Origami for Beginners

Table of Contents iii

Table of ContentsIntroduction...............................................................................................vChapter One..............................................................................................3

The BasicsChapter Two..............................................................................................9

Fundamental BasesChapter Three..........................................................................................17

Beginner formsChapter Four...........................................................................................25

Classic formsIndex.......................................................................................................35Works Cited............................................................................................37

Introduction v

Introduction Origami is regarded as an art form in some parts of the globe, but that doesn’t mean it’s a hard hobby or that it requires creativity. Origami does have some basics for beginners that this manual will include. This is for beginners who want to start with the basics of understanding graphical and/or written instructions for origami forms. It can also be a reference book for more experienced origami folders to consult when they are looking at more complex instructions. This book covers the most common items seen in instructions for simple to intermediate forms.

Packs of origami paper can be purchased online or in Asian-themed souvenir shops. Commonly, these packs come with instructions of how to fold a crane. You can also use printing or notebook paper cut into a square. Origami instructions can be found easily in books or online.

A Brief History of Origami The origins of origami is unknown, however the word “origami” is composed of the Japanese words oru meaning “to fold” and kami meaning “paper.”

Paper was first invented in China around 105 A.D. and monks brought the commodity to Japan in the sixth century. At the time, paper was a luxury item and was only available to a few. Paper folding in ancient Japan was only for ceremonial purposes, usually of religious nature.

By the Edo period (1603-1868), paper folding was more available throughout all classes and it had also become recreational. It featured many cuts and folds. Origami came to be regarded as a new form of art that was created with the mass-production and affordability of paper.

Traditional origami was passed down orally. Modern origami features models created by designers. Today’s origami also prioritizes the puzzle of folding or the challenge of folding a single square piece of paper without using cuts or glue. Modern origami was molded by Akira Yoshizawa who was considered one of the ancestors of origami. In the 1930’s, he developed a system of patterns using a set of symbols, arrows and diagrams. By the 1950’s, these patterns were published and widely available, contributing to origami’s global reach and standardization.

Chapter One 5

The Basic Folds What you will need:

Square sheets of paper or a package of origami paper Your hands A large, flat surface to work on Patience A pen or pencil is optional but useful in making sharper creases

Folds and SymbolsValley Fold

The far left image denotes two different versions of the same instructional arrow. The dashed line is the line on which you’re supposed to fold.In the middle illustration is the actual instruction where the arrow shows you which direction to fold on the dashed line. The valley fold means to fold in front of the line and on top of the paper. This is the most common fold you’ll see in origami.On the far right is what you should see after the fold. When you’re following graphical instructions, pay attention to the arrow and to the next step to ensure you’re correctly following the steps.

Mountain Fold

The valley and mountain fold are very similar, but they arrows and dashed line differ. The mountain fold means to fold behind the line and underneath the paper.

Fold and unfold Valley Fold

6 Origami for Beginners

The solid line seen on the far right illustration represents an existing fold.

Fold and unfold Mountain Fold

The folding and unfolding of the valley and mountain fold look very similar so if you’re unsure of what to do, look to the next step of the instructions and you could possibly figure out what the instructions require you to do.

Pleat Fold

In the middle graphic, the mountain fold and valley fold dashes are shown for you. Not all instructions will have different dashed lines for you so be sure to reference to the next step or find written instructions to go with the steps.

Turn over

Chapter One 7

Turn over the paper in the direction that the arrow instructs.

Rotate

Rotate the paper in the directions of the arrows. Be sure to refer to the next step to see how far to rotate it.

Pull

Pull the section of paper in the direction of the arrow.

Inside Crimp Fold

Crimp the paper inside an existing fold.

Outside Crimp Fold

8 Origami for Beginners

Crimp the paper outside an existing fold.

Open or Squash Fold

As the title says, you open up an existing fold and squash it down into a new fold.

Inside Reverse Fold

This is kind of similar to the open or squash fold. You also squash on top and inside an existing fold. This fold is commonly used for making heads of animals.

Outside Reverse Fold

At an existing fold, open it up and gently fold the paper to show the opposite side. This fold can be difficult to do without ripping the paper to be patient and careful. Pre-creasing may help.

Chapter Two 9

Chapter TwoFundamental Bases

10 Origami for Beginners

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Chapter TwoFundamental Bases

Chapter Two 11

Common Bases in OrigamiOrigami instructions come in many shapes forms and styles. This manual will feature some of the ways origami is presented. Keep in mind that not all origami instructions come with written instructions at all so pay close attention to the diagrams. There is not always one way to do something in origami. There will be different ways to approach the same goal. Since there are different styles of instructions, it may seem repetitive or pointless. Some instructions skip steps altogether, expecting you to understand what to do. Be sure to be patient.

