Origami Kimono Bookmark: The Sequel

I use these as bookmarks but don't feel pressured to do the same ;D

Posted by Pinocchio

About

Haha! The new and improved how-to on folding origami kimono! After two days of work and a screwy camera, I'm finally finished with the tutorial. I didn't realize how long it was until I finished with the project but don't fear, it isn't as hard as it looks! This is my first tute so if something is unclear, I'm sorry. Just ask me about it and I'll help you. I based this off an instrution manual that I got for my birthday so don't be too amazed by my amazing origami skills ;)

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You Will Need (6 things)

White Paper
Glue
Scissors
2 Printed Sheets of Origami Paper
2 Solid Sheets of Origami Paper
Black Crepe Paper

Steps (32 steps, 60 minutes)

1

First, pick your poison. Chose the paper and colors that you will be using for this project. The paper you'll need includes:
- Two sheets of 10x10 cm printed origami paper
- Two sheets of 10x10 cm solid origami paper
- One 7.5x 7.5 cm piece of origami paper (solid or printed)
- One white circle 2.5 cm in diameter
- One rectangle that's 5 cm long and .5 cm wide
- Black paper (We'll get to this later)

If you haven't noticed yet I'll be using the meteric system since it's so much easier

Tip: The Japanese are famous for their love of patterns so don't be afraid to use two patterns together even if they don't necessarily match!
2

Ok first step! Take the solid sheet and fold it in half like this. Then unfold it and fold it in half on the other side. You should now have two lines that cross in the middle of the square.
3

Take your scissors and cut along the lines to make four 5x5 cm squares. Repeat this with the other solid color.
4

You are going to use one of the four 5x5 squares from both of the colors to create part of the body. Fold the square into a triangle. Repeat with the other color square.
5

Place the two triangles directly on top of each other. Decide which order you want them to appear in. The color on the bottom will become the top layer while the color on the top will become the bottom layer. Place a dash of glue on top of the bottom layer and glue the two triangles together.
6

Now position the white rectangle in the middle of the triangles and glue it down.

Tip: Since you are working with glue now make sure that your fingers stay relatively glue-free so that you don't smudge your nice paper :)
7

This next part is tricky. You are going to be folding down the flaps down so that they are wrapped around the white rectangle. Getting the angle right may take some time. Fold the LEFT flap over first.
8

Fold the RIGHT flap next. It's important to do it in this order because it follows an old Japanese customs that would be strange to break.
9

Repeat with the bottom color. Now you are finished with the first part!
10

Next, we're going to start working on the body of the kimono. Take your printed sheet and turn it over so the the pretty side is facing down. Fold the top of the square over 1 cm. Glue down the flap.
11

Take the fold you just created and fold it back .6 cm. It doesn't have to be perfect so don't stress if it's .5 or .7 cm
12

Fold the right side of the sheet over .5 cm. Glue down that flap
13

Here comes the fun folding part! Fold your sheet in to two even halves and then unfold it.
14

Fold each side over 3 cm.
15

Place the body piece that we made earlier over the middle line.
16

Again, this part can get a little tricky. You want to fold the sides over so that they look like this.
17

Look at the lines that I placed on the paper. The paper should fold on itself along these lines and come to rest on the 3 cm line that you folded.
18

Your kimono should look like this now. Unfold the kimono and place a dab of glue on the back of the body and glue it down
19

Next we're going to make the obi. Take your 7.5x 7.5 cm sheet and find the middle (You can do this by folding it in half) Fold the top and the bottom until they touch the middle line.
20

Fold the top and bottom down 1 cm or until you achieve the width you want.
21

Place the obi on top of the kimono so that it covers the strange-looking wrapped bit. Once you've done that, fold the obi around the kimono and glue it down.
22

Now we will fold the sleeves of the kimono. First flip your second piece of printed paper and fold the bottom up .5 cm
23

Fold the sheet in half so that the top meets the bottom. Glue the top half to the little flap.
24

Fold it in half like this and then unfold it.
25

Align the kimono over the fold you just created. Fold the right sleeve over the body.
26

Fold the sleeve back at a small angle to make the sleeves look more natural (see the ruler for the angle) Repeat with the other sleeve. Once you've done that, glue everything down
27

Fold the bottom of the sleeves up slightly. Repeat with the other sleeve.
28

Almost done! Now glue the white circle on to the neck, slightly overlapping the top of the kimono
29

There are two hairstyles you can use, depending on the gender of your doll

For a girl: Take a 4x 3.5 cm rectangle of black crepe paper and place the circle at the top of the paper. Fold the sides over the edge of the circle.
30

Fold the sides out at a slight angle, the same way you made the kimono sleeves. To make the bangs, cut out a half circle and place it on top of the other hair. Glue everything down and trip any excess.
31

For a boy: Take a 4x 1.5 cm rectangle of black crepe paper and wrap it around the circle so that there is about 1 cm of sideburns on both sides of the head. To make the bangs, cut out a half circle and paste it on top of the sideburns
32

All done! Feel free to add any little details that creativity demands. Try experimenting with different hair styles and color combinations. No two should be the same!