Folding instructions: diagrams, crease patterns, etc. — by model type

Here you can find diagrams for some of the models listed on my page, grouped by model type.

Major types related to number of sheets in a model

Compositions

Compositions

Origami compositions are arrangements of separate models where the composition is more than the sum of its parts. You could also view them as multi-sheet mod...

Compound Origami

Compound Origami

This is a category of models folded from multiple sheets of paper, but with the sheets folded in ways sufficiently different for the model not being modular ...

Modular Origami

Modular Origami

Modular origami (also known as unit origami) is a category of models which are built from multiple sheets of paper, connected by means of folding. Individual...

Multi-sheet models

Multi-sheet models

Multi-sheet models are folded from more than one sheet of paper (but, at least in pure origami, these sheets are connected only by means of folding).

Single-sheet models

Single-sheet models

Single-sheet models are folded from just one sheet of paper. This is the most classic kind of origami.


Major types related to folding technique

Action origami

Action origami

Action origami is a class of models which have movable parts. These include all sorts of mechanisms with elements that slide relative to each other, multi-pi...

Corrugations

Corrugations

There is no universally accepted definition of an origami corrugation, but the one I like to use says that a corrugation is an origami model which has just a...

Crumpling

Crumpling

Crumpling techniques create lots of small creases on the paper in a partially uncontrollable way. They can be used to create organic shapes or distinctive te...

Curved Folding

Curved Folding

Models in which folds go along curved rather than straight lines.

Models with Cuts

Models with Cuts

While contemporary origami frowns upon cutting the paper, a number of traditional designs, and some modern ones, do use cuts in addition to folds.

Models with color change

Models with color change

Color-change is a technique in which both sides of the folded sheet are displayed. If the paper has two different colors on the two sides, this can be used f...

Money Folds

Money Folds

Money folding (with dollar bill origami being especially popular) is the technique of using paper money as folding material. Since the size of the bills and ...

Pixel art

Pixel art

This is a category of models which create a pattern or image from many small points, like the pixels on a computer monitor.

Tessellations

Tessellations

Origami tessellations are a technique which makes it possible to create complex, repeating patterns on a plane by folding a single sheet of paper. Tessellati...

Wet-folding

Wet-folding

Wet folding is a technique which makes it possible, through the use of moisture, to fold thick paper and shape it in interesting ways. This list only contain...


Major types related to subject

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract models do not directly represent any objects of the real world. Nonetheless, many can be described as representing something, for example mathematic...

Figurative

Figurative

Figurative (representational) models are those which represent some real-world object.

Metaorigami

Metaorigami

Metaorigami is a term I coined in order to describe origami models whose subject is another origami model. Some examples could be a tessellation which repres...

Origami-first designs

Origami-first designs

There are a group of models which I call origami-first designs and which could also be described as useful origami, origami objects, or practical origami. Th...

Patterns

Patterns

This type is for models whose subject matter involves patterns and repetition.

Single units

Single units

Pages dedicated to single units: a unit by itself is a single-sheet model, but is most usefult for building modular origami (multi-sheet) models. Having a se...


Selected more specific types related to subject

Animals

Animals

Models which represent animals (including fictional non-humanoid beasts).

Architecture

Architecture

Models representing all sorts of buildings, bridges and similar structures.

Astronomy

Astronomy

Models which represent subjects related to astronomy: planets, comets and other celestial objects.

Books

Books

Models which represent books.

Boxes

Boxes

There are many kinds of origami boxes: simple and complex, from a single sheet and modular, boxes with a hinge and models where the lid is separate from the ...

Clothes

Clothes

Models which represent garments and other elements of clothing and dress (note that models which are intended to actually be worn, e.g. origami jewelry, can ...

Coasters

Coasters

A coaster is a kind of small mat on which a glass or mug with a drink can be placed in order to protect the table.

Envelopes

Envelopes

A number of envelopes, both plain and decorated, can be folded in the form of origami without the need to use cuts or glue.

Food

Food

Models of various foods.

Fractals

Fractals

Fractals are a class of mathematical objects which are characterized by self-similarity: a part of the object resembles the whole. Such structures can be app...

Furniture

Furniture

Models which represent furniture and other objects found in homes.

IT-Related

IT-Related

Models with a subject related to IT (Information Technology), such as computers and logos of software packages.

Jewelry

Jewelry

Jewelry designed from the start up in the form of origami.

Landscapes

Landscapes

Models which represent landscapes, seascapes, etc.

Origami paintings

Origami paintings

This kind of model represents a whole “painting” using a tessellation technique. Due to their complexity, such models are usually hard to reproduce and also ...

Other Objects

Other Objects

Models which represent real-world objects not grouped elsewhere.

Other Organisms

Other Organisms

Models which represent any broadly-defined “living things“ which are not animals or plants.

People

People

Models which represent people, including fictional humanoids.

Plants

Plants

Models which represent plants such as trees or plant parts such as leaves and flowers. Abstract floral motifs do not count, though the boundary is rather blu...

Religious

Religious

Models with a religious (usually Christian) subject.

Symbols

Symbols

Models representing abstract symbols such as letters.

Tatos

Tatos

Tatos are kind of origami similar to boxes, but they are flat and have a specific kind of closing mechanism.


