Fabric origami box tutorial | How About Orange

January 13, 2011

Fabric origami box tutorial

An origami box seemed like an easy project for testing yesterday's stiffened fabric. The material folded nicely, and pressing the creases with an iron as I went along made even sharper edges. In case elementary school was eons ago and you've forgotten how to make a simple origami box, here's a refresher.

Begin with two squares of stiffened fabric, one for the bottom and one for the lid. (Mine were 6" x 6.")

1. Mark the center of the square by folding the fabric into quarters or measuring. Bring each corner of the fabric to the center point and press the creases.

2. Bring one edge of the resulting square inward until it touches the center point and make a crease. Repeat with the other three sides.

You'll end up with four creases running through the square.

3. Open up the top and bottom triangular flaps, leaving the side flaps folded in. Then pinch the sides of the top flap inward.

4. Bring the point of the top flap over the "wall" you just made and press it down to the bottom of the box.

5. Repeat with the opposite flap. My box stayed folded all by itself, but you could add a couple dots of glue to secure the flaps if needed.

Make a lid for the box using the other piece of fabric. The lid will need to be slightly larger than the bottom, so when you get to step 2, don't fold all the way to the center point. Fold each side to a point a quarter inch short of the center.

Stitch a decoration to the lid if you're feeling fancy.

47 comments:

Anna said...

this is so cool! that's so fun to think of fabric in such a different way.

Katy said...

Ohhh, how neat! I never thought of that. I learn all sorts of interesting things from your blog!

CaLynn said...

Heya! When you posted about the fabric stiffener, i thought "very cool idea!" and i flagged it in my rss reader. Yet for the life of me i couldnt think of anything. And how simple is this? Great idea, thanks! :D

Ging said...

I can't wait to try it myself!

Bethany said...

I want to do this right this very second.

Kate Moore said...

Lovely. I haven't made these boxes in years. I used to make them from discarded wallpaper sample books for my mum's store.

Nauli said...

What a great idea to use fabric for Origami!
Love the design. We made this Origami- box like hundreds in any size, since learned it from our Mom
In Kindergarten times. It's a great gift box, good for storing small things as sewing stuff and small things for bookbinding. But never ever remade one from fabric!

Three Birds Jewelry said...

i love this idea, i love making custom packaging. my girlfrieds b-day is coming up and i plan to make her a ring...this would be a perfect gift box!

Jill said...

Great idea for the stiffened fabric! Love it!

Johanna said...

I love this idea! I've made origami boxes, but never thought of using fabric. Thank you!

Natalie said...

this is so cute!!!! Perfect for giving jewelry as gifts!

Maxabella said...

You are so clever and thoughtful. x

Christie // lemon squeezy home said...

That is too cool--I love it. What a fun way to use fabric!

Grandma G said...

Aw, I haven't made one of those little boxes in many years!

So, is the stiffened fabric any different than using paper? I mean, does it "perform" about the same? I suppose it'd be nice in that it wouldn't tear like paper would.

Witty and in Love said...

Oh I love the box! I have fabric stiffener and never really knew what to do with it besides using it on fabric flowers. Thanks!

DianeY said...

So cute! I love it!

Jessica @ Sunny Tuesday said...

We used to make these out of greeting cards. I am loving the fabric version! :)

Natalka Pavlysh said...

It`s so cute!!! I can't wait to do it! Thank you!

Anonymous said...

this is such a cool way to use fabric scraps, i can't wait to try it

Hana said...

Cute idea with the fabric stiffener; I've actually never used stiffener before!

I've always loved making these classic boxes, and often make them with solid color oak tag paper thickness to make it sturdy.

Thanks for sharing.

Eva said...

Such a fantastic and eco-friendly gift box idea!!

Anne Magee said...

Too cute! You inspired me to try a project with the ribbon stiff I had, but it didn't work out quite like I'd planned! I'll try again! Love the box!

Lisa Brown said...

Very pretty! Love making these with patterned paper, too!

Christine E-E said...

fabulous... i'm imagining some valentine's fabric & make a few boxes with a tasty treat inside. Love that you share your talents! patterns! tricks of the trade!

objects of whimsy said...

nice one!!!

Anonymous said...

Awee you have fantastic blog page. Happy to find you :)

Unknown said...

Very nice and informative.
Thanks for the interesting idea.
I'll use it, with your permission

petra said...

So lovely...Petra

Unknown said...

I can't wait to try this to make little gift boxes.

I love your blog, and I am sorry I don't comment more often. Thank you for so many wonderful ideas.

Carey said...

I'm more interested in the flowers on top of the box. How did you make those?

Stephanie said...

fab-u-lous

aslo would love to know about making the flowers on top.

Jeannie said...

Because today is Delurking Day in Blogdom, I wanted to leave a note just to say that I really enjoy your blog and look forward to each post.
Thank you for what you do!

Anonymous said...

When you posted the stiffened fabric my first thought was "origami!" and then I became intimidated. How cute would these be at a wedding?

OR. OR.

Fabric fortune tellers with little stitched on tags for the fortunes. Or even. OH MAN. You could totally... spoonflower...

/headasplode

CC said...

Super cute! As an interior designer I have tons of discontinued fabric squares hanging around this is a great project for them!!

Erika Mulvenna said...

Great idea - and I totally forgot that we used to make these in school! Oh, and I am passing on a little blog-love to you today! http://sewsitall.blogspot.com/2011/01/nice-suprise.html

Jennie Bee said...

Very cute, I used to make these when I was a kid.

Denise said...

ahhh! Thank you! This is perfect for the socks I knit for my family members birthdays.

Lydia_Lididesign said...

So pretty and neat! I would like to try it.
Your blog is so inspired me.
Thanks.

Lisa said...

i used to make these boxes with my grandma when i was a kid. she would have us use old greeting cards. love the fabric though!

K Blue said...

Oh my goodness. I made all of these paper origami boxes to enclose gifts for Christmas this year. Afterwards, I was thinking of how nice it would be if I could make them in fabric to be more lasting. Ta-dah! Thanks for the tips. Yay!

Anonymous said...

Blast from my past... My Mom and I used to make boxes just like this from the past year's Christmas cards and we would hang them on a little tree. This is a wonderful, fresh use for them!

Anonymous said...

Please share where to get that fabulous fabric!

Jessica Jones said...

The fabrics are listed here in this collection. Scroll down to find the names and links. I didn't check to see if they're available there, but you can get the names and search for them elsewhere if needed.

Anonymous said...

So fantastic! I am going to use this to hold favors at my bridal shower!

Daily Craft said...

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Meegan said...

Thank you! I made 300 of these little boxes from paper for my daughter's wedding...each contained a Hershey Kisses with a tag on them,
"So Sweet of you to Come", and the like.

christopher said...

Quite some years ago,i stiffened fabric by diluting PVA glue with water in a large bowl,i then put in the fabric and wrung it out then pegged it to dry,and it was suitably stiffened.I made 'Doily bowls' like this, by soaking them in the solution,wringing out then moulding over an existing bowl.Left to dry, it then stiffened and made a really pretty trinket bowl for a bedroom,or a sweetie bowl.