cattleya orchid

Designed by Mi chael G.
To me, the orchid evokes animal-like qualities more than any other
Orchids a huge variety of colors, and textures, and you can
explore this basic model wi th an equally wide universe of readily avail-
able papers. Since the initial steps are folded dry, they are fairly dull and
mechanical, but at the end of the process we moisten the paper and bring
the model to life with delicate shaping maneuvers. Your artistic senses
will take charge as you create an object of beauty, worthy care,
admiration, and respect.
PAPER
Begin wi th a rectangle of paper that
is twice as wide as it is tall: 12 by 6
inches (30.5 by cm) is a good mini-
mum size. A rectangle that i s
inches (25 by 50 inches) produce
an orchid. Also try fold-
i ng this model from a duo-colored
square. Begin by bringing the opposite
edges to the center (this is known as a
cupboard fold). The extra layers of
paper wi l l be available for you to use
at the finishing steps t o create con-
trasting colors on the petals or lip.
(Also be sure to keep the split on the
outside of the model as you make the
initial folds.) Some of my orchids are
even more lifelike, because I creped
the paper as I formed the sheets. This
is not difficult, but i t does require prac-
tice. Think of crepe paper as a large,
thin sheet pushed inward t o make a
smaller square. Wi th uniform, nearly
microscopic wrinkles, you can impart a
texture that results from this additional
material. When you need a little more
paper, just stretch it back out! The
orchid is the only model i n thi s book
that I sometimes fold wi th handmade
crepe paper. You may use commercially
available crepe papers, but be aware
that they are not permanent, and the
origami orchid wi l l wither and fade, as
a real blossom does, over the course
of a decade.
A D V A N C E D ORI GA MI
........................
1. Valley-fold in to long
edge, and open. Valley-foldin half, short
edge to short edge, and
the two short edges to meet at the center,
and open. Mountain-foldal l indicateddiag-
onals. Use the creases to collapse the
paper into the triangular shape illustrated
in step 2.
2. Squash-foldthe top right side point
3. Valley-fold to the right.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 on the left side.
6. Mountain-fold the of the
5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 on the back.
cated free edge up, while valley-foldingthe
You will have performed four squashes
lower free edges to align with their
and all layers wi l l have been arranged
centered folded edges. This is apetal fold.
symmetrically.
Repeat behind.
C A T T L E Y A O R C H I D
7. Fold both layers of the right half 8. 9. Fold the two top layers to the right.
kite shape to the left.
10. Repeat steps 7 through 9 on the front 11. the large middle
left side, and to both sides at the back. corners up.
12. Inside-reverse-fold these four square
corners.
13. Fold i n the top edges of the first layer
t o meet close t o the center. Leave a little 14. Fold the first three front layers to the 15. All layers should now be on
space. Repeat on the back. Repeat with two layers on the back. the left. Fold down the top point.
ADV ANCE D O R I G A MI
16. Fold the top layer to the right. 17. Free the indicated layers by pullingout, 18. Mountain-fold the layer i n
front and back. Repeat behind.
Fold the top edges in. close to the 20. Inside-reverse-fold.
center but not al l the way. Repeat behind.
21. Fold t o the right.
22. Fold the top point down. 23. Fold the back l eh layer behind and to 24. You should have only two layers on the
the right. Fold the top layer to the left. Free the indicated layers by pulling
out, two i n the and t wo i n the back.
C A T T L E Y A O R C H I D
. . . .,
25. 26. Fold in edge number about one third; 27. Fold the top right t o the left,
fold up edge number 2 ; then fold up Repeat behind.
number 3. Repeat behind.
28. Fold the next layer to the left. 29. Inside-reverse-fold the bottom right 30. Fold the indicated edge of the right
Repeat behind. points. point up. Repeat behind.
fold the bottom left points.
Mountain-fold the indicated edge of 32. the top point to the left.
the right point behind. Repeat behind. Turn Repeat behind.
the indicated edge left point inside
out. Repeat behind.
A D V A N C E D O R I G A M I
33. Mountain-fold t o make the points narrower. 34. Rotate the model t o view from the front. Open slightly.
Sepals
Anther
Lip petal
36. This is my orchid base, shown opened. Be creative and
35. Front view. Spread open the upper petals. i f desired, turn the discover many new "species" of origami orchids from this base.
top layers of the lower and lower right petals inside out. Different potentials are realized with different papers. The
Spread open the bottomcenter petal. following diagrams will lead you through one shape, possible with
techniques: the wet-folding and the crepe paper
diagrams follow that.
37. Mountain-fold the outer edges of the
top sepal, while the 38. Curve the lip petal and lower sepals 39. Full view.
paper between this and the upper petals. into a pleasing shape. Feel free to experi-
Fold over the top edges of the anther. Fold ment! Mountain-fold down the point of the
in the indicated edges within the lip petal. lip petal.
C A T T L E Y A O R C H I D
40. Turn over.
43. The finished Orchid, dry-folded.
46. The l i p petal can be made more
shapely by stretching and curling any of its
free edges. Stretch and inside-reverse-fold
the front end.
3
41. Mountain- and valley-fold a pleat at the
middle of the back of the upper petals. 42. Front view of shaped petal.
Valley-fold the inner leading edge to the Again, experiment.
back side. Turn over.
44. When using crepe paper or when wet
folding this orchid, additional shaping is
possible. Spectacular lifelike renditions can 45. Completed shape.
be made i n this way. Crepe paper can be
stretched and curled to the extreme. Here,
the centerline of the upper side petal is
mountain-folded while being stretched in a
path. This curved mountain-edge is
then valley-folded downward. The back
layer of the bottom edge i s brought back t o
the front and rounded by stretching it.
47. Completedshape. Many formsarepossible. 48. The finished Cattleya Orchid.