books about paper folding

8 Best Origami Books (Beginner to Expert Levels)

Origami is the art of folding paper to create beautiful shapes, animals, and plants. It is a craft that has been around for centuries, with roots in Japan and China. If you’re thinking of trying out this art form, you’ll need a good book to get started. In this article, we’ll be looking at some of the best origami books for all skill levels.

Understanding the Art of Origami

Before we delve into the different books, let’s take a moment to understand the art of origami. Origami is all about using a single sheet of paper to create three-dimensional shapes. It’s not just about folding paper; it’s about creating something beautiful from something as simple as a piece of paper.

Origami is a fascinating art form that has a rich history. The word “origami” comes from the Japanese words “ori” meaning “to fold” and “kami” meaning “paper.” Origami dates back to ancient Japan and China, where it was used to create decorations for festivals and celebrations. In Japan, origami was also used as a form of ceremonial gift-giving.

Origami has come a long way since its humble beginnings. Today, it is practiced all over the world as a form of art, a hobby, and a means of relaxation. It has even been used in scientific and mathematical research, as it provides a unique way of visualizing complex concepts.

The History of Origami

The exact origins of origami are unclear, but it is believed to have originated in China around the first century AD. It then spread to Japan, where it evolved into the art form we know today. In Japan, origami was often associated with the Shinto religion, and it was used to create offerings for the gods.

Origami has also played a role in Japanese folklore. The story of the Thousand Origami Cranes, for example, is a popular tale about a young girl named Sadako who was diagnosed with leukemia after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. According to the story, if she could fold one thousand cranes, she would be granted a wish. Although she did not live to complete her task, her story has inspired many people to fold cranes in her memory.

The Different Types of Origami

Origami is a versatile art form that can be used to create a wide variety of shapes and designs. Some of the most popular origami shapes include animals, flowers, and geometric shapes. Origami can also be used to create boxes, envelopes, and other useful objects.

One of the great things about origami is that it can be enjoyed by people of all skill levels. Beginners can start with simple shapes like the classic paper crane, while more advanced folders can attempt complex designs like the Kawasaki rose.

The Benefits of Practicing Origami

Origami is not only enjoyable, but it also has numerous benefits for your mental and physical well-being. Creating something with your hands is a great stress-reliever, and origami is no exception. It can help to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.

Origami also helps to develop hand-eye coordination and improve concentration. The act of folding paper requires a great deal of focus and attention to detail, which can help to sharpen your mind and improve your overall cognitive function.

Finally, origami is a great way to spend your free time while also learning a new skill. It’s a fun and rewarding hobby that can provide a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

Top Origami Books for Beginners

If you’re new to origami, here are some of the best books to get you started. Origami is a fascinating art form that originated in Japan. It involves folding a single sheet of paper into various shapes and designs. The art of origami can be used to create anything from simple animals to complex geometric shapes.

Origami can be a great way to relax and unwind. It’s also a great way to exercise your brain and improve your focus and concentration. Plus, it’s a fun activity that you can do alone or with friends and family.

Easy Origami by John Montroll

This book is perfect for beginners. It contains over 30 easy-to-follow origami projects with step-by-step instructions. The book includes projects like the crane, boat, and frog, which are easy to fold but look impressive. The projects in this book are perfect for kids and adults alike. You can use them to decorate your home or give as gifts to your loved ones.

Origami is a great way to develop your fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. It can also help you improve your spatial awareness and problem-solving skills. Plus, it’s a great way to boost your creativity and imagination.

You can find this book here .

Origami for the Enthusiast by John Montroll

For those who want to take their origami skills to the next level, this book is perfect. It includes over 25 projects, ranging from intermediate to advanced. The book is well-organized, with clear instructions and photos to guide you through each project. The projects in this book are more challenging than those in Easy Origami, but they are equally rewarding.

Origami is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety. It can also help you improve your memory and concentration. Plus, it’s a great way to connect with others who share your passion for this amazing art form.

The Complete Book of Origami by Robert J. Lang

This book is perfect for those who want to master origami. It includes over 100 projects, ranging from the simple to the complex. The book is well-written with clear instructions, and it includes diagrams and photos to make the folding process easier. The projects in this book are challenging, but they are also incredibly rewarding.

