Tips and Techniques
If you have ever folded a paper airplane, you already have the basic skills for origami. The crane is the most famous origami model in the world, and for good reason: it looks impressive but is built from simple folds repeated in a logical order. This guide walks you through it slowly, with no skipped steps and no assumptions. Grab a square of paper, find a flat surface, and let's begin.
Start with a square sheet, colored side up. Fold it in half diagonally to make a triangle, then unfold. Repeat on the other diagonal. Flip the paper over and fold it in half both ways, like a book, then unfold again. You now have creases forming a star pattern, with all folds meeting in the center. These creases are your roadmap for the next step.
Now gently push the left and right corners toward each other while bringing the top corner down. The paper will collapse along the creases into a smaller square, often called the preliminary base. Flatten it firmly. This is the foundation of the crane, and if your folds line up neatly here, everything else will be easier.
With the open end of your square facing down, fold the right and left corners of the top layer to the center line, creating a narrow kite shape. Flip the paper and repeat on the back. Then fold the top triangle down over the flaps on both sides and unfold, leaving a crease. Open the top layer upward and press the sides in, using those creases to form a long diamond. Flip and repeat. You now have the classic bird base, which is also the starting point for many other traditional models.
Next, fold the bottom right and left edges of the front layer to the center, then repeat behind. This thins the shape into a long, slender diamond. Take the two narrow bottom points and fold them upward and outward in a technique called an inside reverse fold. These become the head and tail. Finally, fold the remaining two wide points down to form the wings, and gently pull them apart. Your crane is finished.
Sharp creases make a huge difference. Run your fingernail along every fold, pressing firmly from the center outward. Use paper that is thin but not flimsy, since thick paper cracks at the points. If your crane looks a little lopsided the first time, that is completely normal. Fold it again with a fresh sheet and you will notice the improvement immediately. Keep your first crane as a marker of where you started, and soon you will be folding a whole flock.
