Calyx Origami Base With Six Sepals

Before a paper flower can truly bloom, it needs a quiet little cup to sit in — the green collar that cradles the petals. In origami, that collar is called a calyx, and the neatest way to fold one with six sepals is this calyx origami base. The tutorial starts with an ordinary square sheet, transforms it into a regular hexagon, and then guides you through a crease pattern that gradually turns a star into a cup.

Don't let the crease pattern (CP) intimidate you — the first half of the fold is just a rhythm you repeat on three sides of the paper, so once you have done it one time, you know the whole song. The payoff comes when you open the paper flat and collapse it along the existing creases into a tidy, three-dimensional base that stands up on its own. All you need is a square of paper and a little patience.

This page is for those who want instructions for folding a calyx origami base with six sepals.

As the name suggests, this base is needed when you fold a flower calyx of six sepals. Various kinds of calyx can be made from this base.

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

You may use any kind of paper to fold this base. It is a little easier if the front and back sides of the paper are slightly different, whether in texture or color.

Make sure the paper you use is a square (all sides are equal and all angles equal 90 degrees). The paper I am using here is a 15 cm x 15 cm square.

This is the front side of the paper. It is somewhat shinier compared to the back side.

This is the back side of the paper. Keep in mind that the front side is the shinier one.

There is an instruction that teaches how to make a regular hexagon out of a square paper. You can easily get a regular hexagon by following it. This is the front side of the regular hexagon.

This is the back side of the regular hexagon.

STEP 1.

Start with the back side of the hexagon facing up. Prepare to convert all the creases into either valley folds or mountain folds as shown on the left crease pattern (CP).