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Your first 5 origami

A path of five easy origami, from the simplest to the most complete, to learn folding with the videos and move forward at your own pace.

Never folded before? Here is a short path: five models, from the simplest to the least simple, to fold in order. Each one comes with a video, and the next adds a little more challenge.

Before you start, watch the videos on the Getting started page: they show the basic folds (valley, mountain, squash, petal, rabbit ear) and the symbols used in diagrams. They only take a few minutes and make everything else much easier to follow.

Take 15 cm squares of paper, preferably thin: printer paper cut into squares will do. Prepare several, because the second fold is always better than the first. Press each crease firmly with your nail, and pause the video as often as you need. Take your time: there is no hurry.

The 5 models, in order

1. The aeroplane: a small fold with no difficulty, to get the feel of paper. 2. The boat: a classic of about three minutes. 3. The talking fox: very easy, and it talks on your fingers. 4. The paper chicken: the tutorial shows several methods, including one with the windmill base, which is useful for other models. 5. The crane: the great traditional model, simple and elegant, to finish in style.