Origami Sailboats
Learning the Folds
Work through the models in order from beginning to end.
Symbols
The symbols used in origami are shown at the left. They are the international language of the origami world.
A series of dashes represents a valley fold. Make a concave crease where this line appears.
A series of dots and dashes represents a mountain fold. Make a convex crease wherever this line appears.
Arrows show the directions in which you make the fold: left, right, up, down, in front, behind, and into. These directions refer to the page itself. "Fold upward" means fold toward the top of the page. "Near" is closest to you. "Far" or "behind" is away from you.
Following Directions
First, read the written instructions. "Valley-fold" tells you to make a valley fold. "Repeat steps 3 through 5" gives you instructions which would be difficult to convey in a drawing.
Second, look at the accompanying drawing. The drawing will show you how the model should look as each step in the folding sequence takes place. The arrows will also help you see where to make a fold.
Third, always look ahead to the next drawing to see how the model should look after a fold is made. This will also show you when you have made a mistake. You should go on folding only after you have completed the step successfully.
Procedures
There are several combinations of folds, which when combined produce a desired effect. "Reverse-fold" is a procedure which has several folding steps. These will be explained in the next few pages, before you begin folding. Remember to make each fold as precise as you can. Work through the models in order from beginning to end.
Basic Folding
Valley Fold
Each of the drawings in this book is part of a folding sequence. Each drawing is accompanied by a small boat-hook containing its number. Carefully follow each step in turn until you have completed a model. The drawing at the left shows a simple valley fold. Notice that the square is shaded: this indicates that the colored side of the paper is facing you. The dashed line shows where the fold takes place. The paper is folded in front creating a valley. Try to be as precise as you can so that the edges of the paper are aligned with each other while the crease is formed.
Mountain Fold
The mountain fold is indicated by a different type of line and arrow. The paper is folded behind. (The drawings do not always show the result with photographic accuracy. This freedom in drawing allows you to see where the paper has gone after the fold. In reality you would not be able to see the back edges of the paper in step 4.) Step 3 tells you to mountain-fold the paper and shows where to make the crease. Step 4 tells you to make a valley fold and to unfold it. The double arrow shows that you are to fold and unfold.
Reverse Fold
Step 5 shows to where to make a mountain fold on the near layer and a valley fold on the far layer This will allow you to reverse-fold the right corner. The black triangle indicates a reverse fold, so called because the diagonal folded edge--the spine, so to speak--reverses itself, changing from convex to concave. You are going to open up the corner and push the upper corner down into the model, between the front and back layers. Step 6 shows this procedure in progress.
Step 7 shows the completion of step 6, and tells you to repeat this process on the left corner.
Rabbit Ear
Steps 9 through 13 explain how to make a rabbit ear. Step 9 tells you to valley-fold the near right corner to the upper left point and then unfold. This will leave a crease. Step 10 tells you to fold the near bottom edge of the paper up to the crease formed in step 9. Simply align the edge with the crease and press flat. Step 11 tells you to fold the right edge of the near flap to the diagonal crease line. Step 12 tells you to pull out the tiny flap hidden behind the nearest layer of paper Do not unfold steps 10--11. The flap is reversed outward from within the construction.
Step 13 shows the completed folds. Step 14 tells you to form a rabbit ear on the near flap. This is how steps 10 through 12 will appear in the book.
Squash Fold
Steps 15 through 18 illustrate a squash fold. Step 15 tells where to make a valley and mountain fold. In step 16 simply lift up the center flap and open it. Press down on the flap and (squash) the flap flat. Step 18 shows how the squash fold is illustrated in one step.
ORIGAMI SAILBOATS. Copyright © 2002 by Lew Rozelle. All rights reserved.
