Learn how to fold a beautiful origami shamrock (four-leaf clover) with this easy step-by-step tutorial and video guide! Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, adding a lucky touch to your crafts.
Hello, Craftaholics! 🍀 St. Patrick’s Day is around the corner, and if you love paper crafts, this one’s for you! Four-leaf clovers are said to bring luck and good fortune, but did you know that each leaf has a special meaning? Hope, faith, love, and luck—these little green treasures are packed with symbolism, making them the perfect handmade charm!
Today, we’re making an easy origami four-leaf clover, a simple yet beautiful design that’s great for decorations, greeting cards, or adding a lucky touch to your DIY projects. No tricky folds or complex steps—just a quick, fun, and beginner-friendly craft that you can make in minutes.
To make learning even easier, I’ve included a step-by-step video tutorial to guide you through the folding process. Whether you’re crafting for St. Patrick’s Day or just want to create a little luck, this origami clover is a great way to practice your folding skills while making something meaningful.
How to Make Origami Four Leaf Clover / Shamrock
Things You’ll Need
Materials
- Colored craft paper
- Craft glue – optional
Tools
- Scissors (to prepare the papers)
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Step by Step Instructions for Origami 4 Leaf Clover/ Shamrock
Step 1: Half-Base Creases
Select green colored craft paper and prepare 4 squares and a rectangle (half of the square). We’re using four 5cm x 5cm square papers. Take any one of the square papers and make vertical and horizontal half-folds on it.
Step 2: Edge Fold
Hold any one side and fold it in along its parallel half crease. Turn the current paper to the other side.
Step 3: Corner Fold
Fold in a closed corner and align it along the half crease. Similarly, fold in the other closed corner.
Step 4: Asymmetrical Half Fold
Turn the current pattern to the other side. Hold the corner and join it to the middle point of the opposite side. Or simply, fold the current pattern in half, horizontally.
Step 5: Open Right Flap
Turn the current pattern to the other side. Notice the 2 small flaps in the middle of the current pattern; slightly open the right flap.
Step 6: Flatten Right and Left Flaps
Flatten the right flap neatly. Similarly, open and flatten the left flap.
Step 7: Fold in Corners and a Side
Fold in the outer corners of the flaps. Fold in the right side of the current pattern.
Step 8: Fold in Left Side and Turn
Similarly, fold in the left side of the current origami pattern. Turn the current pattern to the other side (Front side).
Step 9: Craft 3 More and Join
Similarly, prepare 3 more origami leaves. Take any 2 origami leaves. Insert the right open corner of a leaf inside the left open corner of the other. They should be secured nicely.
Step 10: Join All Origami Patterns
Insert the right corner of the 3rd leaf into the left corner of the left leaf. Now, insert the left and right corners of the 4th leaf into the corners of the 1st and 3rd leaf to complete the clover pattern.
Step 11: Prepare the Stem
Take the rectangle cutout. Roll it into a pipe shape.
Step 12: Attach the Stem
Attach the paper stem to the backside of the origami clover pattern. You can use glue or clear tape to secure the stem with the origami clover pattern.
Watch Complete Video Tutorial: Origami 4 Leaf Clover/ Origami Shamrock
If you’re having trouble following the picture tutorial, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered! Head over to our YouTube channel to watch the full step-by-step video tutorial. Watching the process in action makes it even easier to follow along.
And while you’re there, don’t forget to subscribe and turn on the notification bell 🔔 so you never miss a fun craft tutorial! Click [here] to watch and craft along with us!
Tips for Beginners
- Use perfectly square paper for the leaves and a well-measured rectangle for the stem to ensure proper alignment.
- Stick to thin origami paper for crisp folds—thicker paper makes creases bulky and harder to manage.
- Make sharp folds using a bone folder, ruler, or fingernail for a neat and symmetrical shamrock.
- Fold gently to avoid tearing, especially when working with multiple layers of paper.
- A tiny dab of glue can help hold the leaves and stem together, but it’s optional in traditional origami.
- Double-check alignment before final creases—misaligned folds can make the shamrock look uneven.
- Practice with scrap paper first to get familiar with the steps before using your final colored paper.
- Be patient and take your time—precision is key to creating the perfect four-leaf shamrock!
Additional Tips for Teachers and Parents
- Use a large medium light paper (20cm x 20 cm will do).
- Demonstrate each step slowly so that students can follow along.
- Encourage kids to gift or color their origami clover afterward.
- Encourage them to make several origami clovers and create a “lucky” garland to decorate your classroom or home.
Love origami? Here are some of our origami project tutorials that you may also like
- How to Make Origami Heart Box
- How to Make a Heart Out of a Sticky Note
- How to Make Origami Bunny
- How to Make a Cute Origami Bear
- How to Fold an Origami Maple Leaf
Aren’t these just the cutest little lucky charms? Whether you use it as festive décor, a scrapbook embellishment, or a good luck gift, this shamrock is sure to bring smiles. Plus, it’s a fun and relaxing paper-folding project that you can make in just a few minutes!
If you give this origami clover/ origami shamrock a try, we’d love to see your creations! Snap a picture and share it with us on Facebook or Instagram by tagging @craftaholicwitch and using the hashtag #craftaholicwitch. Happy crafting, and may your shamrocks bring you all the luck! ✨🍀
