How to make a cross with palms

Quick Scoop

Start with a fresh, bendy palm frond, then fold it to form a vertical stem, make two side arms, and tuck the remaining strip around the center to lock the shape in place. A simple version is just a series of folds and a final wrap at the middle.

Simple steps

1. Hold the palm with the pointed end down and fold the top section to set the length of the vertical part.
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2. Fold one side out to form the first arm of the cross, then fold it back to create the opposite arm.
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3. Keep the folds snug but not crushed, so the palm stays flexible and doesn’t split.
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4. Use the remaining strip to wrap an “X” around the center and tuck the tip underneath to secure everything.
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Tips

• Fresh green palms work best because they bend more easily.
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• If the palm feels dry, dampening it first can help make folding easier.
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• Keep your folds neat and small if you want a compact cross.
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Common hiccups

If the palm cracks, it is usually too dry or too stiff, so try a fresher frond or let it soften first. If the arms look uneven, adjust the first fold before you finish the wrap, since that first bend sets the whole shape.

Very short version

Fold, fold, fold, then wrap and tuck the tail at the center.

TL;DR: Use a fresh palm, fold it into a vertical stem and two arms, then wrap the leftover strip around the middle and tuck it in to hold the cross together.