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Modular Origami, Kusudama & Stars by Maria Sinayskaya

Star Sonobe

Star Sonobe - Modular Origami Ball

Name: Star Sonobe, Sonobe Variation
Type: Modular origami ball, kusudama
Designer: Maria Sinayskaya
  The model is based on the classic sonobe unit by Mitsunobu Sonobe. The variation is inspired by many other variations of the unit created by Tomoko Fuse, Kunihiko Kasahara and Meenakshi Mukerji.
Created: September 2010
Units: 30
Paper ratio: squares
Assembled with: no glue

It’s that time of the year again! Time to fold origami stars and Christmas decorations.

For this project you will need 30 square sheets of paper, preferably double-sided. For the model pictured above I used 6 cm squares of red-yellow colored origami paper by Toyo (Japan). It worked out nicely, but I actually recommend using larger sheets, at least 7.5 cm (3 inch) in length.

Follow the video tutorial created by Sara Adams of HappyFolding.com where she demonstrates how to fold the unit and assemble all 30 of them into a modular ball:

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14 Comments

  1. Hi Maria:
    I have just put this model today in my blog.
    Is a wonderful model and Sara´s tutorial great!
    Congrats and thanks for share your work :)

    • Thank you Claudia! I saw your rendition of the model – really clean folding!

      • hi maria
        I have a youtube channel called origami world
        and all your creations have been so wonderful on my channel but don’t worry I gave you credit.

  2. Great tutorial. Very well explained. I’ll try it, for sure!

  3. Hi Maria,

    Between your amazing designs and Sara’s incredibly practical and useful videos, this has quickly become an absolute favourite origami website – thanks to both of you for sharing such wonderful skills and art with the world!

    • Wow, thank you very much for your kind words, Andy!!!

  4. I love this origami!
    I just made it!
    I also love your Etna Kusudama!
    I am designing a new webpage.
    If you want, I will post a picture on both of those models.
    Your work is intricate and exquisite and I admire it a lot!
    Thank you for making this marvelous, incredible website and sharing your talents of creating modular origami!
    Rafael Munoz-Gonzalez :D

    • Glad you enjoyed the model, Rafael!:)

  5. Amazing origami!!! i’ll try it soon!!,

  6. Where Can I get such paper ? Of a yellow face and a red other face ? Or so..

  7. This is a wonderful kusadama. I’m planning on making it in gold paper foil with white on the back for my sons and their families for their Christmas trees. I really enjoy your video. The instructions are always clear and easy to follow. Do you have other instructions on your site?
    Thank you

  8. On the web page for the star Sonobe, under the video there are 3 photos of different models. The middle one is very different. Do you have folding instructions for this one?
    Thank you.

    • Hello Rochelle, thank you for your interest!
      The middle orange model on the picture above differs from the featured model in how the top layer of the unit is folded. Instead of folding it in half, I folded it in thirds. This way the star pattern on a finished model will appear bigger, but you will also have more layers inside the unit — which might not be desirable. And then, of course, two farthest models on that picture are assembled with 12 units only, not 30 :)
      Hope it helps.

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