Have you ever wanted to fold your very own Origami Butterfly VI? There is something quietly satisfying about turning a flat square of paper into a little recognizable model using nothing but your hands and a few well-placed creases.

This Origami Butterfly VI is one of those classic folds that looks impressive but comes together one step at a time, so don't worry if it feels fiddly at first — the photos will keep you on track. Whether you are new to origami or just after a quick, rewarding build, you will have a finished Origami Butterfly VI before you know it. Let's get folding!

This page is for those who want the instruction to fold an origami butterfly VI.

This origami butterfly VI starts from 8x8 matrix base. One special folding technique that you need to master for this model is separating the butterfly body from two wings by pulling them away.

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

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

You may use any kind of paper to fold this origami butterfly. Here I am using a typical origami paper of 15cm x 15cm size to show the instruction. Finally the final model using a different paper will be shown.

This is the front side of paper.

This is the back side of paper.

STEP 1

Let's start with the front side of the paper facing up. Prepare to valley-fold in half horizontally and then unfold.

STEP 2

Valley-fold in half horizontally according to the step #1 and then unfold. Prepare to valley-fold in half vertically and then unfold.

STEP 3

Valley-fold in half vertically according to the step #2 and then unfold. Prepare to apply a horizontal “gate-fold” and then unfold.

STEP 4

Apply the horizontal “gate-fold” of the step #3 and then unfold. Prepare to apply a vertical “gate-fold” and then unfold.

STEP 5

Apply the vertical “gate-fold” of the step #4 and then unfold. Prepare to apply four horizontal valley-folds and then unfold.

STEP 6

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

STEP 7

Apply four vertical valley-folds of the step #6 and then unfold. You have now completed making a “8x8 matrix base”.

STEP 8

Prepare to apply a horizontal valley-fold.

STEP 9

Apply the horizontal valley-fold of the step #8. Prepare to apply another horizontal valley-fold.

STEP 10

Apply the horizontal valley-fold of the step #9. Prepare to turn the origami butterfly model over.

STEP 11

Turn the origami butterfly model over. Prepare to apply two horizontal valley-folds.

STEP 12

Apply two horizontal valley-folds of the step #11. Prepare to turn the origami butterfly model over.

STEP 13

Turn the origami butterfly model over. Prepare to apply (1) two valley-folds and then (2) two mountain-folds.

STEP 14

Apply (1) two valley-folds and then (2) two mountain-folds of the step #13. Prepare to turn the origami butterfly model over.

STEP 15

Turn the origami butterfly model over. Prepare to apply four valley-folds.

STEP 16

Apply four valley-folds of the step #15. Prepare to grab the upper-right edge and pull it in the arrow direction.

STEP 17

Grab the upper-right edge and pull it in the arrow direction of the step #16. Prepare to apply a mountain-fold on the upper-right diagonal edge.

STEP 18

Apply the mountain-fold of the step #17 to make a upper-right wing. Prepare to grab the lower-right edge and pull it in the arrow direction.

STEP 19

Grab the lower-right edge and pull it in the arrow direction of the step #18. Prepare to apply a mountain-fold on the lower-right diagonal edge.

STEP 20

Apply the mountain-fold of the step #19 to make a lower-right wing. Prepare to repeat the steps #16-20 on the left side.

STEP 21

Repeat the steps #16-20 on the left side. Prepare to apply two valley-folds.

STEP 22

Apply two valley-folds of the step #21. Prepare to apply two valley-folds.

STEP 23

Apply two valley-folds of the step #22. Prepare to move two layers #1 under the layer #2.

STEP 24

Move two layers #1 under the layer #2 according to the step #23. Prepare to turn the origami butterfly model over.

STEP 25

Turn the origami butterfly model over. Prepare to pull the upper-right wing to the right.

STEP 26

Pull the upper-right wing to the right.

STEP 27

Prepare to pull the lower-right wing to the right.

STEP 28

Pull the lower-right wing to the right.

STEP 29

Prepare to repeat the steps #25-28 on the left wing.

STEP 30

Repeat the steps #25-28 on the left wing. Prepare to apply a vertical mountain-fold and then unfold.

STEP 31

Apply the vertical mountain-fold of the step #30 and then unfold. Prepare to apply two mountain-folds.

STEP 32

Apply two mountain-folds of the step #31. Prepare to apply two mountain-folds.

STEP 33

Apply two mountain-folds of the step #32. Prepare to apply six mountain-folds to smooth the edge of two wings.

STEP 34

Apply six mountain-folds to smooth the edge of two wings. Congratulation! You have completed making an origami butterfly VI.

STEP 35

I use a different paper to make another butterfly here.