Every Father's Day needs at least one handmade thing that was clearly made by a small pair of hands, and a folded paper tie is hard to beat. It is flat, it looks genuinely smart, and it takes about two minutes once you know where the center creases are. The clever bit is that the whole shape comes from the same move repeated: find the center, bring an edge or a corner to it, and the tie starts to appear on its own.

Fold the collar as well and the two pieces turn into a tiny shirt front you can glue onto a card or a gift bag. Ask a child to choose the paper, because that is where these models really come alive — a grown-up would never think of neon green with polka dots, and somehow it works. Make one for dad, then make a spare, because the first one usually ends up taped to a fridge.

How to fold the tie

STEP 1. Fold the origami paper in half.

STEP 2. Fold it in half again.

STEP 3. Unfold everything and lay the paper flat again. You now have a cross of creases, and the point where the black crosshair sits is the center of the sheet.

STEP 4. Bring the corner marked with a star to the center.

STEP 5. This time fold so that the red line comes to the center.

STEP 6. Fold the top triangle downwards.

STEP 7. Turn the paper over. Fold the blue line down so that it lines up with the red line.

STEP 8. Fold along the dotted line.

STEP 9. Turn it back over and fold along the dotted line.

STEP 10. Pull the starred corner outwards so the fold opens up and splits.

STEP 11. It should look like this.

STEP 12. Fold the other side in the same way as steps 9 to 11.

STEP 13. Turn it over and the tie is ready!

STEP 14. Next, make the collar. Fold a sheet of origami paper in half and open it again.

STEP 15. Fold so that the blue line lines up with the red line.

STEP 16. Fold down along the dotted line and it is finished.

STEP 17. Combine the collar with the tie.

Other ways to use it

Let your child help choose how the collar and tie are combined. A small stylist may come up with combinations you would never think of!

Here are a few other ways to use this tie.

STEP 1. Stick it on a card. I used a piece of origami paper cut into quarters.

STEP 2. Stick it on a paper bag. Folding the shoulder of the bag at a slight angle looks good too.

STEP 3. A bonus idea that has nothing to do with Father’s Day: tape it to your child’s chest with double-sided tape for a funny little outfit.

Fold one as a thank you to a father who is always working hard.

Tips for folding

For steps 9 to 12, turn the model over as you go and check the angles on the left and right so both sides match. Finish the shape so nothing is twisted and the tie stays symmetrical.