Instructions for BasesSquare or Preliminary Base

Take your origami paper or a square piece of paper colored side down. If your paper is the same color on both sides, it doesn’t matter how you start. Valley fold the paper as shown

Squash or open fold one side as shown. Press it flat. Turn over the model.

Squash or open fold. Press it flat.

This is the finished square or preliminary base.

Kite Base

12 Origami for Beginners

Take a square piece of paper and place it colored side down. Fold a valley fold and unfold.

From the top corner, valley fold the right-hand and left-hand sloping edges to meet the middle fold-line. Press them flat.

This is the completed kite base.

Chapter Two 13

Bird Base

Start with a square base or follow the instructions below.Place a square piece of paper colored side up. Valley fold the square in half on a diagonal. Press it flat and unfold it. Repeat this on the other diagonal and turn the paper over.

Valley fold the square in half from the side to the opposite side. Press flat and unfold it. Repeat it for the other pair of sides.

Press the middle of the fold line, until the sides pop up. Bring the sides together and down towards you. Press the top down into a square, completing the square or preliminary base.

14 Origami for Beginners

Valley fold the front flaps’ lower sloping edges over, so they lie along the middle fold-line. Valley fold the top point down as shown. Press them flat and unfold them. Repeat behind.

The dashed lines as shown represent existing creases.Pinch and lift up the front flap of the paper so that its edges meet in the middle.This step can be difficult so be patient so as not to rip the paper.

Press the paper flat. Turn the paper over.

Chapter Two 15

Again, pinch and lift up the front flap of the paper so that its edges meet in the middle. Press flat.

This is the completed bird base.

16 Origami for Beginners

Water Bomb Base

Place your origami paper colored side down. Valley fold it in halves as shown.

Squash or open fold (Refer to pg. 8).

Repeat on the other side.

This is the finished water bomb base.

Chapter Thr

Chapter ThreeBeginner Forms

Chapter Three 19

Simple Models of OrigamiBeginner forms or models may not start with any of the mentioned bases, but these beginner forms are a good place to start in learning origami and how to read the instructions.

Instructions for Beginner FormsSamurai Helmet

Start with your paper white side up. Valley fold in half as shown.

Valley fold outer corners to the center (It may help to valley fold again after step one on the opposite diagonal to have a fold-line to line up with). Press flat and unfold.

Valley fold the top later only as shown.

Valley fold top layers outward as shown.

Valley fold the top layer only along the crease line shown.

Chapter ThreeBeginner Forms

20 Origami for Beginners

Valley fold the same top layer so that it lines up with the rest of the form.

Valley or mountain fold the bottom layer to create a crease. Unfold. Press flat firmly. This fold may unfold on its own.

Take the bottom layer and tuck it inside the hat.

This is the finished samurai hat.

Chapter Three 21

Twirling Bird

Place your square piece of paper colored side down. Valley fold in half.

Valley fold in half and unfold.

Valley fold as shown so that the top point is below the bottom of the paper.

This is what the previous fold should look like. Valley fold the model in half.

This is what the previous fold should look like.

Rotate the model as shown.

22 Origami for Beginners

Valley fold the top flap along the line shown.Mountain fold the back flap along the same line, or flip it over and valley fold again.

Valley fold both wings back so that they sit horizontally.

This is what the previous fold should look like.

This is the finished twirling bird. Throw it like a paper plane and it will tumble in circles!

Chapter Three 23

Ladybug

Place your square piece of paper colored side down. Valley fold in half.

Valley fold in half, crease well and unfold.

Valley fold the two corners down towards the center but leave a gap.

This is what the previous step should look like.

Turn over. Valley fold the tip or head as shown.

24 Origami for Beginners

Valley fold the head back up to create a pleat fold (Refer to pg. 6). Press down.

This is what the previous fold should look like. Turn it over.

This is the finished ladybug. Feel free to give it its spots and eyes.

Chapter Four

Chapter Four 27

Traditional Models of OrigamiClassic forms are origami models that tend to be well-known in the origami world and also more complicated. There are far more extremely complex forms and even different kinds of origami than the traditional origami that this manual features.

Instructions for Classic FormsCrane

Begin with the bird base (Refer to pg. 13).

Valley fold the top flaps into the center so that they line up.The left-hand image shows where to fold and the right-hand image shows what the fold should look like.

Turn over and repeat so that it looks like this.

