Handmade Holidays: Moravian Star Tutorial

After I posted my Christmas tree last week, I had a few requests for instructions on how to make the paper star.  I think it might be hard to write out, but here it goes...

Materials:

- 4 strips of paper; 3/4" wide by at least 20" long

- Thread or string to hang

You will find large sheets of paper in an art supply store or the art section at Michael's or Hobby Lobby.  I like to use a medium weight paper - not quite card stock but not regular copy paper.

I use a self-healing mat, straightedge, and rotary cutter to cut the strips of paper.

1.  Cut both ends of paper strips like those in photo below.

2.  Fold each strip, not quite in half, but almost.  See photo below.

3.  Assemble strips in basket-weave pattern as shown in photo.

4.  Here's another photo from a different view.  See how the strips are entwined?

5.  Pull tight so strips of paper look like this:

6.  We are going to make a second basket-weave with our paper strips.  Take one of the paper strips at top and fold over.

So that your paper looks like this:

7.  Now take one strip on the left and fold over to the right.  Like this:

8.  Repeat with the strip on the bottom, and then the last one on the right.  For the last strip we need to finish off the basket-weave.  Do this by inserting it under the other strips.  See photo below:

9.  So now, your paper strips look like this:

10.  Now we are going to start making the points of the stars.  Fold strip on upper right hand corner to look like photo below:

11.  Now fold that strip straight down to look like this:

12.  Fold the entire strip over to the left.  Like this:

13.  Now fold strip under.  See photo below:

14.  Now your paper strips will look like this:

15.  Turn your paper strips counter-clockwise and repeat:

16.  Repeat with remaining two sides and your paper strips should look like this:

17.  Turn over and repeat with four remaining strips on back side.

18.  Fold strips so they look like those in photos below:

19. Now we are going to fold the 3D points of the star.  I think this part is the most difficult to explain - I hope the photos will help make sense of it!

Hold paper in your hand and fold strip like shown in photo below:

20.  Twist paper strip until it looks like photo below and insert under fold on the left.

21.  Use your thumb to help form the point while pulling strip on left hand side.  Pull tight, but not too tight until point is formed correctly.  This takes some practice!

22.  Turn star clockwise and repeat.

23.  Repeat until all four points are complete.

 



24.  Turn over and repeat until the other four points are created.  The folding is done - your star should look like this:

 

{ Yikes, don't mind my dry, ugly hands.  I had worked on a little project involving a saw and sandpaper earlier in the day, so that's my excuse! }

 

25.  Now you need to trim the ends of the paper strips.  carefully pull the strips tight and trim, careful not to cut your any folds on the star.

 

Your star is finished!  Use a needle and thread to attach a loop for hanging.



I made this green star a few years ago by using wrapping paper.  The paper was green on one side but white on the other so I use spray adhesive to adhere two two sheets of paper and then cut into strips.





Good luck - I really hope this tutorial makes sense!