Classic Origami Crane Instructions

At some point, every elementary aged kid comes home wanting square paper to fold. My son wanted to fold ninja stars. My daughter wanted to fold fortune tellers. It’s something that I used to do when I was a kid, too. Before they folded more fortune tellers than one needs, I told them they need to learn to make the classic origami crane. Learning to make the crane takes patience and attention. It is a good lesson for kids (and adults!).

Brief History of Origami

The art of paper folding originated in China. The craft came to Japan around the 6th century and was called origami from the words ori meaning “to fold” and kami meaning “paper.” When origami first started, it was a craft only done by the elite as paper was not cheap. People would fold perfectly square and thin pieces of paper to resemble objects and animals. Origami was often given as symbols of luck to people during special occasions such as weddings.

There is a tradition in Japanese culture called Senbazuru. This is when the bride’s family gets together and folds a total of 1,000 tiny origami cranes for the wedding ceremony. The belief is that the time, energy, and dedication it takes to fold the cranes is symbolic of the patience and trust necessary for a happy marriage.

You will need ...

Origami Paper

If you do not have access to origami paper, any thin, perfectly square paper will do.

NOTE: keep the paper on the table as much as possible. Also, always keep the bottom points at the bottom and the top points at the top. Do not rotate the paper 180 degrees or the folds won't work.

Step One - the square

Create the square. To do this, first place the paper down on the table with one of the corners directly in front of you so the square is in a diamond orientation. Next, bring the bottom corner up to the top corner. Making sure everything is lined up, create your first crease by pressing down and creating a triangle with the widest side in front of you. Then, take one side and bring it to the other side and press down again, making a smaller triangle.

Then, turn the triangle around so that the point is in front of you and the largest straight edge is at the top. Lift the right side up. Insert your finger into the fold to open up the paper. Holding the bottom down, slowly fold and crease the paper so that it folds down creating a square shape.

Turn the paper over and repeat these steps on the other side. Be sure to hold down the bottom tips of paper so the paper folds and creases exactly.

Step Two - the kite

Next, create the kite shape. Take the upper right flap and fold it in with the bottom right edge coming in to meet the line down the middle. Repeat on the left side. Press down on the edges with the back of your fingernail to really enforce the crease. These creases will help later.

Then, flip the paper over and repeat on the back side. Remember to enforce the creases.

Step Three - the ice cream cone

The next step is just to create creases. Take the top point and fold it down and back along the line created by the previous folds. The shape will look like an empty ice cream cone. Then, flip it over and fold that top point in the opposite direction.

Step Four - the boat

This next step utilizes all the creases you just made. With the ice cream cone shape facing you like an ice cream cone, unfold the top point back to the way it was in the kite. Open the right and left flaps. Run your fingernail along the line of the top horizontal crease and gently open the paper up. Run your finger along the creases on the inside to help the flaps fold up and in towards the center. It will look like a little canoe for a second. Gently press the sides down to create a long diamond shape. This part is a little difficult and takes some patience.

Then, turn the paper over and repeat on the back side.

Step Five - the spearhead

Next, fold the upper right flap up and in towards the center line. Please note that there should be two lines/creases on the fold that are going from down to up starting on the left to the right. If your lines are going in the opposite direction, you need to rotate it 180 degrees. Repeat on the left side.

Turn the paper over and repeat on the back side.

Step Six

Next, you are going to fold the two flaps with the two lines/creases on them and make them touch each other. Then repeat on the other side.

Step Seven

Then, lift up the top flap so that the bottom tip comes up to the top. Repeat on the other side.

Step Eight

Next, you are going to fold the top so that the right and left side touch, then repeat on the other side. Similar to step six.

Step Nine - the wings

Next, take the top and bottom flaps and fold them down to create the wings. You can make your wings at an angle or straight across. Just be sure to do the same thing on both sides.

Step Ten - the body

Finally, to puff out the body, gently tug on each wing simultaneously and the body should slightly puff up. Do not pull too hard as you may rip the crane. Some people also blow into the hole on the bottom of the bird, but I find that doesn’t do much.

And now you have your first origami crane! Only 9,999 more to go for the wedding gift! Enjoy!

The Mom Touch