Origami is a great way to improve your patience and perseverance. It can also help you develop your problem-solving skills and boost your confidence. Plus, it’s a great way to express your creativity and create beautiful works of art.

Best Origami Books for Intermediate Folders

If you’ve mastered the basics and are ready to move on to more challenging projects, here are some books that will help you improve your skills.

Genuine Origami by Jun Maekawa

This book is perfect for intermediate folders looking to improve their skills. The book includes 41 projects, ranging from toads and rabbits to more complex designs like the unicorn and pegasus. The book includes detailed instructions, diagrams, and photos to help you along the way.

One of the standout projects in this book is the pegasus. The design is intricate and beautiful, but not too difficult for intermediate folders. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, and the diagrams are helpful in visualizing the steps. Once completed, the pegasus makes for a stunning display piece.

Another great project in this book is the toad. While it may seem like a simple design, the toad requires a certain level of precision and attention to detail. The end result is a charming little origami creature that is sure to delight anyone who sees it.

Origami Design Secrets by Robert J. Lang

If you’re looking to design your own origami shapes, this book is for you. This book delves into the mathematics behind origami and provides detailed instructions on how to create your own designs. The book is not for beginners, but it’s an excellent resource for more advanced folders.

One of the most fascinating aspects of this book is the section on curved creases. This technique allows for more organic and flowing designs, and is a hallmark of Lang’s work. The book also includes information on advanced topics like tree theory and circle packing, which can be used to create complex origami shapes.

Advanced Origami by Michael G. LaFosse

This book is for advanced folders looking for a challenge. The book includes projects like the Chinese dragon and the American bald eagle. The book also includes a section on wet-folding, which allows for more precise curves and angles. The book is well-written with clear instructions and diagrams.

The Chinese dragon is one of the most impressive projects in this book. The design is intricate and detailed, and the finished product is truly stunning. The instructions are clear, but the project requires a lot of patience and attention to detail.

The section on wet-folding is also a valuable resource for advanced folders. This technique involves dampening the paper before folding, which allows for more precise curves and angles. The result is a more organic and natural-looking design.

Overall, these three books are excellent resources for intermediate and advanced folders looking to improve their skills and take on more challenging projects. Whether you’re interested in creating your own designs or tackling complex origami shapes, these books have something to offer for everyone.

Must-Have Origami Books for Experts

If you’re an expert in origami, you know that the art form is more than just folding paper. It’s about creating intricate designs that challenge your creativity and push the limits of what’s possible with paper. For those looking to take their origami skills to the next level, here are three must-have books that will inspire and challenge you.

Works of Satoshi Kamiya 1995-2003

This book includes the works of Satoshi Kamiya, one of the world’s foremost origami designers. Kamiya is known for his complex and intricate designs, and this book is no exception. The book includes 18 projects, ranging from the Eastern dragon to the divine eagle. Each project is accompanied by detailed instructions and diagrams, making it a great resource for expert folders looking for a challenge. With this book, you’ll be able to create some of the most impressive origami designs in the world.

You can find this book here.

Origami Tessellations by Eric Gjerde

If you’re interested in origami tessellations, this book is a must-have. Tessellations are a unique form of origami that involves folding paper in a way that creates repeating patterns. This book includes detailed instructions on how to create complex geometric shapes, such as stars, flowers, and cubes. The book is well-organized, and it includes clear instructions and diagrams that make it easy to follow along. With this book, you’ll be able to create stunning origami designs that are sure to impress.

Origami Insects and Their Kin by Robert J. Lang

For insect lovers, this book is perfect. It includes over 20 projects, ranging from the simple butterfly to the complex dung beetle. Each project is accompanied by clear instructions and diagrams, making it easy to create these intricate shapes. In addition to the projects, the book includes information on the biology and behavior of each insect, making it a great resource for anyone interested in entomology. With this book, you’ll be able to create realistic and detailed origami insects that are sure to amaze.

Overall, these three books are essential for any expert origami folder. They’ll challenge you, inspire you, and help you take your skills to the next level. Whether you’re interested in creating complex animals, geometric shapes, or realistic insects, there’s a book here for you. So what are you waiting for? Start folding!

