How Do I Make Children's Origami Clothes?
The art of origami began during the sixth century in Japan, and today it has transformed and evolved into a creative art form as well as an entertaining craft. Paper origami designs range from animals such as traditional cranes to leaping frogs, to designs in clothing including blouses, sailor tops, shirts and one-piece dresses. Learning to create origami shirts is not only an engaging project for children and adults, the folded pieces can also be used as cards and gifts.
Instructions
1. Place the rectangular piece of paper on a flat surface so that the longer edges are facing the sides and the shorter edges are facing the top and the bottom. If working with double-sided paper, be sure the desired color for the shirt is face down on the surface.
2. Fold the paper in half vertically so the right edge of the paper meets the left edge of the paper. Crease the fold with a ruler and unfold.
3. Fold and align the right edge of the paper to the center vertical line of the paper. Crease the fold with a ruler and unfold.
4. Fold and align the left edge of the paper to the center vertical line of the paper. Crease the fold with a ruler and unfold. Be sure that all flaps of the paper are unfolded to its original form.
5. Bring the lower right corner of the paper to meet the vertical crease made in step three. Align the bottom edge of the paper to the vertical crease to create the shape of a small triangle. Crease the fold using a ruler and leave the edge folded.
6. Bring the lower left corner of the paper to meet the vertical crease made in step four. Align the bottom edge of the paper to the vertical crease to create the shape of another small triangle. Crease the fold using a ruler and leave the edge folded.
7. Fold and pinch the center of the two small triangles to create a crease in the middle of each triangle. Do not fully fold the paper. Pinching the triangles will form two equally smaller-sized triangles. Unfold the paper leaving the crease in the middle of the two folded triangular flaps.
8. Refold the right and the left edge of the rectangular paper to meet the center crease of the paper. Leave the sides folded.
9. Turn the paper over. Fold the bottom side, or the opposite end of the rectangle, 1/4 inch up towards the center of the paper to create a flap. Crease the folded flap with a ruler and leave it folded.
10. Turn the paper over and fold the bottom right edge of the paper at an angle to meet the vertical crease at the center of the paper. Crease the folded flap with a ruler and leave the flap folded. Be sure only the corner of the folded flap meets the center crease.
11. Fold the bottom left edge of the paper at an angle to meet the vertical crease at the center of the paper. Crease the folded flap with a ruler and leave the flap folded. The two corners of the folded flaps should meet at the center crease.
12. Pinch the crease where you pinched previously and gently pull out the two sides while pinching the paper. Fold and crease the bottom edge of the paper.
13. Bring the bottom edge of the paper up towards the top of the paper. Fold the paper in half so that the bottom edge meets the smaller folds at the top of the paper, or the collar of the shirt. Crease the bottom fold of the paper using a ruler to form a straight-edged rectangle.
14. Secure and tuck the newly folded edge of the paper under the smaller folds, or wings, of the collar. Adjust the collar if necessary to create the look that is desired. Crease the bottom edge of the shirt using a ruler and leave it folded.
