This origami Viking boat is an intermediate-level project that should take approximately ten minutes to complete. If you are new to origami, then you may find it necessary to go through the instructions several times before being able to successfully complete this project.
Read through each step before attempting it and move on to the next step only when you are sure that all previous steps have been accurately executed.
One of the most appealing aspects of origami is that very few supplies are needed to complete most models. For this project, you will only need a square of paper and a suitable surface upon which to work.
Just about any type of paper you have on hand is suitable for practice, although you will achieve optimal results if your paper is at least as heavy as a standard sheet of copy paper.
You will also need the appropriate type of work surface in order to achieve a correctly folded model. Folding against a hard, flat, stable surface will help you line up edges and points evenly and will also help make your creases sharp.
A table is the best choice, but a hardback book or floor will work too. Try running a pencil or ruler edge over each crease as you go in order to make your creases even sharper.
Follow these steps
- Position a square of paper on your work surface so that its points are facing up and down, left and right. If you are using two-sided paper, make sure that the color you want for the exterior of the boat is facing down.
- Bring the left point of the model over to meet the right point. Crease and unfold.
- Bring the top point of the model down to meet the bottom point. Crease and unfold.
- Turn the model over and position it so that the edges are now facing up and down, left and right.
- Bring the left edge of the model over to meet the right edge. Crease and unfold. Bring the top edge down to meet the bottom edge. Crease and leave folded. You will now have a rectangular-shaped model.
- Grasp the model at its left and right edges and push inward. It should collapse along the pre-existing folds. The result will be a diamond shape that has one folded flap sticking out toward the back of the model and another sticking out toward the front.
- Bring the front flap back to meet the left point of the diamond and bring the back flap up to meet the right point. Make sure all of the creases are as sharp as possible and that your model lies as flat as possible. Position the model so that the open end is pointing away from you.
- Bring the top point of the model (top layer only) down to meet the bottom point. Crease and leave folded.
- Turn the model over and repeat Step 8. The result is a diamond-shaped model with its upper half divided into two legs.
- Bring the left point of the model (top layer only) over to meet the right point. Press flat.
- Turn the model over and repeat Step 10. Both the front and back of the model should now have smooth surfaces.
- Bring the left point of the model (top layer only) over to the center. Crease and leave folded. Repeat for the right point.
- Bring the top point of the model (top layer only) down to meet the two points folded over in Step 12.
- Turn the model over and repeat Steps 12-13.
- Bring the top edge of the model (top layer only) down as far as it will easily go to form a rectangular flap. Crease and leave folded. Turn the model over.
- Turn the model over and repeat Step 15.
- Open up the model by pulling it apart at the rectangular flaps created in Steps 15-16. The result will be a box-like model with two pointed flaps at its bottom and two rectangular flaps at its top.
- Fold the tips of the pointed flaps under, into the existing pockets. Fold the tips in far enough so that two rectangular pockets are formed. Pinch to keep in place.
- Position the model so that the box is upright and the flaps are facing up and down.
- Bring the left top edge of the model out to the left and down to meet the left bottom edge (the edge that is touching your work surface). You may find this easier to accomplish if you push in at the left side of the model as you create the crescent-shaped fold. Note how the left halves of the top and bottom flaps move toward each other.
- Repeat Step 20 for the opposite edge of the model.
- Bring the folded edges of the top and bottom flaps together to meet at the model’s horizontal center. Press flat. The top layer of the square-shaped model is now composed of two rectangular flaps.
- Bring the bottom edge of the upper rectangular flap up to meet the top edge of the model. Crease and unfold. Repeat for the lower rectangular flap in order to create a symmetrical model.
- Grasp the free edge of the upper rectangular flap and pull up as far as you can without tearing the model. Press flat. Repeat for the lower rectangular flap in order to create a symmetrical model.
- Bring the portion of the flap that now extends past the model’s top edge backward to create a rectangular flap at the back. Press flat. Repeat for the lower edge to create a square-shaped model that resembles a picture frame.
- Turn the model over and position it so that the rectangular flaps are to the left and right.
- Bring the bottom edge up to meet the top edge. Crease and leave folded.
- Grasp the model at both bottom corners and gently pull out and up to form a half-circle. The folded portions at the left and right edges of the model should slide outward until each corner unfolds. You may find this easier if you push up at the bottom edge of the model and work one side at a time. You may also want to hold the model at the center of the bottom edge to avoid having the paper tear.
- Open up the top edge of the model and pull out the two rectangular flaps at the center.
- Locate the two triangular flaps that should now appear at the interior of the flaps opened up in Step 31 and lift each one to point upward.
- Locate the left and right points of both pointed flaps.
- Bring the left point of the left flap in to meet the flap’s vertical center crease line. Crease and leave folded. Repeat for the flap’s right point.
- Repeat Step 34 for the opposite flap.
- Curl the tips of both flaps outward to finish the boat.
