This origami model is a beginner-intermediate-level project and should take less than ten minutes to complete. Start with an 8 square that has been cut from a sheet of standard copy paper. Experiment with different paper styles, colors, textures, etc. After you have successfully folded the model once or twice. The paper you choose should be able to crease well and retain its folded shape.
Sharp creases are important in any origami project. They are especially important with this project, however, because you will be creating many paper layers at once. Folding against a hard, flat surface (table, floor, etc.) will help you with this. Also, try running a ruler or pencil edge over each crease as you work.
- Position a square of paper on your work surface so that its edges are facing up and down, left and right. If you are using two-sided paper, make sure that the color you want for the kimono’s exterior is facing down.
- Bring the left edge of the model over to meet the right edge. Crease and leave folded.
- Bring the top edge (both layers) of the rectangular-shaped model down to form a narrow strip that is approximately 1/8″ wide. Crease and leave folded. For future models, you might want to make this flap narrower or wider to suit the size of the paper used.
- Fold the narrow strip created in Step 3 down once more. Crease and leave folded. Turn the model over.
- Bring the left edge of the model over to meet the right edge. Crease just enough to mark the model’s vertical center and unfold. Do not make a sharp crease.
- Bring the upper left point of the model down to the center. The left half of the model’s upper edge should come down to lie just to the left of the vertical center crease line made in Step 5.
- Repeat Step 6 for the model’s upper right point and the right half of the upper edge. There should now be two triangular flaps at the top of the model. Turn the model over.
- Bring the point down toward the center of the model until the two triangular flaps created in Step 7 are visible, then bring the point down approximately 1/8 further. There should now be a 1/8” space between the folded top edge and the edges of the triangular flaps. Crease and leave folded. Turn the model over.
- Bring the bottom edge up to meet the top edge. Crease and leave folded.
- Turn the model over once again and position it so that the point of the model’s top layer is facing away from you.
- Bring the left edge of the model (both layers) over toward the center. This edge should meet the left edge of the left-most, narrow rectangular strip that is at the center of the model. Do not bring the edge all the way over to the model’s vertical center. Crease and leave folded.
- Repeat Step 11 for the right edge to create a symmetrical model. There should now be two rectangular flaps on either side of the model.
- Bring the top edge of the model’s left rectangular flap over to lie along the flap’s left edge. Crease and unfold. Bring the edge backward along the same crease line. Crease and unfold.
- Open up the right edge of the left rectangular flap (there should be two layers of paper on either side) and push its upper-right point down and to the left. The layers of the flap should open up and the upper right point should come to rest at the center of the opened flap. The top portion should collapse into a triangle along the crease lines made in Step 13. Press flat.
- Repeat Steps 13-14 for the right side to create a symmetrical model. There should now be two triangular pockets at the top of the model, on either side. Turn the model over.
- Bring the top edge of the model down toward the center until the two triangular pockets created in Steps 13-15 are visible. A small point should also appear at the top edge’s midpoint. Crease and leave folded.
- Bring the bottom edge of the model (top layer only) up to meet the bottom edge of the flap folded down in Step 16. Crease and leave folded.
- Turn the model over to see the completed kimono.
