big news . i just read the instructions for doing a process again, and it's told me that "the line might not always be in the center" and i was under the impression that if it wasn't in the center then i had to make another fold to make sure it's in the center. this could be the root of all issues.
i just found out that there's a simpler version of the origami butterfly i made (that i'm not really proud of because it's a bit scrappy) so i'm gonna try that instead. i think all of the bits i struggled on were the more intricate "fold and fold again" bits that made up the zigzag pattern so hopefully this attempt will look better