Origami Lily
The origami lily is a classic and popular origami flower. Did you know that the lily family traditionally represented innocence and purity? Lilies can be found in a variety of hybrids and colors including yellow, pink, white, orange, purple, red and many others.
Submit your questions/comments and photos to us!
The origami lily is not too difficult to fold but beginners may find the petal fold slightly challenging. Just take your time and follow each step slowly.
If you're giving your origami lily to someone as a gift, do use an extra special paper such as these gorgeous Fabric Textured Origami Paper
Or use these Washi Origami Paper with raised patterns and subtle gold flecks.
Start with a 6 inch square piece of origami paper, and fold it into a water balloon base.
Next, take one of the four corners of the base and squash fold it as shown below.
Repeat the squash fold for the other three corners, to give
the kite shape shown below.
Now fold the lower edges of the kite into the centerline,
then unfold. Fold the top corner down, then unfold.
You will now have crease marks on the piece, that will be
used in the next step. Place your finger under the lower point of the
kite, and fold upwards as shown. This is a petal fold.
Now repeat the petal fold three more times to give another, smaller kite.
Now fold one point of the kite downwards as shown. Repeat 3 more times for a diamond shape.
Next fold the upper edges of the diamond into the centerline. Repeat three more times.
Now turn the piece upside down. Start folding out the
four petals of the flower as shown.
You can create a nice curling effect in the petals like this: hold the base of a petal in your left fingers, then run your right thumb and pen (or pencil) along the length of the petal.
Your thumb is in front and the pen in the back. (In the picture below, we've omitted the left hand for clarity).
Repeat this motion several times to cause the paper petal to curl.
And now your origami lily is complete!
Thanks to reader, Jen, for submitting her origami lily. She also submitted several other photos: origami vase, snail, tulip, frog.
Thanks to reader Christoper from Richardson, TX for his origami lily - " Lily with makeshift stem. Stem folded all the way down into long thin strips, then unfolded and refolded into a rectangular tube, then take the end piece and roll it back at the top to create a leaf. I strayed from the origami norm by making a few slits down the top of my stem so that my lily would fit snugly."
From Jeff in West Hartfod "My niece brought me some origami paper from Japan for Christmas. Your site is the best one I've found for instructions, and I'm making my way through it!"
From Allie "I had to cut a small hole in the bottom of the Lily so that it would fit over the top of the stems (I had to make two stems since the lily was too heavy and kept tipping over!)."
Allie - Love your lily with stem!
From reader in New York " We made these origami lilies in our middle school tech class for a project. Our final project is going to be a huge origami made of plywood."
From Nichole of San Antonio:
From reader in Caxias "Gift box decorated with origami lilly."
From Teodor in Iasi:
From Martin in Essex "My first ever lilly, kinda used scrap piece of paper about 3-4inch square so it got all mess-up, plus im supposed to be at work fixing trains so consider it to be an honour that I'm riskin my job for the sake of origami...hahaha"
From Eduardo in Mexico:
From Sarah in Melbourne:
From Vanessa in Stockton "both of these are for special events. This one was for my cousin's birthday and was a centerpiece. The other one was for my sister's bridal shower."
From reader in Timisoara "Origami Lily, made of an non-sticky post-it."
From reader in Binghamton:
From Kim in Tustin " I made origami lilly bouquets and boutonnieres for my wedding, and they turned out very well!"
Congratulations on your wedding, Kim! What a beautiful bouquet of origami lily!!
From Andrew in Glasgow:
From AnneMarie in Powder Springs:
From Beth in Washington "I made these origami lilies for my Mum for Mother's Day and she really loved them! :D"
