Fold and Assemble a Waldorf Paper Star

Finished, hanging Waldorf paper star.
The paper folding technique is simple
enough for little children to follow, ages
 five through nine. 

       This particular paper star example is traditionally referred to as a "Waldorf" star, but the pattern design has been around long before this name was applied to it inside the classrooms of Waldorf schools in Germany and America.

       I suspect that patterns like the one shown here were originally developed by Moravians because there are so many star pattern examples like this one in their Christian design work featured in quilts, birth certificates and baptismal records.

       The Moravian church is the very oldest Protestant denomination that began back in 15th century, Bohemia. It even predates the Lutheran Church, Reformation by 60 years.

Supply List:

• ribbon or wire for hanging
• Two generous sheets of contrasting print or solid colored papers
• white tacky glue
• small clamps or paperclips to hold paper segments together to dry during assembly

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cut a two inch square piece of decorative paper.
2. Fold this square in half, unfold it.
3. Repeat this same step after turning that same square once to the right. Unfold the second fold. Now with the paper unfolded completely you should see a perfectly divided square with four equal marked areas between the creases in the paper. (Not shown unfolded in photo below.)
4. Fold two corners into each the center directly opposite to each other.
5. Repeat the step again with the two remaining flaps. You should now have a perfect square shape again.
6. fold in two sides opposite of each other to make the edges line up in the center. This should create a "kite" looking shape.
7. Once you have folded this shape eight times with two alternating patterns or colors, glue the star together so that the shorter sided corners tips meet in the center of your assembled Waldorf Star. Glue this pattern in place as you go.
8. Take a needle and poke a tiny hole at one of the points of your star. String in a ribbon or push through a fine wire to make a hanger for this paper ornament.

Steps 1. through 3. illustrated.

Steps 4. through 6. illustrated.

Assembling the star using tacky glue and clamps illustrated.