How to Make a Paper Ddakji
Fold two square sheets of paper into interlocking woven flaps to create a traditional, durable Korean ddakji tile for flipping games.
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🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ Bone folder or plastic ruler
- ✓ Flat, smooth table surface
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ 2 square sheets of paper (contrasting colors, e.g., red and blue)
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Smooth paper creases with a flat tool or knuckles rather than bare fingertips to prevent sharp paper cuts.
- • Ensure the throwing area is clear of fragile items if testing the ddakji afterward.
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (5 Steps)
Fold Both Sheets into Thirds
Place both square sheets flat on the work surface. Fold the left edge inward by one third, then fold the right edge over to overlap it completely, creating a narrow 3-layer rectangle. Repeat this exact fold on the second sheet so you have two identical rectangular strips.
- • Two identical, narrow 3-layer paper rectangles lying side by side.
- • Straight parallel edges on both folded strips with sharp, flat creases.
- • Folding in half instead of thirds, which makes the strip too wide to interlock properly.
Fold Triangular Corners on Both Strips
Lay one rectangular strip vertically. Fold the top-left corner down into a 45-degree angle flush with the right edge, creating a pointed triangle. Fold the bottom-right corner up into a 45-degree angle flush with the left edge. Repeat the exact same diagonal folds in the same directions on the second strip.
- • Two matching parallelogram-shaped strips with pointed triangular flaps at opposing corners.
- • Diagonal creases sit at clean 45-degree angles flush against the side edges.
- • Folding the triangles in mirrored directions between the two strips, preventing them from weaving together.
Cross the Two Strips in an X Pattern
Lay the first folded strip horizontally on the table with its flaps facing up. Place the second strip vertically directly across the center square of the first strip, forming an orthogonal plus or cross shape.
- • A perpendicular plus/cross shape with a shared square center.
- • Four triangular flaps extending outward toward the top, bottom, left, and right.
- • Placing one strip off-center, leaving uneven flap lengths.
Fold the First Three Flaps Inward
Fold the bottom flap upward across the center square. Next, fold the right flap over to the left, covering part of the bottom flap. Then, fold the top flap downward over the center in a continuous counter-clockwise wrapping motion.
- • Three flaps folded tightly over the central square in a pinwheel arrangement.
- • Only the left triangular flap remains extended outward.
- • Folding flaps across from each other simultaneously instead of following a sequential clockwise or counter-clockwise order.
Tuck and Lock the Final Flap
Fold the remaining left flap across toward the right. Tuck its pointed triangular tip firmly into the pocket formed beneath the first (bottom) flap. Press the entire ddakji firmly with a bone folder to lock all four interlocked layers completely flat.
- • A tight, compact square tile with four woven triangular segments visible on the face.
- • No loose flaps or exposed edges lifting away from the body.
- • Laying the fourth flap over the top without sliding the tip beneath the first flap's pocket.
Credit: inspired by an original tutorial by DutchPaperFolder - Origami Videos — watch the original on YouTube.
Don’t have everything?
- No Bone folder? Edge of a plastic ruler or the back of a spoon
- No Origami paper? Standard printer paper cut into squares or thin cardboard from cereal boxes