Origami Basics: Hexagon

This video shows how to cut a hexagon (six-sided polygon) from (a) a square, and (b) a rectangle.
More origami: www.happyfolding.com
Japanese subtitles by / @honeypeach1004

[@LadyShanx]

Thank you so much for this video. I have so often been stuck with only a simple piece of paper; no ruler or protractor within reach. Now, I can step outside of the box (square) and into the hexagon. Don't let the "origami purist" comments get you down. This is wonderfull video. Thank you, again.

[@Happyfolding]

@skillphiliac Yes, I have seen designs that start of with e.g. a square, then fold a different polygon, and continue working with that. Sometimes the left-over paper can also be used to add locks or add details to the model.

[@Happyfolding]

@sonichaven Actually, I find it easier to cut a hexagon from a rectangle. I usually get more accurate results. Also, when cutting from a square, the hexagon has a crease in an awkward place. If you use the technique for the rectangle, you only get creases that are often necessary for models in any case. Hence I do clearly prefer the method for the rectangle, and don't think it's simpler to first go to a square. Hope this clarifies.

[@UsernameBarbF]

What a great job you did on this video! Your instructions were so clear and easy to understand! And I loved how you made the black lines seem to appear magically. Thanks for taking the time to make this video for us!

[@desarmenienfrancois5391]

Very clear. Just to be precise (for those who wonder about the sizes and lack basic trigonometry) : the rectangle must have a dimension ratio of at least 1/cos(30º), that is the length should be at least roughly 1.1547 times the heigth. A1, A2,...,Ax ratio is (by definition) sqrt(2) - roughly 1.414 - is OK. Letter (11"x8.5") whose ratio is roughly 1.2941 is OK. In fact, any existing American or International normalized sizes I know should do. Now if you want an hexagon which side is x, the length should be 2*x an the height should be exactly 2*x*cos(30), ie if you want a 10cm sided hexagon, you should use a rectangle of 20*cos(30)=17.32cm by 20cm. On the other hand, if the height is x the the sides will be x/(2*cos(30)), ie A4 paper has a 21cm height so the sides will be 21/(2*0.866)=12.125. For a square sheet, imagine it's a rectangle of length the size of the square and the height... the size*cos(30) and it works the same as for the rectangle 🙂. Hope that helps.

[@adamironman2670]

Wow maybe santa will get me a dictionary so I can understand what you just said

[@arsantiqua8741]

It would be better if you put spaces.

[@y2clay14]

You always make all of your tutorials so easy to understand. Thank you very much for providing us with such high quality tutorials.

[@Happyfolding]

@lamyeenam Definitely! Use the rectangle method demonstrated in this video.

[@Happyfolding]

@skillphiliac The extra paper will add thickness. This may be a problem especially when folding more complex models or with thick paper. Or it changes the feel of the model For example, consider tessellations: often they are most beautiful when back-lighting, and extra layers of paper will change the pattern visible. But if you prefer not cutting the shape, you can always start with a square. The diagrams won't be any different. I personally don't mind cutting the paper to the necessary shape.

[@jg_chibifanart]

Best tutorial for making a hexagon I've seen. Very clear explanation. Excellent!

[@Happyfolding]

I'm glad you like it!

[@Happyfolding]

Actually, this video is more about stuff that's helpful for origami, rather than it being origami itself. If you want to start with a hexagonal sheet of paper, you first need that hexagon. That's what this video is about. For example, the snowflake by Dennis Walker that I made a video on needs to be folded from a hexagon.

[@infamoustr1ck360]

Nice vid Instructions are clear and simple Now it is time to go make a snowflake

[@Happyfolding]

Have fun!

[@Happyfolding]

@StacieWacie92 The method for a longer rectangle is easier, so try using that method if the square one is too hard.

[@ELECTRONICAMOM]

WOW ! THIS IS THE BEST HEXAGON INSTRUCTIONS ON KZbin !

[@brexdance]

Thank youuuuuuuuuuu...this helped soooo much! I have to make spidrons for a trigonometry project and the base of it is a hexagon. I have to say the rectangle is def. easier to understand but both work great!! :-)

[@Happyfolding]

@XIIxMysticxIIX For a hexagon with a side length of approx 10cm start with a square with a side length of approx 20cm.

[@Happyfolding]

@keshusuper Sure, you can use any paper you like.

[@loolapazoola]

lovely! i wish they'd teach this in school, when students are taught how to construct a hexagon.

[@Happyfolding]

I'm not sure what you mean by a 10x10cm hexagon. If you want to get a hexagon with a height of 10cm, then start with a rectangle that has a height of 10cm (and at least 12cm width). If you want to have a hexagon with a side length of 10cm, start with a rectangle that's about 17cm high (and at least 20cm wide).

