foldsalternates

Foldsalternates is a term that has appeared in limited, informal contexts to describe a class of crease patterns or folding sequences in sheet folding where the operations alternate in a regular pattern. There is no formal definition in standard origami literature, and the term is not widely adopted across communities.

Etymology and usage: The word is a portmanteau of "fold" and "alternates." It seems to have emerged in hobbyist discussions and online forums rather than in scholarly sources. Because of its informal status, meanings can vary between authors, with some using it to refer to crease networks that alternate valley and mountain folds, and others applying it to sequences of folds that switch direction after each step.

Applications: In practice, foldsalternate patterns are used in origami design and instruction to teach or illustrate alternating fold directions. They can appear in grid-based tessellations, modular constructions, and decorative patterns where regular alternation helps maintain symmetry or alignment.

Examples: A simple example is a square sheet folded along evenly spaced lines with valley, then mountain, then valley folds in sequence across a row, creating an alternating crease row. A more complex example might extend this alternation along both axes to form a woven-like pattern.

Limitations: Because foldsalternates is not standardized, different sources may describe or implement the concept differently. Readers should verify terminology within a given text and rely on accompanying diagrams for clarification.

See also: crease pattern, valley fold, mountain fold, origami tessellation, paper folding.