Origami Coach

Paper gift bow

An original flat cut-paper bow with fishtail ends and a shallow raised pleat. It uses a single square and scissors. This decorative bow has flat wings rather than tucked ribbon loops; optional thread can attach it to a wrapped gift.

Paper gift bow

Before you begin

1 sheet · Square paper

15 × 15 cm

Scissors needed

Start folding

This lesson is being checked for folding accuracy. It has not yet passed a physical fold-through review.

Step-by-step instructions

Read through the fold before you begin, or open any step in the folding viewer.

Printable guide (opens a new tab)
  1. After step 1: All four edges of the square are visible.

    Start with one square

    Place a square colored side down. Keep scissors nearby. This lesson makes a flat pleated bow, not a looped ribbon bow.

    Look for: All four edges of the square are visible.

    See this fold
  2. After step 2: The square becomes a two-layer horizontal rectangle.

    Fold bottom to top

    Bring the bottom edge to the top edge and press the crease. Keep the folded edge nearest you.

    Look for: The square becomes a two-layer horizontal rectangle.

    See this fold
  3. After step 3: A four-layer square has closed edges at the bottom and left.

    Fold left to right

    Fold the left edge onto the right edge. The lower-left folded corner will become the narrow middle of the bow.

    Look for: A four-layer square has closed edges at the bottom and left.

    See this fold
  4. After step 4: The packet is wider than it is tall.

    Trim the outer strip

    Cut straight across the packet about two-thirds of the way up from the bottom folded edge. Remove the narrow top strip.

    Look for: The packet is wider than it is tall.

    See this fold
  5. After step 5: A narrow inner end widens toward the outside of the bow.

    Shape the narrow middle

    Cut the highlighted diagonal from the left edge just above the center corner to the upper-right corner. Remove the triangle above the line. Leave the folded center corner joined.

    Look for: A narrow inner end widens toward the outside of the bow.

    See this fold
  6. After step 6: A small V-shaped end will appear when the bottom fold opens.

    Make the fishtail end

    Cut a small triangle from the outer right edge beside the bottom fold. The cut reaches inward about a fifth of the half-width. Keep the large remaining piece.

    Look for: A small V-shaped end will appear when the bottom fold opens.

    See this fold
  7. After step 7: Two matching halves widen away from a joined middle.

    Open the vertical fold

    Unfold from right to left. Handle the narrow center gently and keep the bottom folded edge closed.

    Look for: Two matching halves widen away from a joined middle.

    See this fold
  8. After step 8: A connected bow silhouette has wide ends and a narrow central waist.

    Open the horizontal fold

    Open the remaining bottom fold. Flatten the bow lightly. Its two fishtail ends should match.

    Look for: A connected bow silhouette has wide ends and a narrow central waist.

    See this fold
  9. After step 9: The wings have a small V-shaped relief, with a flat center strip and no separate parts.

    Raise a shallow pleat

    Make two shallow folds along the highlighted horizontal lines, one just above and one just below the center. Lift both outer panels slightly toward you; keep the narrow strip between the folds flat. Do not fold the panels all the way together.

    Look for: The wings have a small V-shaped relief, with a flat center strip and no separate parts.

    See this fold
  10. After step 10: One sheet makes the complete decorative bow; attachment to a gift is optional.

    Finish the decoration

    Adjust the gentle pleat evenly. The bow can rest on a wrapped gift, or you can tie optional thread around its narrow center to attach it. No adhesive or hidden tuck is needed to form this flat bow.

    Look for: One sheet makes the complete decorative bow; attachment to a gift is optional.

    See this fold