German Stars (Moravian Stars)
This page shows how to make a German Star using 4 strips of paper. Although the task is not particularly hard, those who have never made one before may find it a bit confusing. But after 2 or 3 tries, you will be able to make them with your eyes closed!
The creation of a German Star (Moravian Star) can be divided into 6 parts:
1. Make a Central Square
2. Make a second Central Square
3. Make 4-Points
4. Make second set of 4-Points
5. Make 4-Peaks
6. Make second set of 4-Peaks.
Let’s Start!
1. Make A Central Square
- Start by getting 4 strips of paper with 1:24 ratio. This means paper widths and lengths should be:
3/8″
1/2″
3/4″
1″
9″
12″
18″
24″
1.5″
2″
3″
4″
- Fold the strips in half and trim the ends to make them tapered.
- Weave the 4 strips together as shown. Scoot the strips together to form a tight central square.
2. Make Second Central Square
- Fold in this order:
– fold strip A down,
– fold strip B to the right,
– fold strip C up,
– fold strip D to the left and weave it under strip A.
3. Make Four Points
- Fold the top-right strip behind and towards the right. Make sharp crease, 45 degree angle.
- Fold the same strip down so it is adjacent to its original location. Again, sharp crease at 45 degree angle.
- Fold this strip to the left so it lies ontop of itself.
- It should look like this.
- Grasp the point firmly so it doesn’t unravel then weave the tail-end of the strip under the layer just below it.
- It should look like this. Rotate the paper quarter-turn, clockwise. Go back to step 4 and repeat 3 more times.
below: When completing the steps on the last strip, you will need to lift strip X out of the way in order to weave the last strip under.
4. Make Second Set of Four Points
- Flip the entire model bottom-side up and repeat steps 4 through 9.
- When done, it should look like this. Now you have 8 points, four will be visible, the other 4 will be under layers of paper.
5. Make Four Peaks
Get ready to make the 4 peaks by re-arranging the strips of paper.
- Moved strip A to the right to get it out of the way.
- Fold in this order:
– fold strip B down,
– fold strip C to the left,
– fold strip D upwards,
– lastly, fold strip A to the right more firmly. - It should look like this.
This next section is probably the most difficult part. If necessary, use tweezers to help grasp and pull the tapered ends of the paper.
- Fold the top-right strip towards the right. Make a sharp crease, 45 degrees angle.
- It should look like this. See below for details:
a. Turn the same strip of paper around so it is pointing towards the left.
b. When looping this strip of paper around, be sure not to flip it bottom-side up. Tuck the strip of paper under the adjacent layer and weave it through completely.
c: If you have x-ray vision, you will see that the strip of paper comes out of the points made in part 3 and 4 above.
Pull the strip all the way through. It will form a peak that is perpendicular to the points. The Moravian Star is now 3-dimensional.
Rotate the model quarter turn, counter-clockwise and repeat step 15 & 16 to form 3 more peaks.
- When done, it should look like this
4. Make a Second Set of 4 Peaks
- Turn the model over to work on the other side.
- Rearrange the strips as in step 12 and 13 above.
- Make 4 more peaks as described in steps 15 and 16 above.
Use scissors to cut excess paper.
Your German Star is done!
The same instructions but with 4 colored strips of paper.
It may be useful to some but it may useless to others!
