished skirt.

    Layers: Move every layer in that corner to the back.

    Check: The narrow waist, two front panel lines and broad hem are visible.

    Explore this step ↑
Sources & notes

Origami Club; diagram credited to Fumiaki Shingu, Origami Club: Origami Flared Skirt (web diagram).

Construction diagram ↗ · Reference model ↗

The reference diagram bears a Fumiaki Shingu copyright credit. This does not establish that the design is traditional or grant a reuse license. No reference text, drawings, photographs or animation are reproduced. These English instructions, measured geometry and rendered diagrams are original.

Adaptation: Follows the quarter-width gate folds, outward lower panels, upper-half fold behind and two rear corner folds in the Skirt diagram. The panel hinges start 1.50 inches above the original center; waist corners have measured 0.25-inch bevels. This separate skirt uses outward lower-panel pleats, unlike the dress’s upper sleeve folds; it is not the dress with a renamed title.

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 is carried through rigid-axis folds with persistent material coordinates. Shaping dimensions are authored landmarks rather than measurements claimed from the reference. Zero-thickness teaching geometry does not certify paper contact or physical foldability. Real-paper folding and wearable fit have not been tested.