[@kopfwietopf]

@AdamsSara I am aware of this comment being relatively old, but I was wondering whether anyone has already considered the possibility of simply "folding" a hexagon? I am completely with you on using various shapes for origami purposes, after all, I simply could crease the desired form and in the following steps hide what I do not need. Cutting or punching basic shapes is only a neater way of starting from scratch.

[@annaescarrega4185]

One more time, great job, keep them coming. Ms. Anna

[@jackieparker3287]

Amazing work!

[@ladykenja2700]

- THANX for making this "do-able" without math figures. VERY, VERY HELPFUL for making from both sizes of paper.

[@Happyfolding]

I'm glad I could help.

[@debjones1234]

Appreciated this. You made it easy to understand.

[@kopfwietopf]

@AdamsSara Exactly, seeing as this is possible I can't really understand why it should not be possible to simply start with a constructable polygon in the first place. Note: I mostly detest cutting and gluing.

[@Happyfolding]

@shadow2098100 I don't sell any origami stuff. Not paper, not videos, not folded models. But I'm sure there are people on ebay that already sell hexagons of origami paper.

[@resakuecken]

I really like how you explained the way how to fold these hexagons! like the idea with coloring the creases and the cutting of the film is very good as well - you hardly realise them (the cuts) :-) I DO like your voice - it's clear and encouraging. And I admire how you don't get into a muddle while speaking and "working" :-) ( or maybe you spoke after filming it) - however: Good job!!! :-) Thax 4 your effort - it helped a lot !!! (sorry for spelling mistakes - not my mother language)

[@Tung_Berlin]

Hey you have got a very cool and calm voice. Nice job. :P

[@Alypinkflower]

thanks...u r a very instructive teacher!!

[@carlymuffin1]

what size paper should I start with to ensure that I end up with a hexagon that has a 10 cm side length?

[@StacieWacie92]

I can't do the hexagon with the square paper. :( I get to the second last step and i'm confused.

[@ginapisello3143]

#myfirst: I think this was my first video of yours and I remember being impressed with how the dashed lines appeared after you unfolded the model. I really enjoy your tutorials. Happy 10th!

[@Happyfolding]

Thank you!

[@Happyfolding]

@LinkSSBB0 Ich glaube nicht dass es Patente gibt, aber sicherlich gibt es Urheberrecht. Bei Tessellations kann es schon sein, dass bestimmte Muster patentiert sind - z.B. wenn sie für den Weltraumeinsatz genutzt werden. Allerdings verändern schon geringe Variationen eines CP eine Tessellation komplett. Deshalb würde ich mir da nicht so einen Kopf drum machen. Und als Disclaimer: ich bin kein Anwalt. :)

[@Happyfolding]

@f4llenSk4ter I would have never guessed!

[@AtharvGoel]

what size does my rectangle/square should be if i want a 21 cm x 21 cm paper?

[@Happyfolding]

@f4llenSk4ter Try using a marker. ;)

[@XIIxMysticxIIX]

how big does the paper have to make a 10cm hexagon? either square or rectangle.

[@nerdlass]

@carlymuffin1 I'd suggest doing it the old fashioned way. Make a 10x10x10cm triangle template and build up a hexagon.

[@Happyfolding]

Ah, origami is the art of paperfolding. If you are a purist you might say only folding from squares is acceptable, and possibly even only specific folds are ok. This is sometimes called "pure" origami. While I prefer starting with a square, I do think it is absolutely acceptable to start with rectangles or regular polygons. It still remains the art of paperfolding, and is thus origami. I generally draw the line when you start using cuts and glue. Opinions vary on that, too, actually.

[@deryer]

What dimension is the pink rectangle? I followed the steps correctly but at 7:35 the corner didn't reach the center...

[@DizzySpark]

Lady, you just saved me 20 to 60 bucks. you're the shit.

[@LinkSSBB0]

@AdamsSara and on top of that the hexagon gets even bigger. because making it from a square makes it even smaller. Und noch mal eine Frage: Ich habe mal gehört, dass es Patente oder so was für Origami Tesselations gibt, dass man sie zwar kopieren darf aber nur für den Eigengebrauch oder so. Ist das wirklich so und was, wenn man den CP verändert?

[@Happyfolding]

@f4llenSk4ter I use this patented, magic paper. Maybe I should start selling it. ;)

[@kimimaru4411]

my folding abilities have really in-CREASEd x)

[@Alezitha299]

What size does my rectangle (or square) need to be for a resulting 10x10 cm hexagon?? I'm confused about the sizes, lease someone tell me!!

[@liddybeth2]

How do you decide on the size of the square? e,g. if I want to get an 8 inch hexagon or 93/4 inch hexagon? Thanks

[@Happyfolding]

The height of the hexagon is about 0.85 * the side length of the square. If you'd like to have a hexagon with a height of x, then use a square with a side length of about 1.2 * x. Does that answer your question? Or did you mean the side length of the hexagon?

