I wish I remember where I found the “short” describing the unit folding for this lovely “sunflower ball”:

At the time, I practiced and learned the unit, modified it a little (removing the colour-change spiral) and then, a few weeks later decided to fold the whole thing. As I made progress in construction I realised I had NO IDEA whose design it was.

I turned to one of the many online origami communities I am a member of, and posted progress shots – fortunately it was identified as “Kamillen” designed by Irina Krivyakina.

I decided to hide the part colour change flap that causes a central spiral on each face, because I loved the shape of the geometry and thought the spiral detracted from it (my opinion only – I … have regrets).

Folded from 30 units, I decided to fold some of the 7.5cm square kami I have loads of … and … if I was to fold it again I would go bigger. The units have a lovely crenellated face, the tab-pocket mechanism is very fiddly but, when locked correctly, really positive.

Initially I used just tiny pegs to hold it together as construction progressed, but found the paper tension caused by the flexion necessary to insert new units caused it to continually explode apart. I resorted to tiny glue spots inside the pockets at the outside points, allowing the crimp to hold the pentagonal centres to hold the rest of the unit seam.

This was REALLY fiddly, my fat clumsy nerve damaged fingers really struggled to construct it. Fortunately the unit design allows for really accurate folding, which is absolutely necessary for the success of the final kusudama. Some modulars allow a margin of error and will still come together – this one would not tolerate inaccuracy much at all. I found I needed tweezers to interleave the flaps into the crimped pockets – when you got it right, the flaps seem to naturally find their seat relatively easily – forced there by the surrounding geometry. The last few units were an absolute nightmare because accessing the inside and outside at the same time was the easiest way to dock units.

I _may_ re-fold this bigger, and may reintroduce the spiral to compare. I absolutely love the geometry here, it is such an interesting and solid kusudama to look at and touch.