Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes (4 page)

Fold in half, top edge to bottom edge. This time leave the fold in place.

Hold the sides in each hand (as shown) and push your hands down and together.

Notice that as you push, the middle of the front and back layers are spreading away from each other. Continue to push your hands down and together until…

… your paper has collapsed (like an umbrella) and you see four triangular flaps. Pair together two flaps on the right and two flaps on the left.

Flatten your paper and sharpen all folded edges. This multilayered square form is called a Preliminary Base. It is the beginning form for hundreds of origami figures.

Fold the right and left open edges (front flaps only) to the center crease line. Crease sharply.

Checkpoint: Make sure the pointed bottom of the cone shape you have formed is at the open end of the Preliminary Base.

You should now see an ice cream cone on top of a diamond-shaped background. Fold the top triangle (the “ice cream”) down over the “cone.” Crease very sharply.

Unfold the two flaps that form the “cone,” but leave the top “ice cream” triangle folded down.

Hint 4: Always look ahead to the next drawing to see the result of the step you are doing.

Lift the very first layer at the bottom corner while holding the other layers in place. As you raise the first layer upward, the “ice cream” triangle should also rise upward until you see…

… a large mouth form. Fold the long side edges inward along existing creases to meet neatly in the middle.

This forms a tall diamond shape. Smooth your paper flat and neaten the top and bottom corners so they form sharp points. Turn your paper over.

Repeat steps 12 through 17 on this side.

This tall diamond-shaped form is called a Bird Base. The two top flaps will form the crane’s wings. At the bottom is a split giving you two thin flaps that will become the neck and tail of the crane.

Narrow the neck and tail by folding the slanted outside edge of each (front layer only) to almost touch the center split.

Checkpoint: Make sure you have narrowed the split end (the neck and tail) and not the wing end.

Here is the result. Turn your paper over and repeat step 19 on the back.

Fold the front wing down as far as it will go. Turn your paper over and repeat on the back.

Lift the right half of the front wing and swing it to the left as if turning the page of a book. This will cause the slender neck that is sandwiched between the wings to spread open.

Fold up the neck (the long, thin front flap) as high as it will go.

Fold the tip of the neck down as shown to form a head. Crease firmly.

Lift the leftmost front flap and swing it to the right. You will again see the wing. The neck and head should be folded neatly in half.

Slide the head out and up to the position shown in drawing 27. Set the head in place by pinching the top of the head.

Lift the left half of the front wing and swing it to the right. This will cause the slender tail that is sandwiched between the wings to spread open.

Fold up the tail (the long, thin front flap) as high as it will go.

Lift the rightmost front flap and swing it to the left. You will again see the wing. The tail should be folded neatly in half.

Hold the crane at the top of the wings. With your other hand, slide the neck out to the side (see position in next drawing). Set it in place by pressing firmly at the bottom of the neck (which lies hidden between the wings). Repeat on the left, pulling out the tail.

Gently lift the front and back wings and let them rest out at the sides at a slight upward angle.

You may leave the crane’s body flat or expand it. To expand, hold a wing in each hand, close to the body, and gently spread your hands apart. Try to give the body a rounded shape.

Your paper crane is finished! If you wish, hang it from a thread. Give it as a token of friendship, good wishes, and peace.