DAD — three letters, straight lines, an easy first fold. The generator below is already loaded with it; enter your book's measurements to get fold positions for every page.
Pages needed
~200
minimum 150
Book height
18–21 cm
spine, top to bottom
Letters
3
Beginner
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DAD
Upload an image or enter text, then click "Generate Preview" to see your folding coordinates.
Who it's for
Fathers and grandfathers, and the classic answer for the dad who says he doesn't want anything. A handmade object sidesteps that objection entirely.
Which book to use
An old technical manual, atlas or sports annual — the incongruity of a workshop-worn cover holding neat letters is most of the charm. Charity shops are full of them.
Where it ends up
Sturdy enough for a desk or a garage shelf. Unlike the more delicate shapes, it survives being picked up and shown to people, which is what tends to happen.
How long it takes
An afternoon. Father's Day is June in both the UK and US, so there's no calendar trap here.
What DAD does under the folds
Both Ds are closed loops, and they're the parts that thicken first in a thin book. If they're reading as solid blocks rather than letters, add pages before you blame the folding.
Every sheet of a folded book shows exactly one band, so a letter is only as detailed as the number of pages behind it. At 200 pages, DAD gets roughly 33 sheets per letter. If your book is thinner than that, the Book Fit Check above will say so — and offer splitting the word across two books, which is often the better answer. See choosing the right book for how to check page count before you buy.
How many pages do I need to fold DAD?
About 200 pages. DAD is 3 letters, and each letter needs roughly 60 pages — about 30 folded sheets — to stay crisp. You can go as low as 150, but at that thickness the strokes start merging into each other.
Which book should I use for DAD?
An old technical manual, atlas or sports annual — the incongruity of a workshop-worn cover holding neat letters is most of the charm. Charity shops are full of them.
How long does DAD take to fold?
An afternoon. Father's Day is June in both the UK and US, so there's no calendar trap here.
Is the DAD pattern free?
Yes. The preview and the full table of fold coordinates are free. The printable PDF unlocks after a quick social share.
Free pattern, instant preview, fold measurements for every page of your book.