Some origami looks calm and flat; this one looks like it’s mid-spin. The spiral pinwheel is built from a grid of creases and a crease pattern, then repeated in four rotations to create that woven, twisting shape.

It’s an intermediate fold, but don’t let that scare you — it’s really the same short sequence done a few times. Grab a square and let’s build one.

This page is for those who want the instructions to fold a spiral origami pinwheel.

This spiral origami pinwheel starts from an 8×8 matrix base. You will learn to fold the model from a crease pattern.

Before working on this model, you need to know what a valley fold and a mountain fold are. If you know these two folding techniques, then you will have no problem making the origami pinwheel.

If you are ready, then let’s get started.

You may use any kind of paper to fold this origami pinwheel. Here I am using a typical 15 cm × 15 cm origami paper.

This is the front side of the paper.

This is the back side of the paper.

STEP 1. Start with the back side of the paper facing up. Prepare to valley-fold the paper in half horizontally and then unfold.

STEP 2. Valley-fold in half horizontally as in step 1 and then unfold. Prepare to valley-fold in half vertically and then unfold.

STEP 3. Valley-fold in half vertically and then unfold. Prepare to apply a horizontal gate-fold and then unfold.

STEP 4. Apply the horizontal gate-fold of step 3 and then unfold. Prepare to apply a vertical gate-fold and then unfold.

STEP 5. Apply the vertical gate-fold and then unfold. You should now have six crease lines. Prepare to apply four horizontal valley folds and then unfold.

STEP 6. Apply the four horizontal valley folds of step 5 and then unfold. Prepare to apply four vertical valley folds and then unfold.

STEP 7. Apply the four vertical valley folds of step 6 and then unfold. You have now completed the 8×8 matrix base.

STEP 8. The crease pattern (CP) for the spiral origami pinwheel is shown on the left. Prepare to apply the CP.

STEP 9. Start applying the CP of step 8.

STEP 10. Continue applying the CP of step 8.

STEP 11. Complete applying the CP of step 8. Prepare to rotate the model by 90 degrees.

STEP 12. Rotate the model by 90 degrees. Prepare to open two flaps.

STEP 13. Open two flaps. Prepare to apply a horizontal valley fold.

STEP 14. Apply the horizontal valley fold of step 13. Prepare to close two flaps.

STEP 15. Close two flaps. Prepare to rotate the model by 90 degrees.

STEP 16. Rotate the model by 90 degrees. Prepare to repeat steps 12–16 for the first time.

STEP 17. Repeat steps 12–16 for the first time. Prepare to repeat steps 12–16 for the second time.

STEP 18. Repeat steps 12–16 for the second time. Prepare to repeat steps 12–16 for the third time.

STEP 19. Repeat steps 12–16 for the third time. Prepare to rotate the model by 90 degrees.

STEP 20. Rotate the model by 90 degrees. Prepare to fold four flaps down following the arrow directions.

STEP 21. Fold four flaps down following the arrow directions of step 20. Prepare to fold two flaps down following the arrow directions.

STEP 22. Fold two flaps down following the arrow directions of step 21. Prepare to fold two flaps down following the arrow directions.

STEP 23. Fold two flaps down following the arrow directions of step 22. Congratulations! You have completed making a spiral origami pinwheel.