2D diagram

How to make a paper fish: fold-and-cut pattern

Paper Fish (Fold-and-Cut): try all 3 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.

EasyAn Origami Tutor design3 steps15 × 15 cm · One square

Fold a square in half, cut one joined outline through both layers, then open a symmetric fish with a pointed snout, a fin above and below and a forked tail.

You need: Thin paper, a pencil, a ruler, scissors and a pen for the face.
Start: Begin with a 15 cm square of blue or orange paper, colored side up. Keep an edge at the top.

Finish

Draw the fish’s eye

Smooth the centre crease. Draw one round eye near the pointed snout, above the middle crease. The finished paper fish, swimming to the left, with a fin above and below and its forked tail at the right.

3D paper

Whole sequence Finish

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3 steps · press any step to watch it in 3D

Step-by-step diagrams

1
Fold the square in half
Bring the bottom edge up to the top edge and press the crease. The folded edge is along the fish's back and belly.
2
Cut the fish outline
Start on the folded edge at the snout, at the left. Cut up and along the back to the fin, round the fin and on to the tail stalk, then out along the upper lobe of the forked tail and back in to the notch, ending on the folded edge between the two lobes. Keep the half fish above the fold and remove the surrounding paper.
3
Open the fish
Open the fold gently. The snout, both fins and both lobes of the tail stay joined in one sheet.
✓
Finish
Smooth the centre crease. Draw one round eye near the pointed snout, above the middle crease. The finished paper fish, swimming to the left, with a fin above and below and its forked tail at the right.