How To Make Origami Mountain & Valley Folds

Origami Mountain & Valley Folds

Level: Beginner

Understanding origami mountain and valley folds is very useful whilst following origami diagrams or tutorials. The term mountain and valley are quite easy to remember as they represent the mountain tops (peaks) and the valley (dips) of the paper.

You will find valley fold and mountain fold lines on all origami diagrams and some on origami photo tutorials.

They are there to make it easier to understand. Most of the time, mountain fold lines are there to remind you which creases need to be folded backwards. Or they are there simply to save time for the diagrammer, so they need not create an extra ‘turn the paper over’ step.

If you think of a simple landscape, with tall mountains, it’s easy to imagine the paper is that landscape. The tips of the mountains are the tips of the paper and the valleys of the paper are the dips.

Origami Mountain & Valley Folds Instructions

Scroll down to follow the photo tutorial for the Origami Mountain & Valley Folds.

Made this origami? Leave a comment & submit your photo on the last page here.

Step 1:

1. Here is a sheet of paper with a mountain fold in the middle, on the left and right are valley folds.
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1. Here is a sheet of paper with a mountain fold in the middle, on the left and right are valley folds.
Step 2:

2. Valley Fold. A Valley fold is symbolised by a plain black dashed line. To make a valley fold, take on edge of the paper and fold it to the opposite edge and unfold.
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2. Valley Fold. A Valley fold is symbolised by a plain black dashed line. To make a valley fold, take on edge of the paper and fold it to the opposite edge and unfold.
Step 3:

3. This is the completed valley fold.
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3. This is the completed valley fold.
Step 4:

4. Mountain Fold. The mountain fold is symbolised by a red line with alternating dashes and dots. To make a mountain fold, you will need to turn the paper over to the other side and fold it in half.
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4. Mountain Fold. The mountain fold is symbolised by a red line with alternating dashes and dots. To make a mountain fold, you will need to turn the paper over to the other side and fold it in half.
Step 5:

5. After turning the paper back over, here is the completed mountain fold.
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5. After turning the paper back over, here is the completed mountain fold.

Your Origami Mountain & Valley Folds is Complete!

You’ve completed the Origami Mountain & Valley Folds, why not check out our other Folding Techniques, here.
Did you make this origami? How did it go? Leave a comment & submit your photo here.
Related origami: Folding Techniques

Origami Mountain & Valley Folds

Origami Mountain & Valley Folds Instructions

Your Origami Mountain & Valley Folds is Complete!

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