Origami facts and paper craft guides
Origami facts and paper craft guides: read, then make something. Symbols, bases and folding science. Paper history, cutting traditions and activities.
Getting started
Print a paper pattern
Print at 100% and measure the check length before cutting your craft paper.
Starter guideRead the next fold
The dashed line shows where to crease. The arrow shows which part of the paper moves.
Starter guideStart with a square
For the first origami models, a 6 × 6 in square gives your fingers plenty of room.
Starter guideChoose paper for your project
Use thin sheets for folding and cutting, soft tissue for flowers, strips for quilling and card for box walls.
Paper
How paper is made
How to make paper from used sheets: blend the fibres, spread the pulp and press out water. Gather the listed tools, then leave the new sheet to dry.
PaperHistory of paper
Who invented paper? Follow the story from early Chinese papermaking to its spread abroad, and learn how papyrus differs from paper.
PaperHow many times can you fold paper in half?
How many times can you fold a piece of paper? See why sheet length and thickness matter, read about the record and try a folding experiment.
Origami
What is origami?
What is origami? Read how the Japanese name joins folding and paper, explore early folding books, and choose a model to make from a square.
OrigamiThe thousand cranes and Sadako
Sadako and the thousand paper cranes tells of a wish for recovery. Read about her classmates' campaign, then follow a crane-folding lesson.
OrigamiOrigami symbols, bases and terms
Origami symbols tell you where the paper creases and moves. Match valley and mountain lines to arrows, check paper sides and explore bases.
OrigamiOrigami in science and engineering
The Miura fold lets a creased sheet pack small and reopen in one motion. Explore solar-array uses, paper thickness and a folding activity to try.
OrigamiAkira Yoshizawa
Akira Yoshizawa helped shape modern folding through expressive models and shared diagram symbols. Read about wet folding and his teaching.
OrigamiWorld Origami Days
World Origami Days is a chance to share a fold with someone. Read about the celebration and teach a model or give a paper gift.
Cutting traditions
Kirigami
Kirigami uses cuts as well as folds to make a paper pattern. ✓ See how folded cuts repeat ✓ Open a cutting lesson and try a design with scissors
Cutting traditionsPaper-cutting traditions
The history of paper cutting spans Chinese jianzhi, Mexican papel picado and European customs. Read about their uses and try a craft lesson.