How to Make a Origami Crane
Author: Clever Crow
| Copyright: | Traditional |
| Level: | Intermediate |
| Steps: | 45 |
| Supplies: | Sheet of square origami paper. |
| Recommendations: | -Use 4in x 4in paper or larger. -This model requires knowing how to fold inside folds. See our inside reverse fold instructions if you are not familiar with how to perform this type of fold. |
An origami crane is one of the most iconic and traditional origami models, symbolizing peace and good fortune in Japanese culture. The origami crane is known for its graceful and delicate appearance. It’s a popular symbol for making thousands of cranes in a tradition called Senbazuru (千羽鶴). Senbazuru is a Japanese tradition that involves folding 1,000 origami cranes, typically strung together on strings, as a symbol of hope, peace, and healing. The word Senbazuru translates to “a thousand cranes” (sen = thousand, ba = wings, zuru = crane).
How To Instructions
Quick Reminders
- Read all of the instructions before getting started.
- Take your time and be patient with yourself.
- It’s ok to start over.
Paper Setup
- If one side of your paper is white then start with the white side of the paper facing down.
- If your paper has color on both sides then start with the color you want to be the main color facing up.
- For example, the paper above has two colors; red and green. Because we want the main color to be red; like in the above picture, we placed the red side of the paper up.
Step: 1 of 45
Important: Follow the “Paper Setup” instructions first.
Start with the color you want the crane to be facing up. We want the crane to be red so the red side is facing up.
Step: 2 of 45
Fold the upper left corner of the paper to the lower right corner.
Step: 3 of 45
Unfold the previous fold.
Step: 4 of 45
Fold the upper right corner of the paper to the lower left corner.
Step: 5 of 45
Unfold the previous fold.
Step: 6 of 45
Turn the paper over from left to right.
Step: 7 of 45
Fold the paper in half from top to bottom.
Step: 8 of 45
Unfold the previous fold.
Step: 9 of 45
Horizontally fold the paper in half from left to right.
Step: 10 of 45
Unfold the previous fold and then Rotate the paper counter clockwise so that the lower left corner is facing down. (See next picture for details.)
Step: 11 of 45
This is how the paper should look.
Step: 12 of 45
Collapse the paper into itself by pushing in the left and right corners of the paper. (See picture for details.)
Step: 13 of 45
Fold the bottom right diagonal edge of the front layer over to the left to align with the central crease.
Step: 14 of 45
Fold the bottom left diagonal edge of the front layer over to the right to align with the central crease.
Step: 15 of 45
Fold the top point down to create a crease that runs along the top of the triangles created by the previous 2 folds. (See next picture for details.)
Step: 16 of 45
Unfold the previous fold.
Step: 17 of 45
Unfold the top layer of the left and right triangle folds.
Step: 18 of 45
Push up the bottom point of the top layer.
Step: 19 of 45
Push the left and right edges of the front flaps towards the middle and flatten it upwards.
Step: 20 of 45
Turn the paper over from left to right
Step: 21 of 45
Fold the bottom right diagonal edge of the front layer over to the left to align with the central crease.
Step: 22 of 45
Fold the bottom left diagonal edge of the front layer over to the right to align with the central crease.
Step: 23 of 45
Fold the center point down to create a crease that runs along the top of the triangles created by the previous 2 folds. (See the next picture for details.)
Step: 24 of 45
Unfold the previous fold.
Step: 25 of 45
Unfold the top layer of the bottom left and right triangle folds.
Step: 26 of 45
Open the bottom point of the front layer.
Step: 27 of 45
Pull in the front layer to the top and flatten it.
Step: 28 of 45
Fold the right top flap from left to right.
Step: 29 of 45
Fold the bottom point of the bottom flap to meet with the top point of the top of the paper.
Step: 30 of 45
Flip the paper over from left to right.
Step: 31 of 45
Fold the right side of the papers top flap from right to left.
Step: 32 of 45
Fold the bottom point of the paper upward to meet the top point of the paper.
Step: 33 of 45
Fold down the top flap to create a crease that runs horizontally across the middle of the center triangle.
Step: 34 of 45
Flip the paper over from left to right.
Step: 35 of 45
Fold down the top flap to create a crease that runs horizontally across the middle of the center triangle.
Step: 36 of 45
Pull the right upper flap towards the right to match the angle in the next picture.
Step: 37 of 45
Pull the left upper flap towards the left to match the next picture.
Step: 38 of 45
Fold the top right point downward to match the fold in the next picture.
Step: 39 of 45
Unfold the previous fold.
Step: 40 of 45
Inside reverse fold the crane’s head.
Step: 41 of 45
Fold the crane’s left and right wings so that they make a corner with the center of the crane’s body.
Step: 42 of 45
Turn the crane over to have the bottom of the crane pointing upward.
Step: 43 of 45
Spread out the crane’s pair of front triangles to form the crane’s front base.
Step: 44 of 45
Spread out the crane’s pair of back triangles to form the crane’s back base.
Step: 45 of 45
Turn the crane over and place on a flat surface.
Congratulations on completing the Origami Traditional Crane!
Additional View
Additional View
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