Origami Japanese Paper Folding. Florence Sakade
84
Space Ship 86
Penguin 88
Chair 90
Treasure Box 92
Introduction
ORIGAMI, THE STIMULATING HOBBY of paper folding, has a long tradition in Japan. For more than ten centuries, it has been a favorite pastime with Japanese children and continues to occupy an important place in their lives. Even the youngest Japanese child can create intricate figures through step-by-step foldings of square pieces of colored paper. Some become so skilled that they can fold an object such as a bird from a one-inch square of paper or from the wrappings of candies. Origami objects are regularly used to decorate gifts, to adorn noticeboards in school classrooms, and as part of the displays in shops.
The fascinating art of origami is no longer confined to Japan but has spread throughout the world. It is particularly popular with children and adults in the US. While a child enjoys origami as a pleasurable pastime, parents and teachers can see that paper folding has definite educational value. The ability to follow directions, for example, is an invaluable tool—and advantage—throughout school life as well as afterwards in the workplace and elsewhere. With origami, the child learns that he must follow the directions exactly in order to achieve the desired result. This means he also develops patience. Moreover, origami calls for accuracy and concentrated attention, as the proper shapes can be obtained only through careful, symmetrical foldings. Because the child must also select the most suitable colors for his projects from among those available, he develops an awareness of harmony and a greater appreciation of the world around him. Japanese paper folding thus offers not only hours of peaceful recreation and that indescribable pleasure of accomplishment when a solid figure has been made from a little piece of paper, but it also forms the mind and gives control and skill to the fingers of those who enjoy it.
The objects in this book can be folded even by beginners after a little practice. The basic steps are used over and over again in the various projects. The step-by-step diagrams and accompanying instructions are extremely easy to follow. The most difficult object to make in the book is the crane, but it is also the most fun. In Japan, the crane is a symbol of good luck and can be found, in some form or other, practically any place—in the textile designs on women's kimonos, hung from the ceilings of temples and shrines as offerings from the people who go there to pray, or strung on pieces of thread to decorate a room.
It is easy to think of ways in which to use objects folded from paper. A few ideas are given at the back of this book, especially for parties and games. Origami figures can also be used as the background for plays, in sand table displays, and as murals in classrooms.
Here are some tips for those who are just beginning to try their hand at origami:
1 All of the objects illustrated in this book are made by folding perfectly squares pieces of paper. At first, five- or six-inch squares are the easiest to work with. Use thin paper, not heavy construction or art paper.
2 You must follow the directions step by step. Proper shapes can only be only be obtained through careful, symmetrical foldings.
3 If the figures seem too complicated, practice first by making marks on the corners of your paper to correspond with those in the diagrams.
4 It is a good idea to practice making an object with ordinary paper first so as not to waste colored paper.
5 For a delightful mixed color effect, two sheets of different colors may be used by placing them back to back and folding them simultaneously.
FLORENCE SAKADE
DOLLS
Step 1. Fold a square piece of paper (Fig. 1) so that the edge AB extends over as far as the center line AC as shown in Fig. 2.
Step 2. Do the same with AD in order to get Fig. 3.
Step 3. Fold along MN so that point C is over and above points B and D. See Fig. 4.
Step 4. Turn the paper over and fold back MN along XY about two-fifths of the way up (Fig. 5) to get Fig. 6.
Step 5. Fold points M and N forward along AY and AX so as to overlap each other, as in Fig. 7.
Step 6. Complete the doll by drawing the face (Fig. 8).
Step 7. To make a princess (Fig. 10), fold back the top of the head as shown in Fig. 9.
FAN
Step 1. Take a square piece of paper and fold it in half (Fig. 1). Make lengthwise folds (accordion fashion) across the entire breadth of the paper (Fig. 2) and then open it up to get Fig. 3.
Step 2. Fold in half as shown in Fig. 4 and paste the center pleats together.
Step 3. To complete the fan, tie a piece of string or wool about half an inch up from the bottom (see photograph).
SAILBOAT
Step 1. Take a square piece of paper and fold it along line AC so that point B meets point D. Fold and then reopen as in Fig. 1.
Step