Whale

An easy traditional whale from the fish base. Fold down the fins and flip the tail up to finish.

Why this level: Mostly simple folds. Only the collapse into the fish base needs a little care: let the creases guide it.

You need: 1 sheet of origami paper

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Steps at a glance

1. Crease both diagonals
White side up as a diamond. Fold the left corner to the right corner and unfold, then fold the bottom corner to the top corner and unfold.
2. Kite creases from the bottom
Fold the two lower edges to the vertical centre crease, then unfold.
3. Kite creases from the top
Now fold the two upper edges to the vertical centre crease, then unfold.
4. Collapse into a fish base
Using the creases, bring all four edges to the centre line at once. The left and right corners stand up like ears: lay them flat pointing up.
5. Fold the top tip behind
Fold the top point behind so that it reaches the level of the ear tips on the centre line.
6. Turn over
Turn the model over from side to side.
7. Fold the side corners in a little
Fold the left and right corners in a little along vertical lines. These new edges become the whale’s belly.
8. Fold in half
Fold the right half over onto the left half along the vertical centre line.
9. Turn it sideways
Rotate the paper a quarter turn to the left: the folded edge on top, the blunt end (the head) on the left.
10. Fold down the fins
Fold the left end of the front flap (the old ear) down to the right along a slanted line from the middle of the back, to make a fin. The fin’s lower edge meets the belly. Do the same behind.
11. Fold the tail up
Fold the pointed right end up behind along a slanted line. The tail stands straight up.
12. Stand it up — done
Stand it on its belly and your whale is done! Draw the eyes.