This is an intermediate level tessellation that I recently folded. The idea is two kinds of triangles twisting around an open hexagon. Not too unusual. It's a little different though because the top corners of the triangles meet and they twist into one another. This is illustrated very clearly in the crease pattern at the end of this post.  In order to repeat the pattern, I used small hex twists and some triangle twists (which are not requited, but I liked them). They could just be left as regular corners.  I used ordinary printer paper because there are a lot of folds which overlap each other. Normally, when you do a hex twist you, just spin each axis in the same direction and they don't interfere with one another. In some cases, like in this tessellation , it's necessary to twist the axes in opposite directions. When that happens, they overlap. When trying to fold overlapping twists, I find it much easier to use thinner paper.  All in all, this paper type worked...

 I've  had the pattern for this tessellation for quite some time. It just kind of got lost in the chaos for a while. Finally folded it the other day.  When you look at the crease pattern (located below), it looks pretty complicated, but actually it's pretty straightforward. There are a lot of shapes, but creating the connections between them is fairly simple.  Another interesting thing about this particular origami tessellation is that it kind of looks like there isn't a tessellation pattern, even though there is. It takes a few steps outward, but right near the edges the central molecule does show up again.  The front side is mostly trapezoids with some triangles. The back side is exclusively open hexagons. This is an intermediate level tessellation . It'll take up a little bit of time, but it won't drive you crazy in the process.  Diagram to fold this one follows. 

This is an origami tessellation idea that I had a while back. Because it seemed so simple, I didn't rush to fold it. It languished for a while waiting for me to become interested.  On a day when I didn't have that much time, I decided to try it.  It's a very simple concept of large hexagons with natural triangles. I add small hexagons at the points of the triangles in order to repeat the pattern.  Some open triangle twists finish off the remaining space.  The diagram included below doesn't really fully illustrate the further finishing touches that I added to it.  Once I had the whole tessellation flattened I did small triangle twists with the corners of the large hexagons. This created kind of pseudo open back hexagons in their place. This led me to then fold their edges inwards, creating the final design.  It's hard to tell from my 32 pleat rendition, but the design is fully repeatable.  Even though it's a very simple concept, it wasn't easy at all ...

 This is a tessellation from back in mid May. It's kind of a weird one. It starts with a collapsed hexagon and then there are teardrop shapes tucked into it. In order to repeat the pattern, I simply added some long 'arms'. The edges of the 'arms' are half hexagons. The remaining spaces were filled in with six sided 'pyramids'. It's a fairly simple tessellation , but actually folding it is a little tricky. Only because there are a lot of small, fiddly shapes to work. I'm sure I had a diagram at one point, but where it is now is anyone's guess. I did, however, unfold it to crease a new one.

 This is a twist based tessellation that I created a few weeks ago. I was just looking for an unusual pattern that could work without too much fuss. I had the idea to rotate 3 trapezoids around an open hexagon and then tuck two triangles into each one. It was easy enough to repeat. Just angle the trapezoids off of each other. But that only gave me three repeated sides, not six. I don't remember how I decided I needed to add open triangles, but those filled in some of the other areas.  No idea what became of my original crease pattern. I seem to loose track of them quite often. But I will create a new one and add it soon.  I actually find the back side more interesting. That's just my opinion.  This is an intermediate tessellation . It would be easy, but I think how the small triangles connect to the open hexagons on the reverse side make it a little bit tricky.  Crease pattern added. 

link to full size image opens in google photos.  This original origami tessellation is fully twist based, but gives the appearance of something more complicated.  It actually uses a fairly simple idea of six sets of double parallel triangle twists around a collapsed hexagon. The back view shows how the collapsed hexagons work/look. I couldn't just straight up repeat the center because the twists would go in conflicting directions. I didn't have space to add buffer shapes and still have full repeats. So, I did mirror images as a compact work around.  I recommend clicking the first photo to open the full sized image in order to see all the unique subtleties of this particular design.  Crease pattern included. Filed under: May 2026 Origami Tessellations

 This is an intermediate origami tessellation that I did last week. It's a simple design that creates an interesting pattern. Not every tessellation has to be intricate or complicated in order to be visually pleasing. In fact, sometimes the less complex models yield some very intriguing results.  This one is just an idea I wanted to do that centered around a very specific starting point. Three rhombuses tucked into a small triangle. I also wanted to be able to repeat that molecule as much as possible.  I wound up using a series of open hexagons and large triangles There are also some trapezoids, but far less of them.  It's a straight up tuck tessellation . No twists. No flagstone style collapse folds. Every shapes just tucks neatly into the others.  What I find particularly appealing about this kind of origami tessellation is that it's very easy to conceptualize. It's a great starting point for creating your own designs. Everything fits together quite neatly. ...

