Se dansk version her.
It’s time to make stars – Christmas stars!
The Froebel stars (Danish stars) are a classic Christmas decoration.
They look so pretty hanging together in small groups in the window.
They can also be used as decorations on the Christmas tree, on branches, gifts, wreaths, and as Christmas table decorations.
There are many different ways to weave and fold a Christmas star.
Here, you’ll get my method, which has been used for thousands and thousands of stars (not only by me).
You can make the stars right-turned or left-turned; the principles are the same.
It all depends on how you assemble the strips at the beginning.
I’ll be demonstrating a right-turned-star.
I will give you some hints – and if you are a beginner, you will find LOTS of guidance on how to make Christmas stars.
If you need any information or instructions – please write!
How to make a Christmas star:
- Instructions for print with video – “pleat with 4 colours”
- How to make a Froebel star – a step-by-step collage for print
- How to make a Froebel star – the step-by-step collage as a foto-video
You’ll find the video “pleat with 4 colours” under the instructions, as the plugin doesn’t show the video correctly on all devices.
History
The Christmas star comes from Germany.
Where it is called “Fröbel Stern” (Fröbel star, or Froebel star) after Friedrich Fröbel (1782–1852).
Fröbel was the founder of the kindergarten concept. He encouraged the children to work with paper, so he was credited for the star, even though he didn’t invent it.
Since then, countless schoolchildren have weaved and folded stars.
I’ve made stars with students of all ages, with family for various Christmas events and at home.
You can make the stars from classic or patterned paper strips, gold, silver, and glitter strips, recycled materials, fabric ribbons, or gift ribbons.
In Denmark, we also use the stars as a Christmas activity in arts & crafts – and mathematics.
And I still love to make stars.
The stars are so beautiful when they hang together in small groups in the window or under a lamp.
How to make a Christmas star – a step-by-step guide
I have taken pictures to illustrate the different steps in making a Froebel star.
I’ve used the photos for this step-by-step guide.
The guide is made into a printable instruction followed by a video.
In the video, I show all the steps without sound and use four-colour strips, which makes them easy to follow.
I’ve also made an A3 pdf step-by-step collage for you to print.
You can find the same photos in the step-by-step video.
The photos are tiny in the plugin, so I’ll also show you all the steps here.
And I’ll be demonstrating a right-turned-star.
You will need the following materials:
- A package of weave strips – or make themselves. Strips sized 1.5 cm x 45 cm gives medium stars
- Scissor
- Thread or wire for hanging
- Maybe a printed pdf step-by-step guide
(1.5 centimeters = 0.591 inches and 45 centimeters = 17.717 inches)
The guide will give you a right-turned-star.
The base – the center:
Take – or make 4 strips- fold them in half.
Cut the ends pointed or slanted. It makes them easier to weave with.
Assemble them as shown to form a locked but not too tight square.
Take the top strip and bend it across the middle.
Repeat with the remaining strips.
It does not matter whether you go clockwise or counterclockwise.
Insert the last strip under the first.
Gently pull through to form a locked square again.
Now the centre of the Christmas star is finished.
It is time to make the characteristic triangular flat prongs.
Side prongs:
Start with the right strip and fold it back and down the side to flush with the centre.
Press it flat; it should form a triangle.
Turn the strip halfway and weave it under the strip in the centre.
Make your pointed triangle at the top.
Repeat with the remaining strips.
To make it easier, rotate the star when you fold it.
I have not shown that in the photos.
Turn the star and repeat the steps.
You can stop here and get a lovely flat star, cut the loose ends, and the Christmas star is ready.
The cone-shaped tips in the middle of the star:
Bend the strip on the right side backwards to see the star’s bottom. Take the bottom strip and bend it upwards.
Now bend the strip backwards and away from the centre to create an even-cut triangle at the top.
Press carefully on the top and turn it around – see photo.
Continue all the way around – it’s making it much easier to see where to insert the strip.
Insert the first strip under the upper horizontal strip.
Push the strip through, so it comes out in the middle of the flat side prong on the opposite side.
Gently pull to form a cone-shaped tip.
Repeat the previous step to form the other cone-shaped tips.
Go counterclockwise and continue until you have created all four tips.
Stop here if you want to glue the star on a card or gift.
If you want to hang the Danish Christmas star, turn it around and repeat the previous steps to form the 4 cone-shaped tips on the opposite side.
Cut the ends of all the flat prongs with a scissor.
Be careful not to cut into the star itself.
You have finished your Fröbel Christmas star!
Insert the thread or wire into the star and hang it up or collect more for a beautiful bouquet, wreath, or garland.
It also looks cute with different sizes together.
You can make Fröbel stars from many different materials.
Gift ribbon or ordinary ribbon made of fabric or plastic.
You only have to remember that the strips are long enough and flexible.
Tips for strips
My approximate measurements are:
- width ½ cm (0.197 inches) = length approximately 15 cm (5.905 inches)
- width 1 cm (0.394 inches) = length approximately 30 cm (11.811 inches)
- width 1½ cm (0.591 inches) = length approximately 45 cm (17.717 inches)
- …
Do you have a wider strip than 1½ cm (0.591 inches)?
