ORIGAMI: The Basic Folds

I've been studying Origami even as a kid. But even I had those years in experience, I am no expert. Why? Well I can do the traditional crane or the jumping frog.. but I don't know the first thing about the basics. Up until today I've been able to follow the diagrams but I was doing it ignoring the technical mumbo-jumbo inscribed on every picture. You can learn like that too, but take it from me, nothing beats going through the basics.

Alright! Let's get started by learning the Basic Folds. Since Origami is the art of paper folding, you will need to learn how to fold. Yeah I know, that's pretty obvious.. but all the origami, from the simple to the most complex, have their foundations laid on these folds. You'll see when you get to finish one.

Valley Fold

Mountain Fold

Important things to remember:
1) When you valley fold, you fold towards yourself.
2) When you mountain fold, you fold away from yourself.
3) When the diagram tells you to valley fold, there is a regular broken line.
4) When the diagram tells you to mountain fold, there is an irregular broken line.

Petal Fold

Important things to remember:
1) When you petal fold, you lift a point and bring it upwards so that the two edges of the point lie together.
2) Pre-fold the both layers of the paper with a valley & a mountain fold (as illustrated) first before executing the petal fold.

Rabbit Ear Fold

Important things to remember:
1) Like the previous fold, you first prefold along the three valley folds (as illustrated).
2) Then fold the two sides down to the baseline (see arrows). Fold the top point to one side to make the mountain fold. (Take care that you fold the top point to the right side where the mountain fold is set.)

Squash Fold

Important things to remember:
1) Like the previous folds, you first prefold both sheets of paper along the valley and mountain fold (as illustrated).
2) Then open the model, fold one layer of paper along the valley fold and flatten the model using the mountain fold (see arrows).

Reverse Fold

(inside)

(outside)

Important things to remember:
1) Like the previous folds, pre-fold both sheets of paper (as illustrated).
2) Then open the model a little bit and bring the top point down so that the mountain fold edge becomes a valley fold edge.
3) With the outside reverse fold, it is similar to the inside reverse fold except the layers of the paper have to be wrapped around outside the point.

Crimp Fold

Important things to remember:
1) This fold serves as a way of incorporating two reverse folds to change the direction of a flap or point.
2) By pre-creasing both folds, it is easier to make two reverse folds one after the other (as illustrated).

Sink Fold

Important things to remember:
1) The figure should first be precreased (as illustrated).
2) Then carefully open the model and tuck the point inside. Flatten the model afterwards along existing creases.
3) The sink fold is a method of blunting a point that has no open edges.