Here's a new flagstone tessellation using trapezoids in yet another way. They truly are the most versatile of all the standard shapes in origami tessellations.  I used to think it was triangles that were most versatile, but having explored so extensively with trapezoids, I am convinced that are even more so.  Just when I think that I can't find possibly something else new to do with them, they surprise me again. The central pattern was my inspiration. A hexagon flanked by two rhombuses on each side and trapezoids at top and bottom. From there, it was just a matter of working out how to repeat it.  I'm sure it can be done using many methods, but I landed on a couple that I liked. This is one of them.  My grid isn't really large enough to show the repetitions, but the pattern is fully repeatable. For the back side, lots and lots of triangles are required.  In order to fold this tessellation , you'll need a little bit of patience and a good quality paper. C...

This is a pretty simple original origami tessellation that uses the natural twist of an open back hexagon to create multiples series of spinning miniature house shapes.  The  unique array of disparate shapes combine to form what reminds me of small dancing microscopic hemoglobin cells. The hue of the paper, no doubt, contributes to the sensory illusion.  This intermediate level origami tessellation can be folded fairly easily, provided you possess just an intermediate level of skill and a small amount of patience.  Who knows what scientific phenomena the finished patterns will make you think of. It mostly depends on what color paper you choose.  The back side of the original tessellation is a crowded configuration of overlapping large natural hexagons which serve as spacers for the repetitions.  Crease pattern follows.  Top right corner has a different tessellation which can be ignored for these purposes.  Update: I'm adding a video I made of m...

 I don't really remember this intermediate tessellation from a few weeks ago. Had to unfold it to determine the structure. Looking at the finished photo doesn't really reveal any clues as to its origin.  But the truth is, that it's actually quite simple. Not that easy to fold, but the architecture is not that complex.  Basically, it's open back hexagons with rhombus twists tucked into them. I connected the repetitions by mirroring. In other words, I took the way that the rhombuses in the center connected to each other in the center and created opposite facing angles my chosen distance away. The actual molecules are not mirrored. They flow the same as the center.  Doing this creates an obstacle. The joining folds want to flow in opposite directions. This happens with rhombus twists because they naturally twist in opposite directions when connected to each other using certain methods.  To overcome this, I folded some shapes 'backwards'. This let me fold everythin...

 Every once in a while I'll come up with an unusual configuration of rhombus twists that I use to create a new tessellation . Unlike traditional twist based rhombus tessellations, these designs will feature awkward patterns and unorthodox overlaps.  I just enjoy trying to come up with functional patterns that seem like they shouldn't work.  This tessellation is a new one in that style.  It features overlapping rhombus twists around a large hexagon. Some triangle twists help make the pattern repeat.  The back view is mostly unremarkable. Although, there are some interesting micro right triangles.  Whenever I create tessellations like this I'm always hoping for a surprise interesting pattern on the other side. Sometime I get one and sometime not so much. Still, a good  fold regardless.  My crease pattern is a little messy, but it mostly gets the point across. Filed under: April 2026 Origami Tessellations

 This is one of those tessellations where I pack an absurd amount of triangle twists into a small space and see what the result is. More often than not, you'll get a pretty interesting design on the opposite side.  This tessellation starts its life with an open back hexagon. From there, it's pretty much a chaos of triangle and rhombus twists. Not really chaos, but it kinda looks that way when you see the other side.  My grid wasn't large enough to actually repeat the center, but I think it can be done if you have more pleats to keep going.  I did this one quite some time ago, so I don't really remember how it came to be exactly. Although, I do remember that I was kind of fixated on folding the edges of open back hexagons in on the center.  My crease pattern is below. I think I remember that I made a small mistake when tracing it. I believe there's a missing triangle in the right mid edge section.  I like to fold twist based tessellations using thinner pap...

 I've been meaning to add this particular origami tessellation for at least several weeks now. I just had a lot of trouble getting a good photo of it. It's still not a great pic, but it was the best that I could get.  I had hoped using thinner paper would allow for a nice backlight pic, but it didn't work out that way. So, I just went with a standard photo instead.  It's kind of an unusual pattern for me. There's a large natural triangle at the center with three small triangle twists rotating around it. Then on the other side there are three sets of three triangles twisting around it.  I repeated the center three times and then filled in the other three areas with a different collection of triangle twists.  It's a fully twist based tessellation.  I can't really decide if I like the front of the back better. Although, I do remember that the design the the center of the back was my original inspiration. Interesting how things evolved so much from there....

 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 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 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 a really old tessellation . Probably from many years ago. I probably never uploaded it because it's very simple. But, when I found it a little while ago, I thought that it deserves a place just as much as any other tessellation does.  It's highly unlikely that this is an original idea. But it was new to me at the time.  Even though it's pretty basic, it creates quite a pretty pattern. It's also not super easy to fold. It's not hard either. But all those little tucks can get fiddly.  Back then, I used to do my tessellations with used printer paper. So, it's not super neat around the edges. I still like it, even so.  Origami tessellations of this sort often end up with an interesting structure on the reverse side. As I dimly recall, you usually get some natural shapes, but the connections land in such a way that you have these small, single pleat connections that have to be folded in half.  It's not particularly hard to do. Although, it does take a...