28 Origami for Beginners

Valley fold both “legs” as shown. Crease very well. Unfold.This is a pre-creasing step. This is very helpful in doing the next fold, but not all instructions will tell you to do this.

Inside reverse fold the legs (Refer to pg.8). Crease, but do not flatten completely.

The previous fold should look like this. Inside reverse fold one side to create the crane’s head.

Valley fold the wings. This step is optional and is up to personal preferences.

This is the finished crane.

Chapter Four 29

Water Bomb

Begin with the water bomb base (Refer to pg. 16). Valley fold the top flaps up towards the center.

Repeat step 1 on the other side.

Valley fold the top layers’ edges to the center.

Repeat step 3 on the other side.

Valley fold the points down as shown. Repeat on the other side. This is a pre-creasing step.

30 Origami for Beginners

Tuck the points into the pockets as shown. Repeat on the other side.

Blow air into the small hole at the bottom. The bigger the water bomb, the harder it is to blow up.

This is the finished water bomb, often also called a balloon.

Chapter Four 31

Butterfly

Begin with the water bomb base (Refer to pg. 16) or follow these steps. Valley fold and unfold the origami paper horizontally and vertically in half.

Turn it over. Valley fold and unfold the paper diagonally.

Repeat on the other diagonal but do not unfold.Following these three steps first can be very helpful in the long run as the paper is already pre-creased, making it easier to make some folds.

Hold it by the bottom corners and push together until the center lines of all for sides meet.

Press flat. This is the finished water bomb base.

32 Origami for Beginners

Turn it end-for-end. Valley fold the top flaps towards the middle.

This is what the previous step should look like.

Flip it over and valley fold all of the layers on the line shown.

This is what the previous step should look like.

Turn it over. Pull the top flaps down and press flat.

This is what the previous step should look like.

Chapter Four 33

Turn it over. The next few steps will focus on the circled area.

Valley fold the head down over the forewings.

Valley fold back up, leaving a pleat fold (Refer to pg. 6).

This is what the completed head should look like.

Valley fold the model in half so that the edges match up.

Valley fold the top wing upward as shown.

34 Origami for Beginners

This is what the previous step should look like. Turn it over.

Valley fold the other wing upward as shown.

Open it.

This is the finished butterfly.

Index

BBird Base · 14Butterfly · 33

CCrane · 29

Chapter Four 35

EEdo period · v

IInside Crimp Fold · 7Inside Reverse Fold · 8

KKite Base · 12

LLadybug · 25

MMountain Fold · 5

OOpen Fold · 8Outside Crimp Fold · 8

Outside Reverse Fold · 8

PPleat Fold · 6Preliminary Base · 11

SSamurai Helmet · 21Square Base · 11Squash Fold · 8

TTwirling Bird · 23

VValley Fold · 5

WWater Bomb · 31Water Bomb Base · 17

37

Works Cited" B u t t e r f l y . " O r i g a m i f o r E v e r y o n e . W e b . 1 8 A p r 2 0 1 1 .

" C r a n e . " O r i g a m i f o r E v e r y o n e . W e b . 1 8 A p r 2 0 1 1 .

H u l l , T o m . " H i s t o r y o f O r i g a m i . " B e t w e e n t h e F o l d s . N . p . , 2 0 1 1 . W e b . 1 8 A p r 2 0 1 1 . < h t t p : / / w w w . p b s . o r g / i n d e p e n d e n t l e n s / b e t w e e n - t h e - f o l d s / h i s t o r y . h t m l > .

" L a d y b u g . " O r i g a m i f o r E v e r y o n e . W e b . 1 8 A p r 2 0 1 1 .

" O r i g a m i T e c h n i q u e s . " O r i g a m i T e c h n i q u e s . W e b . 1 8 A p r 2 0 1 1 . < h t t p : / / e n . w i k i p e d i a . o r g / w i k i / O r i g a m i _ t e c h n i q u e s > .

" O r i g a m i B a s e s . " O r i g a m i f o r E v e r y o n e . W e b . 1 8 A p r 2 0 1 1 .

" S a m u r a i H a t . " O r i g a m i f o r E v e r y o n e . W e b . 1 8 A p r 2 0 1 1 .

" T w i r l i n g B i r d . " O r i g a m i f o r E v e r y o n e . W e b . 1 8 A p r 2 0 1 1 .

" W a t e r b o m b . " O r i g a m i f o r E v e r y o n e . W e b . 1 A p r 2 0 1 1 . < h t t p : / / w w w . s c a r y g a m i . n e t / c u b e . p h p ? l a n g = 1 & s t y l e = 1 > .