How to Fold a Traditional Origami Shirt

If you’re looking for a fun and easy origami model, why not try making an origami shirt?

It’s an easy project, especially if you’re new to paper folding, offering clear step-by-step instructions to guide you through each fold.

You can use this paper shirt to decorate a card, as a unique gift, fold with your kids, or just have a good time.

This 5-minute tutorial will show you how simple and enjoyable origami can be!

Traditional Origami Shirt Step-by-Step Instructions

• Difficulty: Easy – Beginner Level 2
• Folding time: 5 minutes
• Model designer: Traditional
• Paper we used: Kami 7.5×15 cm (3×6 in)
  • A note: If you use different paper widths, your shirt will turn out either thinner or larger. We went with a 1:2 ratio because it makes it super easy to cut the origami paper in half and create two shirts from just one sheet.
• Recommended paper: Chiyogami 7.5×15 cm (3×6 in)

Step 1

Start with a rectangular paper with the white side up.

Mountain fold a small strip back. This will create the collar.

👔 Folding tip: If you fold the strip with a valley fold instead, your origami shirt will have a colored collar.

Step 2

Fold in half vertically, then unfold.

Step 3

Fold and unfold the left and right edges to the centerline.

Step 4

Fold the bottom corners inwards, so the bottom edges meet the nearest vertical creases.

Step 5

Again, fold the left and right edges to the centerline, using the creases made in Step 3.

Step 6

Mountain fold along the tip of the white triangle. Then, unfold.

Step 7

Open each flap on the left and right, and squash fold using the crease made in Step 6 as a guide.

Step 8

Mountain fold the top strip back.

👔 Folding tip: If you fold the paper just a bit lower than the line shown on the diagram, the top edge of your collar will get a nice pop of color.

Step 9

Fold the top corners to the center line to create the neckline.

Step 10

Fold the bottom edge up, tucking tit under the white collar flaps.

The Completed Origami Shirt

Well done on completing your origami shirt!

Feel free to get creative with different kinds of paper to see how they can give your design a whole new look. I’d recommend trying out chiyogami because its lovely patterns will really make your paper shirt pop.

Share your origami shirts with us in the comments or on socials. We’d love to see how yours turned out!

Download the Full Origami Shirt Printable PDF Instructions

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Watch the Origami Shirt Video Tutorial

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