Major types related to preferred folding material

Business Card Origami

Business Card Origami

Business cards can be used for origami, especially for modulars. Some kinds of units are very simple which makes folding models with huge numbers of them pos...

Tea Tag Folding

Tea Tag Folding

While tea bag origami has gained some popularity, it seems that tea tags have not been used so much. As an avid tea drinker, I had to try folding some models...

Toilet Paper Folding

Toilet Paper Folding

As the name implies, toilet paper folding is about making origami from toilet paper. In most cases what matters most is the format: a very long and narrow st...


All other types

Abstract modular origami

Abstract modular origami

Abstract modular origami, usually representing highly symmetric geometric shapes, is the most popular kind of modular origami.

Balls and Polyhedra

Balls and Polyhedra

Models representing all sorts of polyhedra, including roundish ones (spheres and other smooth shapes can mostly only be approximated in origami).

Classic Tessellations

Classic Tessellations

A classic tessellation is a model which uses a tessellated pattern as its main subject (meaning the tessellation is not used just in an auxiliary role such a...

Crosses

Crosses

Models which feature some variant of a cross symbol.

Cubes and Cuboids

Cubes and Cuboids

Cubes and cuboids get their own category due the large number of designs.

Figurative modular origami

Figurative modular origami

Even though this is a less popular genre than abstract modulars, Modular origami techniques can also be used for representing real-world objects.

Figurative tessellations

Figurative tessellations

Figurative tessellations are, as the name implies, origami tessellations which represent actual objects or whole scenes.

Flowers

Flowers

Models which represent more or less realistic flowers. Obviously, some abstract patterns can be considered floral and the demarcation is a bit fuzzy.

Geometric

Geometric

The term geometric origami is not well-defined. Here, I use it to mean all non-figurative designs.

Hearts

Hearts

Models which feature the heart symbol.

Intersecting Planes

Intersecting Planes

Models consisting of a set of flat elements (usually in the shape of stars or polygons), intersecting in a central point.

Leaves

Leaves

Models which represent leaves of more or less realistic leaf-like patterns.

Living Things

Living Things

Models which represent broadly-defined “living things“.

Metaorigami tessellations

Metaorigami tessellations

Metaorigami tessellations are tessellations which represent other origami models (see more about this idea under metaorigami).

Modular Fractals

Modular Fractals

Fractals and other self-similar structures created with modular origami.

Modular Stars

Modular Stars

Flat modular origami stars are a popular genre. These are often very decorative models which can folded with relatively little effort due to the small number...

Modular Woven Polyhedra

Modular Woven Polyhedra

Woven polyhedra, also known as polypolyhedra, tangles, or wireframes (in my opinion this term is too broad), folded as modular origami. Due to the models’ sh...

Modular intersecting planes

Modular intersecting planes

These modular origami models look like sets of planes, set at an angle relative to each other and intersecting at the model’s center. The planes are, due to ...

Modular spiky balls

Modular spiky balls

Modular spiky balls (sometimes also called 3D stars) are among the most popular shapes folded from multiple units.

Natural Sciences

Natural Sciences

Models related to natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, etc.).

Origami Box Lids

Origami Box Lids

Origami boxes in this category are folded in such way that the lid is folded from a single sheet of paper, and the bottom part from a separate sheets. The li...

Origami Chains

Origami Chains

These are modular origami models which create a one-dimensional structure (as opposed to quilts, which are two-dimensional). Such models can usually be exten...

Origami Quilts

Origami Quilts

Origami quilts (which could also be described as modular tessellations) are models which can tile the plane just like tessellations, but constructed from mul...

Other Natural Sciences

Other Natural Sciences

Models related to natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, etc.) not listed separately.

Other Plants

Other Plants

Origami models of plants not classified elsewhere.

Other Polyhedra

Other Polyhedra

Polyhedra which were not assigned to more specific categories.

Recursive Tessellations

Recursive Tessellations

Tessellations in which the same element is repeated recursively as smaller and smaller copies inside the molecule.

Recursive and Periodic Tessellations

Recursive and Periodic Tessellations

Tessellations which are at the same time recursive (each molecule contains smaller copies of itself) and periodic (those molecules can be tiled on a plane si...

Single-Sheet Boxes

Single-Sheet Boxes

This category is for boxes which are folded from just a single sheet, i.e. no separate lid/bottom is needed. Some of these boxes are open on one side and can...

Single-Sheet Metaorigami

Single-Sheet Metaorigami

Metaorigami single-sheet models are those which represent other origami models (see more about this idea under metaorigami).

Spiky Balls

Spiky Balls

Models representing all sorts of stellated polyhedra and other things that look like balls covered with spikes.

Stars

Stars

Models which represent variants of the star symbol. More realistic representations of stars appear in astronomy section. So-called “3D stars” are in spiky ba...

Tessellation Modulars

Tessellation Modulars

Tessellation modulars are a class of models generally similar to modular origami, but with the modules being tessellation-based designs. This is similar, but...

Trees

Trees

Origami models of trees.

Woven Polyhedra

Woven Polyhedra

Woven polyhedra, also known as polypolyhedra, tangles, or wireframe models (the latter is, in my opinion, too broad a term).