Then multiply the width of the strip by 30 – it will give you an approximate length.
How to make a Froebel Christmas star – video “pleat with 4 colours”
How to make a Froebel Christmas star – a step-by-step guide
Equipment
- Scissor
Materials
- A package of weave strips – or make themselves. Strips sized 1.5 cm x 45 cm gives medium stars 1.5 centimeters = 0.591 inches and 45 centimeters = 17.717 inches
- Thread or wire for hanging
- Maybe a printed pdf step-by-step guide
Instructions
The base – the center:
- Take – or make 4 strips- fold them in half.Cut the ends pointed or slanted. It makes them easier to weave with.
- Assemble them as shown to form a locked but not too tight square.
- Take the top strip and bend it across the middle.
- Repeat with the remaining strips.It does not matter whether you go clockwise or counterclockwise.Insert the last strip under the first.Gently pull through to form a locked square again.
- Now the centre of the Christmas star is finished.It is time to make the characteristic triangular flat prongs.
Side prongs:
- Start with the right strip and fold it back and down the side to flush with the centre.Press it flat it should form a triangle.Turn the strip halfway and weave it under the strip in the centre.Make your pointed triangle at the top.
- Repeat with the remaining strips.To make it handier, rotate the star when you fold it.I have not shown that in the photos.Turn the star and repeat the steps.
- You can stop here and get a lovely flat star, cut the loose ends, and the Christmas star is ready.
The cone-shaped tips in the middle of the star:
- Bend the strip on the right side backwards so you can see the bottom of the star. Take the bottom strip and bend it upwards.Now bend the strip backwards and away from the centre to create an even-cut triangle at the top.Press carefully on the top and turn it around – see photo.
- Continue all the way around – it’s making it much easier to see where to insert the strip.
- Insert the first strip under the upper horizontal strip.Push the strip through so it comes out in the middle of the flat side prong on the opposite side.Gently pull to form a cone-shaped tip.
- Repeat the previous step to form the other cone-shaped tips – go counterclockwise and continue until all four tips are created.
- Stop here if you want to glue the star on a card or gift.
- If you want to hang the Danish Christmas star, turn it around and repeat the previous steps to form the 4 cone-shaped tips on the opposite side.
- Cut the ends of all the flat prongs with a scissor.Be careful not to cut into the star itself.You have finished your Fröbel Christmas star!
- Insert the thread or wire into the star and hang it up or collect more for a beautiful bouquet, wreath, or garland.It also looks cute with different sizes together.
Notes
Tips for strips
My approximate measurements are:- width ½ cm (0.197 inches) = length approximately 15 cm (5.905 inches)
- width 1 cm (0.394 inches) = length approximately 30 cm (11.811 inches)
- width 1½ cm (0.591 inches) = length approximately 45 cm (17.717 inches)
- ...
Private notes
Update:
My child made stars according to the video instructions.
He told me I was folding too fast, so he occasionally paused the video.
If you are a beginner and want to fold stars along with me, then go to YouTube, press “settings”, press “speed”, and set the speed of the video to a lower pace.
OR you can watch the video here and press pause sometimes, as my child did.
How to make a Froebel Christmas star – a step-by-step guide for printing
Print the Christmas cones by clicking the photo or the link below.
The link will take you to a PDF file that you can print.
The instructions are an A3 PDF.
The photo is not of such high quality that you can print it – use the pdf file.
You can print as many instructions as you like.
It is free for you as a private person.
I own the copyright on the text, templates, images, etc.
Copying from Danish Things is only permitted in institutions with an agreement with Copydan and within the framework specified in the contract.
The printable step-by-step guide – as a video:
Please write a comment and share your Christmas stars on Instagram @danish.things or #danishthings
I want to try to do a star in reflective plastics, but the fabric is slippery and doesn’t fold neatly, so it doesn’t “stay in place” for the next folds. Any tips if I could try gluing some of the folds together, without jeopardizing and gluing together the slots I need for the following inserts of strips? Maybe the base and the pointed triangles?
Hi Pia,
Sorry for the late answer.
I would have loved to show you how to make it, but I failed to find some reflective plastic, so I’ll try to help you anyway.
Glue the star when you’ve folded it.
Before that, you must use binder clips or paper clips to hold the material together because you can only glue the outside of the pointed triangles without risking glueing the slots you need, which is a bit difficult.
Sorry that I couldn’t show you how to do it.
I hope you succeed anyway.
Best,
Christel
Does the paper need to be coloured on both sides or is only one side visible in the finished design please? Thanks, Susan
Hi, Susan.
Both sides are visible.
So if you use coloured paper with a white backside, your design will be both coloured and white.
Merry Christmas,
Christel
Where can I by material for the Froebel star in the USA?
Thanks and Glaedelig Jul.
Keld Alstrup
Hi Keld
You can buy Froebel star paper strips on Amazon.
If you want to try something else, you can use fabric strips or ribbons.
Hope you find what you need.
Glædelig jul
Christel
Dejlig side. God til at dele mine danske traditioner med mine Amerikanske børn. 🙂
Tak 😀
Det glæder mig meget, at du kan bruge de danske juleidéer, og måske også et par af juleopskrifterne.
God jul
😀 Christel