• Origami Key •

W elcome to O P -A-D . It’s your key to unlocking

RIGAMI AGE AY
®

the secrets of the ancient art of paper folding. Origami diagrams

throughout the world share a simple vocabulary of lines and
symbols. Learn the basics and you can fold models published the
world over.
The Origami Key is your guide to the basic folds and symbols.
Keep it in a handy place to use for easy reference.
Origami is a brainteaser like a word jumble—very few get it
on the first try. But as you learn the language, you will quickly
discover the joy of folding origami.

Helpful Hints
1. Fold on a flat surface.
2. Review all the diagrams before folding a model.
3. C
 heck the next step as you are folding to
see where the current step takes you.
4. Take it easy and have fun folding.
5. Share it with a friend!

Now you can add another language to your résumé.

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 • Origami Symbols •

white side of paper faceup

colored side of paper faceup

valley fold

mountain fold

fold and unfold

resulting in a crease

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 • Origami Symbols •

pleat fold

fold over and over

repeat the same step

once on back side (repeat
twice for two bars, etc.)

flip model over

to other side

rotate

x-ray view

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 • Origami Symbols •

cut

inflate model

squash model

pull out flap

indicates where to hold

a model FPO

specific point
to fold to

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 • Organ Base •

*fold in half
2 7 12
2 7 12 1
1
13
2
8
*7fold12and
13
unfold 3 *8fold13to center
3 8 13 4 9 14
4 9 14
4 9 14 5 10 15
5 10 15
5 10 15 6
11 16
6
11 16 7 12
6 2
11 16
1
3 8 13

*fold and open

at the same time
4 9 14

5 10 15
2 7 126 11 16
1
3 8 13

4 9 14

5 10 15
6
11 16

*continue to fold
and open right side

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 • Waterbomb Base •

*fold and unfold *fold and unfold

*flip over

2 7 12
1 2 7 12
3 8 13 1
3 8 13
4 9 14
4 9 14
5 10 15
5 10 15
6
11 16 6
11 16

*flip back over

2 7 12
1
3 8 13

4 9 14

5 10 15
6 *model flattens into base
as sides collapse inward,
11 16

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 • Blintz Base •
2 7 12
*fold and unfold 1
3 8 13
*fold to center 1
2 7 12

3 8 13
4 9 14
4 9 14
5 10 15
5 10 15
6
11 16 6
11 16

2 7 12
1
3 8 13

*fold to
center
4 9 14

5 10 15
6
11 16

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 • Reverse Folds •

2 7 12
1 2 7 12
3 8 13 1
*fold and unfold 4 *inside
9
reverse fold
14
3 8 *wow,
13 a wonderful
bird’s head
4 9 14
5 10 15
5 10 15
6
11 16
Inside Reverse Fold 6
11 16

*thecrease
opposite of above—
and fold
to the outside *cute
a super-
tail
2 7 12
1 2 7 12
3 8 13 1
3 8 13
4 9 14
4 9 14
5 10 15
5 10 15
6
11 16
6
Outside Reverse Fold 11 16

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 • Kite Base & Fish Base •

*fold to
center
*flip over
2 7 12
2 7 12 1
1 2 7 12 3 8 13
3 8 13 1
3 8 13 4 9 14
4 9 14

5 10 15
4 9 14 *5fold10
in half
15

Kite6
11 16
5 10 15
6
11 16

Base 6
11 16

*flip over
2 7 12
1
Fish 3 8
1
13 2 7

8
12

13
Base 4 9 14 3

5 10 154 9 14

6 5 10 15
11 16
6
11 16

*fold and open

at the same time

*fold back flap down

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 • Diamond Base •

*fold and unfold *fold to center

2 7 12
1 2 7 12
3 8 13
1
3 8 13
4 9 14
4 9 14
5 10 15
5 10 15
6
11 16
6
11 16

2 7 12
1
3 8 13

4 9 14

5 10 15
6
11 16

*fold to
center

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 • Helmet Base •

*fold in half

2 7 12
1
3 8 13

4 9 14

5 10 15
6
2 7 1112
*fold
16 to center *fold to center
1
3 8 13
2 7 12
4 9 14 1
3 8 13
5 10 15 4 9 14
6
11 16 5 10 15
6
11 16

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 • Square Base •

*fold and unfold *fold and unfold

*flip over

2 7 12
1 2 7 12
3 8 13 1
3 8 13
4 9 14
4 9 14
5
10 * 15
10 15 fold
5 12
and unfold 2 7
6
11 16 1
6
11 16 3 8 13

4 9 14

5 10 15
*flip back over
6
2 7 112 16
2 7 12 1
1 3 8 13
3 8 13
4 9 14
4 9 14
5 10 15
5 10 15
6
11 16
6
11 16

*as sides
model
collapse inward,
flattens into base

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 • Bird Base •
*begin with a square base
*fold *fold
and unfold
and unfold

*fold and
open at the
2 7 12 same time
1 2 7 12
3 8 113
3 8 13 2 7 12
4 9 14 1
4 9 14 3 8 13
5 10 15
5 10 15 4 9 14
6
11 16
6 5 10 15
11 16
6
11 16

*other
repeat on
side

2 7 12
1
3 8 13

4 9 14

5 10 15
6
11 16

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 • Frog Base •
*begin with a square base
*fold and
unfold
2 7 12
1
3 8 13
2 7 *open
12
and flatten
4 9 14
1
8 13 1
2 7 *1repeat
on
2 steps 1–3
remaining 3 flaps
5 3
10 15 3 8 13
6 4 9 14
11 16 4 9 14
5 10 15
5 10 15
6
11 16 6
11 16 2 7 12
1
3 8 13

4 9 14

7 12 5 10 15
2
1 6
3 8 13 2 7 11 1216
*repeat
steps 5–7 1 *and
fold
4 9 14 3 8 13
on other unfold
sides 5 4 9 14
10 15
2 7 12 6 5 10 15
11 16
1
3 8 13 6
11 16
4 9 14

5 10 15
6 *1open
1 16
and flatten

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 • Boat Base •
*fold and unfold *fold and unfold *fold to center

2 7 12
2 7 12 1
1 2 7 12 3 8 13
3 8 13 1
3 8 13 4 9 14
4 9 14
4 9 14 5 10 15
5 10 15
5 10 6
6
11 16
6
15
*fold to
2
center
7 12
11 16

11 16 1
3 8 13

4 9 14
2 7 12
5 10 15
1
2 7 12 3 68 13
11 16
1 4
2 7 12 8 13 9 14
3
1
8 5 10
3 13
*fold in half 4 9 14
6
15

4 9 14 5 10 15 11 16

5 10 15 6
11 16
6
11 16

*pull out inside flaps *pull out inside flap

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 • Pig Base •
*fold and unfold *fold to center
*fold and unfold corners
2 7 12
2 7 12 1
1 2 7 3 12 8 13
3 8 13 1
3 8 4 13 9 14 2 7 12
4 9 14 1
4 9 5 14 10 15 3 8 13
5 10 15
5 10 6 15 11 16 4 9 14
6
11 16
6 5 10
11 16 15
*fold and
unfold 62 7
11
12
16
1
3 8 13

4 9 14

5 10 15
6
11
*fold and
open at the
16

same time
2 7 12
1
3 8 13

4 9 14

5 10 15
2 7 12 6
11 16
1
3 8 13
*fold and open at the same4 time9 14

5 10 15
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11 16