Folded Book Art – Tutorial with free Heart Pattern
Creating folded book sculptures is a great way of recycling old unwanted books and the
finished pieces make an eye-catching feature in any room or a truly unique and special
gift.
This tutorial provides instructions for the measure, mark and fold book folding
patterns, not the measure mark and cut patterns which as the name suggests uses a
cutting technique.
With this tutorial I have supplied a pattern for a simple heart shape which can be used on
its own or can be repeated for multiple hearts within a book. This is a great starter
pattern and because it doesn’t require too many pages it won’t take you too long either
and will give you a good introduction to the craft.
Step 1 – Collecting equipment
To start with you will need a hard-backed book, a pencil, a clear ruler marked with
centimetres and the pattern. I use my patterns on my tablet, but for your first pattern I
suggest you print it out so you can cross off the pages as you go – as you get more
confident you may find you no longer need to do this. The size of the book you need to
use will depend on the book height stated on the pattern and the number of pages needed
(see step 2).
Step 2 - Looking at the pattern
Most patterns will give you the book height needed and the number of folds. You do not
need to have a book of the exact height, but it is preferable to use a book of the size
stated or bigger. If you have a smaller book, to check if you can use it, look at the
highest measurement in the 2nd measurement column and add 1cm, that will give you the
smallest book size you can use (personally I tend to add at least 3cm as I don’t like the
pattern being too near the bottom edge of the page as it makes it more awkward to fold.)
For example, in the pattern provided the highest numbered 2nd measurement is 13.3cm
so this pattern can be followed on a book of 14.3cm or more (I have used it on small
diaries and notebooks quite successfully)
The other piece of information you will be given is the number of folds and this refers to
the number of sheets of paper needed (not the number of pages); this can be confusing
as each ‘fold’ has two measurements so there are in fact two folds! To clarify each fold
represents 1 sheet of the book, as the pages are numbered front and back the actual
number of pages needed for a pattern is double the number of folds. For example, in the
pattern provided it states that it is 25 folds, so you will need a book with 50 pages or
more.
Pattern Copyright © ThePageTurnerCompany. All rights reserved.
This Book Folding Pattern is not to be redistributed, reproduced or
Step 3 - Calculating where to start folding
This is probably the most complicated part of book folding. All book folds look best if
they are located at the centre of the book so you will need to work out exactly where that
is and where to start folding. To calculate where this is I look at the last page number in
the book and then add on the extra unnumbered pages at the front and back of the book
if there are any (counting 2 for each sheet). This gives me the total number of pages that
the book has (be careful if you use a book with photograph pages as these are often not
numbered so will also need to be counted and included in your calculations). Look at
the pattern to find the total number of pages that it uses (if not given, the number of
pages is double the number of folds) and subtract this from total number of pages in the
book –this number is the number of pages in the book that won’t be folded; if you divide
this number by 2 then you will have the number of pages that will be unfolded before
the image so you will just have to count these out (remember that in a book one leaf/
sheet is actually 2 pages, so remember this as you count!)
Step 4 – Measuring out the pattern
Now the fun bit begins! Take your book and hold it as if you were about to read it, then
turn it a quarter turn anticlockwise:
Open the book to the first page that you will be folding. Using the example of the
pattern at the end of this tutorial, place the 0 of your ruler on the edge of the page and
place a small mark at the first measurement 4.6cm and a second mark at 6.9cm
Fold 1st Measurement 2nd Measurement
1 4.6 (cm) 6.9 (cm)
2 3.7 8.0
Pattern Copyright © ThePageTurnerCompany. All rights reserved.
This Book Folding Pattern is not to be redistributed, reproduced or
Now turn the page and follow the pattern for fold 2, placing your 1st mark at 3.7cm and
your 2nd mark at 8.0cm.
Continue measuring and placing two marks on each page until you have completed all
the marks for the pattern. You are now ready to start folding.
Step 5– Folding your book
Turn back to the first marked page and line the ruler up vertically with the first mark.
The mark should be to the left of the vertical ruler and the ruler held straight, it helps to
hold the end of the ruler against the middle of the book as this ensures the folds are at
90oor thereabouts. Then fold the left corner of the page inwards so that the side of the
page is against the side of the ruler. Slide the ruler along so that the right side of the
ruler is next to the second mark and then fold the right corner of the page in towards the
centre of the page, again using the side of the ruler to keep it straight.
You can then turn the page and repeat this step until all the marked pages have been
folded. The image will start to be visible as the pages are folded.
! !
Pattern Copyright © ThePageTurnerCompany. All rights reserved.
This Book Folding Pattern is not to be redistributed, reproduced or
! !
Well done! You’ve now finished folding your book.
! !
Pattern Copyright © ThePageTurnerCompany. All rights reserved.
This Book Folding Pattern is not to be redistributed, reproduced or
As long as you have enough pages in your book you can repeat this pattern as many
times as you like to make different folded books (remembering to start folding in the
correct place each time so the overall image remains central).
You can now move onto more complicated measure, mark and fold patterns as they
can all be made using this same method.
There are lots of patterns available in my Etsy shop or if there is an image or word that
you want then just contact me and I’ll be happy to create the pattern for you.
If you still have any questions please feel free to contact me via my shop:
[Link]
Happy Folding!
Pattern Copyright © ThePageTurnerCompany. All rights reserved.
This Book Folding Pattern is not to be redistributed, reproduced or
Book Folding Pattern
Designed by ThePageTurnerCompany
Name: One Small Heart (25 fold, high)
No. of Folds: 25
Book Height (cm): 19.5
Method: Measure, Mark & Fold
Pattern Copyright © ThePageTurnerCompany. All rights reserved.
This Book Folding Pattern is not to be redistributed, reproduced or
Fold 1st Measurement 2nd Measurement
1 4.6 (cm) 6.9 (cm)
2 3.7 8.0
3 3.3 8.7
4 2.9 9.2
5 2.7 9.6
6 2.5 10.0
7 2.5 10.4
8 2.5 10.9
9 2.6 11.3
10 2.8 11.8
11 3.0 12.3
12 3.3 12.9
13 3.8 13.3
14 3.3 12.8
15 3.0 12.3
16 2.8 11.8
17 2.6 11.3
18 2.5 10.8
19 2.5 10.3
20 2.5 9.9
21 2.7 9.5
22 2.9 9.1
23 3.3 8.5
24 3.8 7.8
25 4.7 6.8
Pattern Copyright © ThePageTurnerCompany. All rights reserved.
This Book Folding Pattern is not to be redistributed, reproduced or
