Casey McCarthy 2009
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how to fold an
Origami
Crane
By Casey McCarthy
Step-By-Step Instructions
1. Start with a square piece
of paper. Fold the paper
up so the edges meet to
form a rectangle. Always
use your thumbnail to
make a sharp crease.
2. Unfold the paper. Fold
the paper to the right so
the edges meet to form
a rectangle. The dotted
lines are the folds you
already made.
3. Unfold the paper. Fold
the paper up so opposite
corners meet to form a
triangle.
4. Unfold the paper. Fold
the paper to the right so
opposite corners meet to
form a triangle.
5. Unfold the paper and lay
it down so it looks like a
diamond. Do not flatten
the paper. The folds you
made will be used as your
guides.
6. Pick up the paper and
bring opposite corners
together so they meet in
the middle.
Casey McCarthy 2009
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7. Flatten the front and back
flaps. The paper will look
like a smaller diamond.
8. Fold the two sides of the
front flap in so they meet
in the middle.
10. Fold over the top triangle.
Turn the paper over and
repeat for the other side.
9. Turn over the paper and
repeat step 9 for the other
side. The paper will look
like a kite.
11. Unfold steps 9, 10 and 11.
12. Lift up the top layer at the
bottom corner. The flap
will start to look like a
boat.
Casey McCarthy 2009
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13. Continue pulling back the
flap until the sides of the
boat start to meet. Flatten
down the sides of the
boat.
1000
Paper
Wings
14. Turn over the paper and
repeat step 13 and 14
for the other side. The
paper will look like a long
diamond.
15. Turn the paper so you are
looking at it sideways. Pull
the middle open so the
sides become the front
and back.
R
enowned for its
beauty and majesty,
the crane is considered holy in Japan and is
said to live for a thousand
years. Legend states that
anyone who folds 1000
cranes will be granted
their greatest wish by one
of the birds.
idea of the one thousand
cranes around the world.
Sadako became ill with
leukemia as a result of
the radiation from atomic
bombing of Hiroshima.
Sadako sat in her hospital
bed and attempted to fold
the cranes so she could
wish to recover from her
illness. Although Sadako
was unable to finish the
task before her death, her
classmates folded the remaining cranes and started
the tradition of sending
cranes to the Hiroshima
monument as a wish for
peace.
Published in 1797, “The
Secret of One Thousand
Cranes Origami” was the
world’s first instructional
Origami book. Since then,
the pattern has become
popular the world over. As
evidence of the popularity, origami kits are often
sold with the one thousand
sheets of paper needed to The crane has proved its
longevity, both as an oricomplete the task.
gami pattern and a cultural emblem. Although it’s
Since after World War II,
meaning as evolved since
the crane has become
its introduction, the paper
most famous as a symcrane continues to offer
bol of peace and health
hope to all who attempt
because of the story of
Sadako Sasaki. It was her to fold the one thousand
story that popularized the cranes.
Casey McCarthy 2009
16. Flatten the front and
back. The paper will look
like a rabbit’s face. The
two points at the top will
become the neck and tail.
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17. Pull down one point until
it starts to look like a
neck. Pinch the front and
the back flaps together to
create a fold that will hold
the neck in place. Repeat
this step for the point you
want as the tail.
18. Fold the front flap up to
form a wing. Turn over
the paper and repeat this
step for the other side.
19. Fold the wing down
20. Push down near the top of
enough to keep it spread.
the neck until it begins to
Turn around the paper and
look like a beak. Pinch the
repeat this step for the
top to make a fold that will
other side.
hold the beak in place.
One down ,
nine hundred
ninety-nine
to go….
Tips for gathering your cranes
Once you get going, make holes through the body of the cranes and string them in
bunches of about 40. Here are some things to keep in mind as you make more cranes:
 Tie a bead to the end of the string to keep the cranes from falling off.
 Remember: the size of the paper affects the weight of the cranes.
 Have fun with pattern and colour.