How do I learn to fold?

Information on this page was supplied by paperfolding designer and author David Mitchell. More detailed information on specialist aspects of origami can be accessed at www.origamiheaven.com

By folding. There's no other way.

Here are links to diagrams for three designs suitable for absolute beginners.

To fold The Cicada you will need a square of paper that is white on one side and a single plain colour on the other.

To fold the The Kabuto (as shown on right) you will need a square of paper that is the same plain colour on both sides.

The Goldfish is a traditional design developed from the Kabuto using cuts.

If the only paper you have is oblong see 'Help! My paper's oblong but I need a perfect square!'.

You may also find it helpful to read through the following explanation of how to crease a fold. This is a practical explanation. To follow it properly you need to lay a rectangle of paper on a flat, smooth surface before you start. Here are the before and after diagrams for a simple fold.



Step 1: Compare the appearance of the paper in the before diagram with the appearance of the paper in the after diagram. Line it up the same way. Before you make the fold you need to get three things clear in your mind:

1, Which part of the paper has to move and which part stays still? (The fold-arrow tells you this and the after diagram confirms it.)

2, Which point or edge of the moving part of the paper needs to be laid exactly on top of which point or edge of the non-moving part? (The fold arrow also tells you this and the after diagram confirms it.)

In this case the right hand half of the paper moves and the left hand half stays still, and the point of the right hand corner needs to be laid directly on to the point of the left hand corner.

Step 2: Make the fold but don't flatten it down yet. Make sure the two corners are exactly lined up and hold them firmly in place with your left index finger. (If you are left-handed you may like to work the other way round.) Check that you are happy the fold will flatten down to look like the after diagram.

Step 3: With your right hand gently flatten the middle of the fold, then work gently outwards along the fold-line to either end. Check that the paper looks like the after diagram.

Step 4: Still holding the corners in place with your left hand use your right thumb-nail (or if you don't have good nails the handle of a pair of scissors) to sharpen up the crease.

Step 5: Let go. Of course, not every fold needs to be this perfect. (And they won't be. Just make them the best you can.)