Sunflowers are the one flower everybody can draw from memory: a fat brown middle with a riot of yellow petals around it. That makes them perfect origami subjects, because the shape reads instantly even when your folds are a little wobbly. Here you get two ways to make one, and they suit different moods entirely.

The first is the sociable version — eight small petals folded separately and then tucked into each other, which is oddly satisfying, like clipping the last piece of a chain into place. The second is the purist's version: one square of yellow paper, fifteen steps, no cutting and no glue, with the whole flower head emerging from squash folds. Make a handful of each, mix the two sizes together, and suddenly you have a paper bouquet that will still be smiling long after real sunflowers have drooped.

Easy way to fold a flat sunflower - Method 1

Paper used: eight sheets of yellow paper cut to 1/8 of a 15cm x 15cm square, and one 6.5cm x 6.5cm brown square.

The finished sunflower measures about 7.0 cm across, as shown in the photo.

Choose whatever paper size you like. Step 1: Fold the triangle in half twice to make creases in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

Step 2: Fold towards the center and crease.

Step 3: Fold it into a triangle.

Step 4: Fold so that the two red circles meet, then crease.

Step 5: Fold the corners inward.

Seen from above, it looks like this.

Step 6: Fold the top sheet inward so that it covers the corner tucked in at step 5.

Seen from above, it looks like this.

Step 7: Make eight petals exactly the same way.

Step 8: Tuck the corner of each petal into the gap of the next one.

All eight petals are now inserted.

Step 9: Turn the flower over and the petals are done.

Next, we will make the center of the flower!

Center step 1: Make plenty of creases, lengthwise and crosswise.

Center step 2: Lay the flower face down and the brown center piece face up on top of it.

Center step 3: Fold the four corners in.

Center step 4: Turn the brown center over.

Center step 5: Tuck the four corners into the gaps of the flower.

Done!

Did yours turn out well? Then let me introduce another kind of sunflower.

Easy way to fold a flat sunflower - Method 2

Paper used: one 15cm x 15cm yellow square and one 7.5cm x 7.5cm brown square.

Step 1: Fold it in half to make a vertical crease.

Step 2: Fold along the crease.

Step 3: Fold it in half again to make a horizontal crease.

Step 4: Fold along the crease and open it back out.

Step 5: Flatten the corner down as you open it out.

Step 6: Fold the other side the same way.

Step 7: Open the layer out and squash it flat.

Step 8: Do the same at all four places.

Step 9: Fold back along the dotted line.

Step 10: Open it out and fold the edge in towards the center line.

Step 11: Do the same at all four places.

Step 12: Fold along the dotted line.

Step 13: Do the same at all four places.

Step 14: Fold along the dotted line.

Step 15: Do the same at all four places.

Now make the center of the flower.

Center step 1: Fold the triangle twice to make creases lengthwise and crosswise.

Center step 2: Fold the corners towards the center.

Center step 3: Tuck it in where the arrow points.

Done!