How to Make a Pinwheel With a Pencil

Turn your luck around with the spin of a wheel.

The Chinese believe pinwheels can turn someone's luck around and showcase them as decorations for Chinese New Year. The Chinese traditionally view pinwheels as a symbol of the ever-changing winds of human life. Whether you believe the old, Chinese superstition or not, learning how to make a pinwheel provides an entertaining introduction to beginner origami. These vibrant whirligigs will brighten up a gloomy day if you're feeling glum or entertain children on a sunny picnic.

Things You'll Need

• 6-inch square of origami paper
• Pencil
• Straight pin

Instructions

1. Fold the top left corner of the paper to the bottom right corner of the paper. Open the fold. Fold the top right corner to the bottom left corner. Open the fold. This creates crisscross creases to guide the folding, so do not press them out.

2. Fold the top left-hand corner to the center and press the fold down. Fold the bottom right-hand corner to the center and press the fold down. Do not open the folds.

3. Turn the paper over. Fold the last two points to the center. Do not open the folds. The paper should look like a small square. Place the square so it looks like an envelope with the top flap and the bottom flap pointing toward the center.

4. Fold the right-hand corner to the center. Fold the left-hand corner to the center. Flip the paper over again. Fold the right-hand corner to the center. Fold the left-hand corner to the center. The paper will be square.

5. Pull out the paper tucked inside the left-hand top flap and press it flat. Pull out the paper tucked into the bottom right-hand flap and press it flat. The paper should begin to resemble a pinwheel. Turn it over.

6. Pull out the paper tucked inside the right-hand bottom flap and press it flat. Do the same for the remaining corner.

7. Place the pinwheel on top of a pencil. Press a pin into the center of the pinwheel to fasten it to the pencil, leaving enough room that the pinwheel spins.

Tips & Warnings

• Select colorful paper to make the pinwheel stand out.

• Personalize the by covering white paper with drawings, paintings or glitter.

• Make the hole in the middle of the pinwheel bigger if it doesn't spin. The pinwheel should easily spin around the pin.

References

• Bridges; Pinwheel Runs, Good Fortune Comes; Irene Tao; Spring 2011