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Last updated 27/11/2025

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'Primary Manual Training' by Caroline F Cutler was published by the Educational Training Company in Boston and Chicago in 1891. The work mainly uses paperfolding to teach simple geometric concepts, as a means of preparing the paper for cutting into symmetrical shapes and patterns, and to create grids that then form the basis of drawings or nets for solids created by the cardboard modelling technique. There are also instructions for a few folds of life (although this term is not used in the work).

One unusual aspect of this work is its use of the 3x3 grid.

A full copy of the work can be accessed online here.

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Analysis

Folding the 3x3 Grid

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Constructing the Equilateral Triangle

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Folds of Life

A little basket - The Salt Cellar

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A Boat -

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A Sled (Cut)

From the 3x3 grid

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Fold and Cut Designs

This is just a selection of the many pages of designs that appear in the work.

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Cardboard Modelling Designs

This is just a selection of the many designs that appear in the work.

The Cone (from a 3x3 grid)

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The Square Pyramid

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A Cubical Box

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