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Funnily enough, I'd been pondering square pots just done with careful folding. I'll have to give it a go!

Wulf

So I thought that, since I can't give adequate verbal descriptions from my origami books (you really do need some visuals) that I would find some online instructions.
The first problem is that newspaper origami boxes will never be as neat or as easy to fold as regular origami - because we need our sides to be thick.
I had to use my toes as an extra pair of hands to hold things in place where normally a fold is sufficient to hold itself.

A few links include:
http://www.wackykids.org/origami_box.htm
Obviously ignore the intructions for printing the images provided and gluing the paper together. I used a full page of newspaper folded several times to a workable square with good thickness. This bin worked fairly well, except the sides are sagging and I've yet to put soil in... I guess that is an important test... yep, holds soil. But I would recommend fitting several of these into another container with sides, otherwise you have plant boats instead of rectangles.
The benefit is that you can make this from any size/shape of rectangle.

http://origami.kvi.nl/models/boxes/simplbox.gif
I also tried this one with a half sheet of newspaper (ie, one page) folded in half and then cut to square. This produces a better square. I folded the tall sides over the back and I did staple them. The forth step is confusing. Keep in mind that the next image is INSIDE. I kept trying to make my outside do that. If you are nesting numerous of these within a container I suppose the sides do not have to be as strong as a lone pot. So my one-sheet box would work well with other. For this design, thicker layers of newspaper would be very tricky to work with.

http://www.origami.org.hk/pdf/news01a.pdf
I haven't tried this one. Looks like it would be stronger because of the last step... if you can manage it with newspaper.

http://www.origami.org.hk/pdf/news17b.pdf
This one is named Square Pot. Haven't tried it either.

I did try one from my book, but I can't find the instructions online for you. It's a little simpler than these ones, but definitely needs reinforcement (stapler).

The downside is that these are not as deep as you can make round newspaper pots. But they are the same depth as standard peat pots.

Mandyz wrote:I had to use my toes as an extra pair of hands to hold things in place where normally a fold is sufficient to hold itself.

That makes for an interesting mental picture, Mandy!

Nev

I am using some newspaper pots at the moment (the first I have made). I used a little bit of sticky tape to hold them together. When the plants are ready to be planted out, the sticky tape should come off easily because the paper is damp.

Thanks for the links, Mandy. I only found one vaguely box like form in my origami book and that comes out a bit too wide and shallow. I'll have to try some of the ones you've pointed to later today.

Wulf

I particularly like that bit in the instructions where it says - collapse along existing creases. I can do that alright...

Apart from this slightly ambiguous part, I think I might give it a go, too!

You missed one! LOL

The one that I like is
http://www.geocities.com/newspaperpots/

Use two sheets at a time.
Fold the flaps inside the box.
Can hold a lot of soil, doesn't collapse on transplanting.
Sits neatly in a square seed tray.

'Course YMMV

Dave

Arrrrrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I just cannot get my head around this bloomin origami stuff... am sitting surrounded by sheets of newspaper but can't get the stuff to work. It's the fold number 6 on the instructions by Dave that I just can't get to work out...

Will try some of the other instructions... but maybe tomorrow.

Shirlz2005 wrote:Arrrrrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I just cannot get my head around this bloomin origami stuff... am sitting surrounded by sheets of newspaper but can't get the stuff to work. It's the fold number 6 on the instructions by Dave that I just can't get to work out...

Will try some of the other instructions... but maybe tomorrow.

Try it with 'real' origami paper!
Heavier duty than newsprint, not as thick as card.
One side is white, the other side is coloured.

If you can't afford to buy the proper paper (and which of us can?)
Get some plain paper and colour one side yourself with coloured pencils.

Another idea is that car boot sale is upon us now(soon) buy a roll of cheap
wallpaper. Anything which is not vinyl should work.

keep trying, eventually you will crack the secret, I did.
Then you will wonder why people can't see how obvious it is.

Alternatively post a wanted ad in the newsagents. LOL

Dave

I will carry on trying - have got heaps of newspapers to use.

I did a version of andy's pots but a lazy version - just wrapped it around a dish and stuffed the ends into the bottom... it worked ok. Will see how well it copes with plants and water in it before making heaps of them tho.

Is the size of the newspaper the broadsheet size, or does it not matter?

Dave,
that's similar to one of my favourite origami designs to make. It's called a sanbo... an offering dish. I make them all the time with magazine pictures :)
Oh, actually just tried this site's pot and is not quite the same as mine. But I think I will try one of mine too.

No wonder you're confused by step 6. It should say:
Take the topmost corner from the BOTTOM RIGHT
and fold it up to the center spine.

Does not work with all sizes of paper. It didn't work with my newspaper.
And the resulting bottom is only as thick as two layers of newspaper.

For the other origami, I would recommend practicing on a sheet of computer paper or magazine page before trying on layers of newspaper. Sorry, I didn't think of that because I do a lot of origami (with old magazine pictures for wild colours and designs).

I just took pictures to demonstrate an easy box from my origami book. I will upload and edit them this evening. For now, I'm going back out on the deck. Maybe plant some seeds in my square pots!

UPDATE: I posted the photos with instructions at my website.
http://www.geocities.com/mandyfurney/newspots.html

I did try that pattern (or, rather, got my wife who's somewhat better at origami to try it for me) but decided it was too wide and shallow for what I wanted. I had to move my lettuce seedlings on last night so fell back on forming them round a glass.

It's useful to have the steps photographically illustrated though!

Wulf

Mandyz THANK YOU!!! That makes it look so much easier. Will have a go in a minute.

oddballdave wrote: The one that I like is
http://www.geocities.com/newspaperpots/
Use two sheets at a time.
Fold the flaps inside the box.
Can hold a lot of soil, doesn't collapse on transplanting.
Sits neatly in a square seed tray.

Me too
I get 5 x 4 in a polystyrene fish box.
I make half page smaller ones as well. Both store nice and flat with an elastic band round them till ready for use.

I finally got round to making some pots earlier this week - photos that document my rolling method can be found on Flickr (the descriptions for each picture give some additional info).

Wulf