Few sea creatures are as satisfying to fold as a clam. There's something oddly calming about turning one flat square into a little shell that looks like it could click shut at any moment — and this design pulls it off in barely fifteen steps.

If you've wanted to dip your toes into aquatic origami but weren't ready to wrestle with a fiddly fish, this is the perfect warm-up. You repeat the same folds on both sides, so by the end your hands simply know the rhythm. Let's crack it open.

STEP 1

Fold it in half.

STEP 2

Fold it in half.

STEP 3

Open and fold as shown in the picture.

STEP 4

Fold the back side in the same way.

STEP 5

Fold it down at the position shown in the photo.

STEP 6

Fold the back side in the same way.

STEP 7

Fold one flap to the side.

STEP 8

Fold the back side in the same way.

STEP 9

Fold it in half and make a crease.

STEP 10

Make a crease at the position shown in the photo.

STEP 11

Fold it at the position shown in the photo.

STEP 12

Fold the back side in the same way.

STEP 13

Turn it over.

STEP 14

Open and fold as shown in the picture.

STEP 15

Fold it at the position shown in the photo.

Done!

The bivalve is complete.