What age is this origami Iris for?

About Adults. It is rated “Master” (level 5 of 5), with 22 steps, and takes about 30 minutes.

What paper do I need?

One sheet of square origami paper (15 cm / 6 in). No scissors or glue are needed.

What is it called in Japanese?

In Japanese it is “あやめ”. The word origami (折り紙) itself means “folding paper”: ori = fold, kami = paper.

Can I print the instructions?

Yes. “Print the diagram” puts every step on one page (or a PDF), and the practice sheet has the crease lines printed on the paper. Free for home and classroom use.

★★★★★Master Flowers & PlantsTraditional

How to make an origami IrisあやめIris

An iris with four petals hanging outward. It starts from the same frog base as the lily, and the petals are folded down at the end.

22 steps
about 30 min
1 sheet of origami paper
Adults

How to fold

三角に折る
Fold in half to make a triangle.
さらに半分の三角に折る
Fold in half again.
袋を開いて、四角につぶす
Open the pocket and squash it into a square.
うらがえして、こちらも四角につぶす（正方基本形）
Turn over and squash this side too. This is the preliminary base.
右の袋をまっすぐ立てて、まん中の線にそって開いてつぶす
Lift the right flap straight up, open it and squash it flat along the center line.
袋の中に指を入れ、折り目のかどがまん中の線にくるように、左右に同じだけ開きます。
うらがえして、こちらも右の袋をつぶす
Turn over and squash the right flap on this side too.
右の1まいを左へめくり、出てきた袋をつぶす
Turn one layer from right to left like a page, then squash the flap that appears.
うらがえして、同じようにめくってつぶす
Turn over. Turn one layer and squash the last flap the same way.
左の1まいを右へめくって、なめらかな面を出す
Turn one layer from left to right so a smooth face shows.
下のふちをまん中に合わせるように、下の角を上へ持ち上げてたたむ（花弁折り）
Petal fold: lift the bottom corner up while the lower edges fold in to the center.
先に、下のふちをまん中の線に合わせる折りすじと、横の折りすじをつけておくと、きれいにたためます。
うらがえして、1まいめくり、こちらも花弁折り
Turn over, turn one layer, and petal fold this side too.
左の2まいを右へめくって、花弁折り
Turn two layers from left to right, then petal fold.
うらがえして、2まいめくって花弁折り（かえるの基本形）
Turn over, turn two layers, and petal fold. This is the frog base.
前の三角を下へ折る
Fold the front triangle down.
うらがえして、こちらも三角を下へ折る
Turn over and fold this triangle down too.
左の2まいを右へめくり、三角を下へ折る。うらがえして、もう1つも同じように
Turn two layers to the right and fold the triangle down. Turn over and repeat with the last one.
下のふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折る
Fold the lower edges to the center line.
上の1まいだけを折ります。下の先がとがるように、まん中の線にぴったり合わせます。
うらがえして、同じように折る
Turn over and do the same.
2まいめくって、残りの2つの面も同じように細くする
Turn two layers and narrow the other two faces the same way.
上下を逆にする
Turn it upside down.
4まいの花びらを、いちばん広いところで1まいずつ外へ折り下げる
Fold the four petals down and outward at the widest point, one at a time.
前の花びらは手前へ、うしろの花びらはうしろへ、横の2まいは左右へ、外側に向けて折ります。
まん中に指を入れて、花を開く
Put a finger in the center and open the flower.
できあがり！花びらのつけ根を指でつまんで、4まいを外へ広げたら、あやめのできあがり！むらさきや青の紙で折ると本物らしくなります。
Finished! Pinch the base of each petal and spread the four petals outward. Your iris is finished! Purple or blue paper looks great.

Fun fact

あやめは、初夏にむらさきの花をさかせます。「いずれあやめかかきつばた」ということばは、どちらも美しくて選べない、という意味です。

Irises bloom in early summer in Japan. The saying "Izure ayame ka kakitsubata" means two things are both so beautiful that you cannot choose.

Origami English in this model

❓ FAQ

What age is this origami Iris for?: About Adults. It is rated “Master” (level 5 of 5), with 22 steps, and takes about 30 minutes.
What paper do I need?: One sheet of square origami paper (15 cm / 6 in). No scissors or glue are needed.
What is it called in Japanese?: In Japanese it is “あやめ”. The word origami (折り紙) itself means “folding paper”: ori = fold, kami = paper.
Can I print the instructions?: Yes. “Print the diagram” puts every step on one page (or a PDF), and the practice sheet has the crease lines printed on the paper. Free for home and classroom use.