Let’s talk origami shall we?
The first couple origami posts I did were picture diary’s- and quite a few folks spoke about and showed their origami projects in the comments. if you missed them…
Origami part 1
Origami II
I think I’ll do some more. Maybe they’ll become origami community posts. :-) ‘you know, do a project, show the origami project’s instructions and a how to….
In any case, this diary will assume you are a newbie. So what is origami?
True origami is folded paper.
That’s it. If you’re using glue or tape then, by definition, it’s not origami. That’s not to say there is not origami adjacent fun to be had! Like this Turkey I did on thanksgiving.
Tape holds the left and right side plumages together. Shhhh it’s our secret.
Mostly I think I’ll stick to traditional origami.
The paper can be any square piece of paper.
The purple paper , top right is bigger then the rest
Paper intended for origami is available in many varieties. Typically it’s thin paper available in many colors and prints, and both single sided and double sided. You can find it in arts and crafts stores and of course at Bezos bazaar.
Until you know you can successfully fold an object use scrap paper or the perhaps the ugly colors you don’t like that seem to come in every variety pack of paper.
No point in burning through colors and paper you like on practice.
My stash of books.
To learn I originally used a book that came with paper -which is pretty common.
Over time I’ve collected a few more books as gifts and at book sales.
But the internet alone is all you need.
To state the obvious start with something thats labeled as a being basic.
There are good examples at this site which existed a dozen years ago when I was learning and seems to have only improved since then.
And take a look at a tutorial of the basic folds themselves. Like this one beginners guide at the same site. It has examples of basic folds that are used often.
I collected a few “tools” to help which I found when I dug out my books and paper.
That black thing is some apple packaging which held the odd and ends in the photo.its also origami.
- A paperclip, unbent, that I could use to poke into corners that need straightening out.
- You might find a thin straight edge handy to flatten the creases. Like an old credit card ( I had a 6 inch metal scale (ruler) which migrated back into the workshop.)
- As my work surface, I used a clipboard but of course any flat surface is fine.
- Scissors. Don’t be running!
- if your past including drafting, an eraser shield which I used…somehow. (Hey it was 12 years ago!)
- A protractor? Why? It’s a mystery to me too. Although I’m guessing I used the curved side to press folds.
But really you don’t need any of these.
OK I could and should show some basic folds and whatnot . But I think I’ll keep this short and do that in another story. In any case the links above, in particular the basic tutorials are really really good.
if you have advice, links, questions, corrections, complaints, drop in the comments!
oh and origami adjacent stuff with glue, tape, staples,etc are all welcome. It’s a big tent, right? Right!
I’ll check in throughout the day.
happy folding !
=============/============
Previous installments
Origami part 1
Origami II