[@liddybeth2]

Tanks, I think I will be able to do this. Why I was asking was that I was told to use an 8' hexagon and couldn't decide what part of the hexagon makes up the 8 inches.

[@austingray4776]

Great video ready to start tessalations

[@nor1212]

awesome! amazing! more of that! i need it every day now. now i know enough to be ready to die. thank you verry much

[@SophieNgJingYi]

@AdamsSara wow how did you draw the black lines while folding??

[@kadi7787]

Ilove your ideas very much

[@pipari44]

what speech software do you use? it sounds almost real

[@BirdOfParadise777]

I found it! Thanks:)

[@Duckoby]

Love your accent :).

[@keithlewis9189]

Excellent

[@Happyfolding]

Thanks

[@Happyfolding]

True. :)

[@diyabhattacharya6800]

by this we focus more

[@diyabhattacharya6800]

yaaa

[@91backstroke]

Its MAGIC!!! jaja ...beutiful video!! :D

[@7elegrama]

algunas de las dobleces son más fáciles y lógicas de hacer por la otra cara a como ella lo hace.

[@SteveTK420]

This is time consuming and slightly difficult to get precise. I made a few of these before I cut a template from cardboard. The template took about 15 minutes to make but I can cut a hexagon in under 2 minutes now.

[@Happyfolding]

I agree, investing some time time to make a good template pays off. You do have to have a hexagon to cut the template from, though, first. Also, if you're travelling you might not have that template with you, so then applying this technique might come in handy again.

[@ambramirinoorigami3326]

Gracias me salio🐝

[@Happyfolding]

The rectangle has to be longer than a square, the long side has to be at least 1.2 times the length of the short side. This is not true for a square, so you cannot use the rectangle method for a square.

[@ZuschauerxXx]

that's good :D

[@frumpy4]

mgaical dotted lines!

[@otreptoatta7860]

thanks

[@unconscious7219]

John Zsinger's turtle uses this method.

[@sosyPel]

or you can draw it with a compass, pencil and rule ;)

[@dczmonarch]

#myfirst thank you. I loved hexagon symmetry here from honeycombs dashed lines very helpful

[@Happyfolding]

I'm glad to hear that.

[@bearryy123CP]

i think making a hexagon with a rectangle is way easier :)

[@soliloqvy]

Nice. Like always =D ♥

[@99Michael9]

How is it easier: Using A4 paper or using square paper?

[@LukeBlunton]

omg so true :D

[@FRUiTiECUTiE]

If i can't make a hexagon... i doubt i can make a star puff tessellation!!!

[@KatKinzer]

The rectangle folding method only works for A4, not for American office paper.

[@Happyfolding]

Kat Kinzer It works with US letter paper, too. I've done it myself on multiple occasions.

[@MandaChan174]

"letter in america and 4 in most other parts of the world" lol

[@vanhexeld.m.9552]

The voice is like a robot

[@bbreadlady]

your voice is funny

[@ShdwPhnx777]

Couldn't you always just use the easier rectangle method since a square is also a rectangle?

[@bratfull06]

if you watch closely how to make a hexagon out of square it'll be easier

[@PBS-nm1uu]

there are other videos that make it simpler.

[@busteddon]

I came here from a Shaytard's video. HEXAGON!

[@sewergirl739]

😱😱😱 666th Like! 😱😱😱

[@MrNateTheGreat108]

Or rectangle

[@MegaFais3000]

00:14 hahaha

[@123881100]

how wen you folded it it made a line wtf!!!

[@natutupi]

i just created a origami hexagon using heagon without the this steps

[@keshusuper]

can i use a printer paper

[@KatKinzer]

Only if it's A4.

[@john941996]

keshusuper yes you can I use it all the time for my hexagonal tessellations... Sara mentioned that you can use office paper, which is the same thing as printer paper

[@musicloversrock10]

like so

[@chantalchar]

Or you could just measure it out :p

[@dancerdiva10111]

JUST FUCKING TRACE IT OUT AND CUT IT!!!!

[@iwa95br8]

wouldn't it be easyer to draw a circle with caliper,mark 6 poitns conect them and thats it... :P

[@Klonkiller888]

your voice is very robot like,

[@Impactor_pubg]

like

[@x3YoKo]

aha..

[@archie8bp456]

Sound Like A Robot

[@Ghorda9]

some of you people should know that your not alowed to cut, rip or use anything other then a square peice of paper for true origami.

[@Numism4tiker]

dafür gibts n zirkel^^ genauer geht nicht

[@abigailperezful]

Too much work.... I say just by them!

[@deryer]

Waitnevermi d thank you it w

[@tonyjikyung]

it's preparing step to fold other shapes... there is no need to be so negative

[@doomleaf]

You cute the paper at the end... so this is KIRIgami not origami

[@schmerzfrei]

mmkay, i think that's some kind of wasting time...