Getting started with origami

Reading diagrams

New to origami? The videos on this page show you everything you need to know to understand the basic folds and symbols found in books and diagrams.

First, we show you all the symbols for the most common actions you will find in origami diagrams. You will also learn how to make the basic folds: valley, mountain, squash, petal and rabbit ear.

Unlike our other tutorials, these videos do not show a complete model: each one explains a single fold, or the symbols used in diagrams.

Once you have these folds down, follow our path Your first 5 origami: five easy models, from the simplest to the most complete. Stuck on a word? The origami glossary explains the folds, bases and Japanese terms.

Which paper should you use?

Origami has one great advantage: it needs very little equipment. To get started, a sheet of paper and your fingers are all you need!

For your first folds, or for a practice run, printer paper will do nicely. Just make sure it isn't too thick, or models with lots of folds will quickly become tricky! In that case, choose 70 gsm paper. Some models may need slightly thicker paper, though (a box, for example): then use 90 or 100 gsm paper.

One paper we often use is wrapping paper. It comes in all sorts of patterns, and it has the advantage that you can cut it to whatever size you need. Be careful not to choose plastic wrapping paper, which is very common nowadays: it is completely impossible to fold as it is.

Kraft paper is also a joy for paper folders. It is thin, strong and holds its shape well. You can even find it in different colours in art shops and some supermarkets. Recycle, too! Try to come up with interesting ideas of your own: packaging, magazines, newspapers…

Art shops also sell origami paper, already cut into squares: plain, patterned, or with a different colour on the back (duo paper). Finally, if you want to go a little further in this art, you can use traditional Japanese paper such as washi: handmade, thin, strong and decorated with beautiful patterns like those on kimonos. This kind of paper is expensive, though, and quite hard to find. Try craft shops or online shops (see our links).

Going further

Our Links page gathers our favourite places: a shop for paper and books, paper-folding associations, the designers whose models you will find on this site, and free diagram websites.