Paper Christmas stars: weave your own Fröbel star

There are many kinds of paper Christmas stars, but the woven version, known in German as Fröbelstern, stands out because it's held together entirely without glue. Four paper strips are woven and folded around each other in a pattern that ends up as a three-dimensional star with pointed tips. It's a craft that relies on precision rather than speed, and most people spend a bit of time getting the hang of the first one.

In this guide, we'll walk through the whole process, from choosing the right strips to the final snips, so you can fold your own star at home. Be honest with yourself: the first star takes patience, but the techniques soon become second nature once you've tried them a few times.

The short answer: how to make the woven Christmas star

The Fröbel star is built from four identical paper strips, which are first woven together into a small square and then folded so that eight flat points appear, followed by eight conical points, which give the star its rounded shape. The whole process is done without glue and can be completed in around 40 steps, with folding and weaving alternating along the way. You always work with the same four strips from start to finish, and it's precisely the combination of weaving and folding that makes the star stable without any extra aids.

The beauty of this method is that you can style the star in whatever size and colour you like, as long as the ratio between the strips' width and length stays right. We'll take a closer look at that in the next section.

What you'll need

You'll need four identical paper strips, a pair of scissors, and optionally wax and glitter for the finish. The key thing is the ratio between the strip's width and length, which should be between 1:25 and 1:30. So if the strip is 1 cm wide, it should be between 25 and 30 cm long, for the star to fold correctly and sit tightly.

• Four equally wide paper strips of the same length
• A pair of scissors to cut the ends of the strips at an angle
• Wax and glitter, if you want to give the star a traditional finish

The strips can be different colours, and you can fold the star both small and large, as long as the ratio between width and length is maintained.

Step 1: fold the base square

It all starts with weaving the four strips into a small square, which the rest of the star is built on.

1. Fold each of the four strips in half, and cut the ends at an angle.
2. Hold the first strip horizontally, and hang the second strip over it.
3. Lay the third strip over the second, and lay the fourth over the third. Thread the ends of the fourth strip through the loop on the first strip.
4. Gently pull the ends so that a square divided into four small squares appears.
5. Then fold the strips over each other into another square, where the last strip is threaded through the loop of the first folded strip and pulled all the way through.

When the base square sits tight and square, you're ready to fold the first points.

Step 2: fold the eight flat points

Now you shape the flat points, one strip at a time, turning the star round between each step.

1. Fold the strip at the bottom left 90 degrees down and then 90 degrees up again.
2. Lay the strip over the two left-hand fields of the square.
3. Fold the point down so it rises up and stands on the square.
4. Tuck the loose end under the small field at the bottom left, and pull it up with a firm tug so the point settles into place.
5. Turn the star 90 degrees, and repeat the same four steps until there are four points on one side.
6. Turn the star over, and make the last four points the same way.

Once all eight flat points are in place, you'll either have a finished star or the base for the conical points, depending on which version you choose.

Step 3: fold the eight conical points

If you want the classic, more rounded Fröbel star, carry on shaping the conical points on top of the flat ones.

1. Bend the strip, and carefully raise it up.
2. Tuck the loose end under the neighbouring strip, and push it through until it comes out between the two triangles that make up a flat point.
3. Gently pull the end while shaping a cone with your free hand.
4. Repeat the process until all eight conical points are shaped.
5. Finally, trim off the strip ends sticking out of the points so the star looks clean and finished.

Now you have a finished, three-dimensional paper Christmas star, woven without a single drop of glue.

The easy version: flat star without conical points

If you've got children at the table, or if it's your first time, you can simply stop after the eight flat points. That gives you a flat, eight-pointed star, which is simpler to style and quicker to get right.

Choose sturdy paper so the points keep their shape, and experiment with colours. Strips in two colours, alternating on every other strip, give a lively pattern, while strips in the same colour family give a calmer look.

Finishing touches and hanging

Traditionally, the finished star was dipped in wax and sprinkled with glitter, giving it a slight sheen and a finer surface. You can easily go for the completely natural version without wax, if you prefer the paper's natural look.

Stars are designed to be used in lots of different ways: hang them on the Christmas tree, weave them into a Christmas wreath, or thread several onto a string to make a garland or a mobile. If you fancy mixing materials, the paper stars pair beautifully with glass Christmas decorations, where the soft, woven shapes and the glass's shine play off each other.

The story behind the Fröbel star

The name Fröbelstern comes from the German educator Friedrich Fröbel (1782-1852), who founded the very concept of the kindergarten and encouraged paper folding for small children. Even so, sources suggest he probably didn't invent the star himself. Descriptions of how to fold it can be traced back at least to the 1800s.

There's no consensus on where the star originally came from. Some sources point to German folklore, while others believe it probably originated in Scandinavia and was folded there as early as before 1800. In Germany, the name Fröbelstern has been the common name since the 1960s. In the Scandinavian countries, the star isn't only used at Christmas: it's also given at weddings and milestone birthdays as a personal, handmade gift.

Frequently asked questions

How do you weave a Christmas star out of paper?

You weave four identical paper strips into a small square, then fold eight flat points and finally eight conical points, all without glue.

How long should the paper strips be for a Christmas star?

The strips should have a width-to-length ratio of between 1:25 and 1:30, so a strip 1 cm wide should be between 25 and 30 cm long.

What's the woven Christmas star called?

It's called a Fröbelstjerne, in German Fröbelstern, named after the educator Friedrich Fröbel.

Can you make an easy Christmas star without the pointed tips?

Yes, you simply stop after the eight flat points, giving you a flat, eight-pointed star without the conical tips.

Why is it called a Fröbelstjerne?

The star is named after Friedrich Fröbel, who founded the concept of the kindergarten, but it's likely he didn't invent the star himself.

How do you get the Christmas star to hold its shape?

The star is held together by the weaving and folding of the paper strips themselves, and a finish with wax and glitter can make the surface a bit firmer.

Summary

The woven paper Christmas star, the Fröbelstjerne, is made from four identical strips that are woven into a square and folded into eight flat and optionally eight conical points, all without glue. Keep track of the width-to-length ratio, be patient with your first star, and choose for yourself whether it should have wax and glitter or stay completely plain as decoration on the tree, in the wreath, or as a garland.

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