How to make an origami squid
Origami Squid: try all 29 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
An Origami Tutor fold-and-slit squid with a long pointed mantle, eight shorter arms and two long tentacles. Fold and cut one tall rectangle, then spread the free strips below its body.
- You need
- One 4 × 8 inch rectangle of thin paper colored alike on both sides, a pencil, ruler and scissors. No glue.
- Start
- Start with a short edge at the top. Use paper colored alike on both sides. Divide the bottom edge into ten equal strips and mark the slit stops about 4.7 inches below the top.
- Tips
- On the 4 inch short edge, each strip is 0.4 inches wide.
- The two middle strips stay long. Fold only the other eight ends behind.
Your model is ready
Keep the pointed mantle above the arms. Ease the eight shorter arms and two longer tentacles apart at their prepared root creases.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–6
- 1
Separate strips 1 and 2
Cut upward from the bottom edge to the marked stop. Leave the upper paper joined and do not cut past the stop.
- 2
Separate strips 2 and 3
Cut upward from the bottom edge to the marked stop. Leave the upper paper joined and do not cut past the stop.
- 3
Separate strips 3 and 4
Cut upward from the bottom edge to the marked stop. Leave the upper paper joined and do not cut past the stop.
- 4
Separate strips 4 and 5
Cut upward from the bottom edge to the marked stop. Leave the upper paper joined and do not cut past the stop.
- 5
Separate strips 5 and 6
Cut upward from the bottom edge to the marked stop. Leave the upper paper joined and do not cut past the stop.
- 6
Separate strips 6 and 7
Cut upward from the bottom edge to the marked stop. Leave the upper paper joined and do not cut past the stop.
Steps 7–12
- 7
Separate strips 7 and 8
Cut upward from the bottom edge to the marked stop. Leave the upper paper joined and do not cut past the stop.
- 8
Separate strips 8 and 9
Cut upward from the bottom edge to the marked stop. Leave the upper paper joined and do not cut past the stop.
- 9
Separate strips 9 and 10
Cut upward from the bottom edge to the marked stop. Leave the upper paper joined and do not cut past the stop.
- 10
Shape the left mantle edge
Fold the upper left corner behind along the long sloping line, leaving a sharp point at the middle of the top edge.
- 11
Shape the right mantle edge
Fold the upper right corner across along the matching line. Move only this corner; leave the first folded flap behind.
- 12
Prepare strip 1
Fold this strip inward across its short sloping root line, press lightly, and open it again. Leave its neighbours still.
Steps 13–18
- 13
Prepare strip 2
Fold this strip inward across its short sloping root line, press lightly, and open it again. Leave its neighbours still.
- 14
Prepare strip 3
Fold this strip inward across its short sloping root line, press lightly, and open it again. Leave its neighbours still.
- 15
Prepare strip 4
Fold this strip inward across its short sloping root line, press lightly, and open it again. Leave its neighbours still.
- 16
Prepare strip 5
Fold this strip inward across its short sloping root line, press lightly, and open it again. Leave its neighbours still.
- 17
Prepare strip 6
Fold this strip inward across its short sloping root line, press lightly, and open it again. Leave its neighbours still.
- 18
Prepare strip 7
Fold this strip inward across its short sloping root line, press lightly, and open it again. Leave its neighbours still.
Steps 19–24
- 19
Prepare strip 8
Fold this strip inward across its short sloping root line, press lightly, and open it again. Leave its neighbours still.
- 20
Prepare strip 9
Fold this strip inward across its short sloping root line, press lightly, and open it again. Leave its neighbours still.
- 21
Prepare strip 10
Fold this strip inward across its short sloping root line, press lightly, and open it again. Leave its neighbours still.
- 22
Shorten arm 1
Fold the end of this strip behind on its short crosswise line. Leave the two middle strips long; they are the squid’s feeding tentacles.
- 23
Shorten arm 2
Fold the end of this strip behind on its short crosswise line. Leave the two middle strips long; they are the squid’s feeding tentacles.
- 24
Shorten arm 3
Fold the end of this strip behind on its short crosswise line. Leave the two middle strips long; they are the squid’s feeding tentacles.
Steps 25–29
- 25
Shorten arm 4
Fold the end of this strip behind on its short crosswise line. Leave the two middle strips long; they are the squid’s feeding tentacles.
- 26
Shorten arm 7
Fold the end of this strip behind on its short crosswise line. Leave the two middle strips long; they are the squid’s feeding tentacles.
- 27
Shorten arm 8
Fold the end of this strip behind on its short crosswise line. Leave the two middle strips long; they are the squid’s feeding tentacles.
- 28
Shorten arm 9
Fold the end of this strip behind on its short crosswise line. Leave the two middle strips long; they are the squid’s feeding tentacles.
- 29
Shorten arm 10
Fold the end of this strip behind on its short crosswise line. Leave the two middle strips long; they are the squid’s feeding tentacles.
- ✓
Finish
Keep the pointed mantle above the arms. Ease the eight shorter arms and two longer tentacles apart at their prepared root creases.
Fold next
Crane ↗
The crane begins with a square base. Two petal folds turn it into a bird base with separate points for the neck and tail; the broad flaps become the wings. Work through one side of the body before repeating the narrowing folds on the back.
Swan ↗
The traditional kite-base swan, with a pointed tail, a long neck and a small head.
Pig ↗
The traditional kindergarten pig, recorded in 1863. It stands on four pointed feet, with a raised tail and a short snout.
Japanese rabbit ↗
The cupboard-base Japanese rabbit recorded in 1935, with long ears and a small turned-up tail. Fold its broad head, narrow ears, body and reversed tail.