Taking Up Origami as a Hobby

Tired of your old, boring hobbies? Want to try something a little different? Why not try your hand at origami?

Today’s highly stressful lifestyle makes it necessary for everyone to engage in a hobby or activity that helps them relax and unwind. But not all pastimes or pursuits have such potential. When you are overwhelmed by stress and pressure from juggling work and life, you will certainly feel exhausted.

Engaging in an activity that lifts your mood is the best method to release this stress and calm your thoughts. Some people use hobbies like painting, running, or playing musical instruments to reduce their stress, but if you believe these pursuits are obsolete and want to try something innovative, we have exactly the thing for you.

What Is Origami?

Origami is the perfect hobby for you if you are looking to do something creative and unique. It is ideal for people who have more creativity and innovation in their spirits. In case you are wondering, origami is a form of art and craft that originated in Japanese culture. It is an ancient skill that has been in our world for thousands of years. Origami is still practiced in various parts of the world and is a traditional Japanese and Chinese art form.

Understanding origami is quite simple; the word ori means to fold, and kami translates to paper in the Japanese language, which results in origami. The name itself explains what this art is all about. Origami is the art of folding paper to create beautiful designs, shapes, and sculptures.

As simple as it may sound, the process is quite complex. With a single piece of paper, making a sculpture of an animal or an object is an art. However, with a little bit of practice and by utilizing your creativity, you can easily master this art.

Why Should You Take Up Origami As A Hobby?

Let’s be honest now. Should you try your hand at origami? Is it worthwhile to devote your time and effort to it? The simple answer is, “Why not?” You won’t lose anything, for sure. You could probably benefit.

A creative alternative to painting, making pottery, or crocheting is origami. It’s entertaining and original. It is quite similar to these; the only difference is that instead of using paints, threads, or clay, you’ll be using a piece of paper to work out your creative side. Aside from being a fun and unique hobby, there are several other reasons why you should try your hand at origami.

Best For Beginners

If origami has recently captured your attention and you’re unsure if it’s right for you or whether you can understand it, don’t worry. Even though origami may have its roots in Japanese culture, anyone can learn how to do it. Origami is simple enough for beginners to learn and execute flawlessly.

You most certainly don’t have to be of Chinese or Japanese ancestry to be an expert at it. In addition, a lot of us have unknowingly been practicing origami since we were young. Have you ever attempted to make a paper airplane or a paper boat? Yes, all of that is included in origami art.

Relieves Stress And Anxiety

Are you also an anxious person? Has stress eating ever affected you? In tense circumstances, do you bite your nails? We unknowingly engage in these behaviors when stressed or anxious, such as biting our lips or nails, shaking our legs erratically, overeating, or skipping meals. All of these symptoms are fairly typical in anxiety sufferers. Creative activities are what help you relieve stress and deal with anxiety issues. That’s why we have hobbies, right? to put our worries behind us. Activities such as origami are encouraged because they help you relax and feel at ease.

Low Cost

Who enjoys ripping off a fortune on a hobby? It should reduce stress, not increase it by including financial concerns as well, right? One of the few pastimes that don’t require you to spend loads of money is origami. It doesn’t even have a lengthy list of requirements to get started. You only need a piece of paper and your imagination to get started. Origami can be done at any time, anywhere, and by anyone. This is without a doubt one of the best features of this hobby.

Easy To Take Up And Learn

The art of origami is simple to learn. As was previously stated, you may have been making origami unintentionally since you were a child. There are, however, more complex forms of origami in which you can make sculptures, animals, and various objects. This type of origami takes a lot of practice, but once you get the hang of it, it’s a piece of cake. Furthermore, once you’ve mastered the fundamentals, you can easily create something unique and distinct from your imagination.

Flourishes Your Creativity

With our robotic lives these days, we frequently forget to enjoy ourselves and do something creative while juggling work and daily obligations. Your creative side will flourish if you participate in origami, which is something different from your daily activities. Origami is a great hobby for reviving your imagination and making your brain feel more alive and fresh. Because you’ll be creating something new each time, your mind will be flooded with new ideas and inspiration.

How To Start Origami?

It’s not too difficult to learn and practice origami. You can practice a shape as much as necessary to master it with just a piece of paper. Before beginning to create a sculpture, a beginner should first learn and practice a few simple folds. Any piece of paper can be used to begin an origami project; just make sure it is square and has equal sides. This will greatly simplify the learning process.

