This origami tessellation uses the fact that trapezoids can create overhang in order connect to the next set of shapes. That's one of the things that I find so interesting about them. You can arrange them in ways that a lot of other shapes simply can't do.  In this particular tessellation, I did alternating trapezoids and rhombuses around open back hexagons. The gaps between them left space open for me to add opposite facing trapezoids. Which allowed me to repeat that molecule.  The repeating process created the more standard six trapezoids around a hexagon in the other spaces.  It's a nice, fluid design that highlights the versatility of the trapezoid shape in tessellating.  If you're a fan of flagstone tessellations , this is a pretty cool one.  Crease pattern below. Created the pattern last week. Just fold it the other day.  Filed under: April 2026 Origami Tessellations

 This is a twist based origami tessellation using trapezoids and hexagons. I think that I created it two weeks ago and just gto to folding it about a week ago.  The most notable thing about it, is that even though it uses hexagonal twists, it's actually a linear configuration.  This was achieved by connecting the hexagons to each other rather than just repeating the trapezoids all around them.  This happens pretty naturally when you connect the trapezoids vertically and look for a way to repeat the design horizontally.  It's also a mirror symmetry design. Each side is a mirror image of the other.  It's a pretty easy tessellation to fold. Any ordinary paper will work fine.  My diagram is below. 

 This is the tessellation that I reference in the previous post. I had the central idea. That came to me quite easily. It wasn't hard to figure out how to repeat that. However, when I did, I was left with a rather large gap that I didn't know how to fill.  I played around with various sets of shapes and still wasn't sure what would actually work.  When you're stuck, sometimes it's best to just take a step back and work on something else for a while. So, I did.  A week later, I was thinking about it again and came up with a new plan to reconcile those empty spaces. I still knew that it wasn't quite right, but that I was almost there.  At that point, I decided I would go with what I had so far and see if I could figure out the final answer as I folded it.  This isn't an approach that I usually take. It risks wasting fancy paper and a lot of grid folding time. But, occasionally, this is the only way for me to figure trickier things out completely. It doesn...

 I was stuck for a while on how to repeat a somewhat unorthodox pattern. That roadblock gave me the idea for this tessellation . It's a similar, but more fluid design compared to the other.  The basic inspiration was a large pyramidal style array of rhombuses around hexagons.  Depending on how you look at it, you might see that. Or you might see the rhombus stars more prominently.  Tilt your head 20 degrees or so as you look at it and the central concept might stand out more.  I have the sneaking suspicion that this tessellation may have been done previously by Joel Cooper or someone else of that caliber. It just seems like something he might do. I'm not sure though. At the time of creating it, it was new/unknown to me.  Incidentally, I did later figure out the original idea that I had been stuck on. Which I just completed earlier today. It turned out to have some surprising and new techniques for me. I will post that one soon. It's very interesting. ...

 This flagstone tessellation was all about three triangles and an open back hexagon. From that starting point, I added shapes that seemed to make sense in order to create a coherent and repeatable pattern.  I'll be the first to admit that I have a small obsession with flagstone style origami tessellations . There seem to be an endless array of possible patterns and I enjoy finding as many of them as I can.  It's interesting because every once in a while, I'll feel like I'm all out of ideas. Then, I'll take a breather and  out of nowhere I'll find a new configuration.  It's a reminder that inspiration comes on its own schedule. Trying to force it doesn't work. Let it come to you.  The additional details of this design feature small hex twists with six triangles as well as alternating trapezoids.  Crease pattern included. 

 This was a new discovery for me. The fact that trapezoids can be tucked into each other around an open back hexagon. I don't think that I've encountered this particular origami tessellation before. Moving out from the center, I saw that I could do alternating trapezoids and long parallelograms around a small offset hex twist.  From there, I was able to repeat the center again.  It neither an easy nor a hard tessellation . It lands squarely in the middle ground. Although, getting everything tucked posed a few small challenges.  My crease pattern is included below. 

 This is a recent tessellation . Probably from a week ago. Totally twist based.  The center is triangles around an offset hexagon. Three on one side and three on the other. Then I add rhombuses twisting off from them.  To repeat the pattern, I add additional rhombuses a little ways off from the first set. Using that second set of rhombuses as the basis from additional iterations of the central molecule.  It was a fun and frustration free design to fold. An easy origami tessellation for almost anyone. Still, you wind up with a unique and unusual configuration when it is complete.  I took a picture of the paper before I started to fold it. I should do that more often. So, my original diagram is below.   Filed under: March 2026 Origami Tessellations

  This is an old tessellation that I recently found, which I don't think that I've ever posted.  It looks pretty simple, but it has a secret on the other side. Hidden triangle twists nestled under the series of large hexagons.  The large hexagons on the back are natural to the grid. As are the small on the front.  I don't remember how I came to fold this particular tessellation . It's from quite some time ago.  Don't currently have the crease pattern for it. But I'll unfold it and upload one soon. Update: adding crease pattern.  It's interesting to note that this tessellation can be folded with or without the triangle twists. It can be done with ordinary 90 degree corners instead, but everything flows together much neater using the triangles. 

 I found this old origami tessellation and I'm not sure if I've ever added it here.  It uses open back hexagons with triangles twisting a pleat away. Then on the other side there are small hex twists to facilitate the repetitions.  This creates the double rows of weaves. Kinda neat. Might've been done before, but was new to me.  I kinda like how triads of triangle twists form around the hexagons.  It's not too hard to fold. You just have to be prepared to fold things pretty close together.  It's a good tessellation for practicing your technique and learning how to finesse overcrowded designs. 

  This is one of those exceedingly difficult tessellations that I occasionally do.  It's from maybe a month ago. I struggled to get a good photo of it.  It's more about the challenge of can it be done than it is about how mice the final product might look.  I don't really remember how I did it. Looking at the back view, it looks to be collapsed hexagons.   Shockingly, I have the crease pattern, which looking at it, is pretty crazy. I'm honestly not sure how I managed to fold it to completion at all. It's pretty dastardly.  Sometimes you just get an idea and you have to see it through. A lot of times those really complex ideas are much better in theory than they are in real life.  But it still feels good to make it happen! Filed under: March 2026 Origami Tessellations , though it's probably from back in January or February. 

 When I mapped this one out, it looked pretty ordinary. However, when I went to fold it, I discovered that it had some obstacles.  It's concept is inspired by 'Chevrons' which was created by gatheringfolds. That design is alternating rhombuses.  In this case, I added rows of alternating triangles in between the rows of rhombuses.  What I thought would be a pretty straightforward flagstone tessellation turned out to be much more complex.  Some of the triangles on the back side needed to be folded over on top of each other. It was a technique that I really hadn't done before. It's quite difficult to get everything situated neatly under such circumstances.  It turned out okay. Could've been better for sure. Honestly, I'm surprise I was able to complete it at all, given the fact that I was not expecting those challenges.  I drew it out quite spontaneously on the paper on which I folded it. As far as I can recall, there wasn't anything all that unusual abo...

 This flagstone is from a while back. I don't think that I've uploaded it before. The premise is six sided pyramid type shapes comprised of four triangles and three trapezoids each. They all revolve around a center point of six triangles twisted around a small hexagon on the other side.  There are one set of extra triangles off of the center before the pyramids happen.  That's it. It's a pretty seamless design. There are no tricks or anything to get it to work. Everything flows very nicely.  Don't have the crease pattern anymore.  It's easy enough to map. Just follow the shapes.  It's a difficult tessellation to fold only because of all the close tucks and collapses. But it's a pretty easy to understand design.