How to Make a Large Moravian Star
A Moravian star, also called a Froebel star or a German star, is a 3-dimensional paper star with spikes extending in many directions. The Moravian star is sometimes used as a holiday decoration or as a bow on a present. The first Moravian stars were considerably more intricate than today's versions. Original Moravian stars featured 100 distinct spikes; most stars today have 26 or less. While all Moravian stars require complex folding techniques, a large Moravian star is easier to create than small ones because folding can be slightly less precise.
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Instructions
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1
Cut four wide strips of paper using a ratio of 1:20. For each inch of paper width, the length must be 20 inches long. You're making a large Moravian star, so the more width you have, the larger the completed star will be.
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2
Tuck the ends of the paper strips into points. Fold all paper strips in half horizontally. Place all paper strips together side-by-side.
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3
Number the strips in order (1,2,3,4) and label each strip with an "A" on the top flap and a "B" on the bottom flap.
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4
Open strip 2 and slide the flaps (both A and B) from strip 1 inside the fold of strip 2. Strip 2 must be pointing flaps up. The flaps of strip 1 will now be facing left.
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5
Put strip 3 inside strip 2, points facing to the right, using the method from step 4 but in the opposite direction.
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6
Slide the strip 3 flaps in between strip 4's flaps. Pull the flaps of strip 4 in between the flaps of strip 1. The papers should now be in a square shape.
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7
Pull very lightly on all the flaps until a basket weave shape appears in the middle of the square. Fold flap 2A downwards, covering the center of the square. Fold flap 1A to the right.
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8
Fold flap 4A upwards (the opposite of what you just did with flap 2A) and fold 3A to the right. Weave flap 3A under flap 2A, thus creating another basket weave design. Strips should now extend from all sides of the square.
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9
Fold flap 4B, angling it to point outwards (a 45 degree angle.) Fold flap 4B again, this time folding it down to make a point. Slide 4B underneath 3A. Pull gently until the point extends from the square.
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10
Rotate the square 90 degrees clockwise. Repeat step 9 with every flap, creating eight distinct points.
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11
Curl the bottom strip on the top right of the star upwards and left, then downwards and right, until it curls into itself thus forming a point. Slide the tips under the basket weave design just above the point you just formed, securing and hiding the points. Pull gently on the just-formed point, making sure it is secure.
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12
Repeat the process from step 11 with the seven remaining points. When all eight points have been formed, your Moravian star is complete.
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Tips & Warnings
Work slowly as you create your Moravian star as this is a complex project and will require patience and time to create properly.
If you have excess paper points still sticking out after completing the Moravian star, you can trim ends with scissors as long as it won't cause any part of the complex basket weave design to loosen.
References
- Photo Credit moravian stars image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com