Furthermore, invest in some origami papers because they are perfectly square and thinner than regular paper, making them easier to fold and alter. Origami papers are usually brightly colored or printed, making it easier to distinguish between the front and back sides while folding.

Basic Folds To Learn As A Beginner

To begin with origami as a beginner you must know some basic folds. There are countless objects that you can create in origami ranging from animals, things, flowers, and much more. However, each of them requires you to master these basic folds. These folds include;

The mountain fold
The valley fold
Reverse fold
Pleats

Mountain Fold: To create a mountain fold, simply fold your paper in half, then open it up while drawing a line in the middle. Your paper ought to resemble a mountain when it is standing upright.
Valley Fold: The valley fold is simply the opposite of the mountain fold. Fold the paper in a v-shape from the left side to the right or from the right side to the left to create a valley fold.
Reverse Fold: Take your square piece of paper and arrange it in a diamond-shaped pattern by placing it diagonally. Now fold the top point in the direction of the bottom point. A downward triangle will appear for you. Fold down the right point diagonally. Now unfold it, and a crease will appear. Now, gently open the folded section and push it inside. After that, flatten the paper by pressing. You have finished the reverse fold.
Pleat Fold: To make a pleat fold, take your paper and fold it in half horizontally. Now fold the left side to the right side vertically. Next, open the vertical fold and fold half of the left side again. This should be like a zig-zag in the middle.

Making A Paper Crane:

To make an origami crane, take a square sheet of paper.
First, fold the paper in half horizontally.
Then open the first fold, and fold it again the same way, this time vertically.
Make sure to press each fold firmly with your fingers to make a crease.
Now open your sheet and fold it diagonally from the other way around (back side).
Repeat the same process in the other direction.
Open your paper and you’ll have several creases all joining in the center.
Now pull all the sides and collapse them in the center. This will result in a diamond shape.
Take the left flap and fold it towards you in the center line.
Repeat the above step for the right flap and your paper will look like a kite at this point.
Now fold the upper part of your kite backward.
Next open your folded flaps upward, making a petal fold, and fold the side creases inwards. You will get an elongated diamond shape on top.
Now on the back side repeat step 9 making a kite on the back side.
Open your flaps on the back completely and repeat step 12, resulting in a long diamond shape at the back as well.
Fold both the flaps of your diamond shape halfway to the center.
Now turn your sheet and repeat the same process as above. (remember not to fold all the way and just halfway to the center).
Take all your flaps and do a reverse fold, by folding them inside your model.
Your model will now have two thin flaps that you just folded and two wings with a small triangular body in between.
Fold down both of the wings in the opposite direction of the previous flaps.
Now take one of the thinner flaps and do a reverse fold with the tip of it, making a head of your crane.

Congrats! You have successfully finished your first origami crane. The finished model will look something like this.

Interesting Facts About Origami

Origami is of Japanese origin. However, its roots may be found in China as well.
Origami has been practiced for thousands of years throughout the world.
The term origami is a Japanese word that combines the words ori (folded) and kami (paper). Origami translates to “folded paper.”
Before origami, paper folding was referred to as orikata. It also meant folded paper.
Origami is commonly used during weddings in Japanese culture. Typically, the bride and groom create their paper artworks that are then hung as wedding decorations.
According to an ancient Japanese legend, anyone who folds 1000 pieces of paper or 1000 pieces of origami is promised a wish.
The 11th of November is recognized as National Origami Day, honoring this ancient skill.
The use of scissors is not permitted in traditional origami. They take a square piece of paper and fold it to create complex designs.
Origami was once thought to be a pricey art form that was only practiced by wealthier people or for religious purposes. This was due to the high expense of paper at the time, which not everyone could afford.
The oldest and most popular origami design is a paper crane.
Sembazuru Orikata, the first book about origami, was published in 1797. (Thousand Crane Folding).
Akira Yoshizawa is widely regarded as the father of contemporary origami and the greatest master of craft. He was born in 1911 and has produced up to 50,000 designs. The World’s Greatest Origamist title was awarded to him in 2020, and he has also authored 18 books about origami.

It’s Time To Make A Wish!!

Takeaway

Origami, a Japanese tradition that has made its way into the modern world, is the exquisite form of art and craft. It’s astounding how much can be done with a single sheet of paper. If you believe you are creative, it is time to test your abilities and try your hand at origami. It’s not only a traditional art form, but it’s also a fun activity to do in your spare time. It will serve as a means of stress relief and grant you access to a new talent.