These are a few simple tips for making origami easier. Once you mix your desire to learn with these tips, you will likely have a new found interest in, or, at least appreciation for, the art of paper folding known as origami.
- Use origami paper – Origami paper, thinner than your regular office paper and cut to the exact square shape that you will need to begin almost every origami art project, makes the process of creating origami much easier because it is made specifically for folding and creating origami pieces. Origami papers are also available with patterns or colors on one side which results in a more interesting and colorful shape; additionally, you get a built-in guide so you know whether or not you are working on the correct side of the shape when you are doing your folding, based on which side is facing you.
- Follow instructions carefully – If you cannot follow instructions, there are few other things that you can do to get better at origami. The instructions are very detailed because they are intended to guide you through each and every step necessary to create the origami shape that you want. Some instructions, such as those that tell you to fold something just to unfold it again, may seem redundant, pointless or silly and you might be tempted to skip these steps. Do not skip steps as following the instructions will get you further in creating your origami shape than anything else.
- Use diagrams – For visual learners, it is difficult to see how a bunch of folds can create an origami figure from a small, flat piece of paper. They have a hard time picturing the end result and grasping instructions in order to apply them to the folding they are doing. For this very reason, diagrams, or simple drawings of exactly what shapes you should be making with each fold, can be useful. Some diagrams even include dotted lines which indicate where the creases in your paper should be. These visual cues not only help you see the potential finished project, they serve as a check point, so you know whether you are where you should be with each and every step.
- Make folds exact and crease well – Attention to detail is important in origami as sloppy folds or weak creases often result in a mess of an origami project. Every step must be done with precision if the end product is to be perfect every time. It will take time to learn to make your folds quickly, so it is important to remain committed to remembering the details.
- Practice, practice, practice – Just like any other hobby that you want to be good at, it will take time and practice to really make origami an easy process for you. As you practice basic origami skills and become better at the various folds and paper manipulations that you do, you will find that what was once very difficult for you has become much simpler.