In conclusion, there’s a book for every skill level in origami. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, there’s always room for improvement. The books listed above are just a few of the many resources available to help you improve your origami skills. So get folding and see where your creativity takes you!

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Everything You Need to Get Started Learning Origami

All you need to practice one of the oldest art forms in the world is a sheet of paper and a little focus. Origami, which means “to fold paper” in Japanese, is thought to have originated at the same time as paper— around 105 AD . The longevity of the art might have something to do with how simple it is to get started: If you have paper to fold and a desire to make creases, you’re more than halfway there. With a how-to and a bit of patience, origami glory can be yours.

Below you’ll find recommendations for paper , books from origami experts, online tutorials , and more-esoteric inspirational resources that’ll get you on the road to paper-folding greatness.

The research

Why you should trust us, why you might want to learn origami, what you need to get started.

As a writer and all-around craft enthusiast (I’ve written Wirecutter’s guides to sewing machines and fiber-arts kits ), I’m always game for another hobby that lets my creative juices flow. I did some basic paper folding as a kid at a summer camp focused on Japanese culture and in fact have a tattoo of a paper crane, but I haven’t kept up with origami beyond the odd paper plane or cootie catcher here and there.

To find out what I should be looking for when it comes to recommendations and navigating the mountains and valleys of origami, I spoke to a variety of experts in the field, including Wendy Zeichner, president of OrigamiUSA ; Lisamaria Martinez , an advocate and origami instructor specializing in making folding accessible for the blind community; Linda Mihara , an origami designer and artist who co-owns Bay Area origami shop Paper Tree ; and hobbyist folder John Mayo.

I collected recommendations for instructional materials and their favorite supplies and kits, plus tips on how to find community and inspiration in what can feel like an overwhelming sea of options. Then, I spent hours folding tiny hats and penguins, boxes and cranes, 2D flowers, 3D balloons, a dainty paper polo shirt, and more so I could find out exactly what you need to enter the fold of the origami world.

Like love, origami is, actually, all around. If you’ve ever folded those old schoolyard classics—like a paper plane or a fortune teller—you’ve done it. The category is vast, containing these super-simple folds as well as, say, principles that can be applied to advancing space exploration and mathematical theory . (Our recommendations lean more toward the paper plane end of the spectrum, though.)

A mother and son in California even used origami cranes as a way to bond and mark the passage of time during the pandemic, and organizing expert Marie Kondo uses origami principles in her tidying method. Origami can be art, it can be functional, or it can be both at the same time.

Origami scratches the part of your brain that loves puzzles, and studies have shown that doing it can help increase spatial reasoning and mathematics skills. Some people cite improved hand-eye coordination as a result of folding, while others find a meditative chill in their origami. It’s a low-cost activity that can be done by people of any age, and you can complete endless projects in a short amount of time.

Should you want to advance your skills, you have plenty of room to learn time-consuming modular pieces or more-complicated models. And if you want to keep things basic, well, tiny paper cranes are always a delight.

The most important thing you need to do origami is, of course, paper. Although you could use something as basic as printer paper for your models, it’s easiest to learn on origami paper, which is white on one side and colored on the other. This makes it easier to decipher diagrams for your starting models, origami designer Linda Mihara advised.

“When you’re following directions, you’ll know which side you’re going to start with,” Mihara said. “It’s shaded [in the diagram].” And she recommends sticking with solid colors to start, as tempting as the intricate patterns and many shiny foil papers available may be. “There’s no harm in picking up a pack of fancy paper, something that has a beautiful pattern or beautiful texture. But if you really, truly want to learn, also pick up a pack of basic paper and do the model with the plain piece of paper first,” she said.

Premium origami paper has the optimal weight and texture for holding sharp creases without tearing or getting fuzzy. The standard size for origami paper is a 15-centimeter square (just under 6 inches), but Mihara recommends  7-inch or even 10-inch packages for beginners.

“I recommend going larger when you’re a beginner, because you want to be able to see what you’re doing,” she said, adding that 6-inch squares may cause frustration for beginners, since they “get small really fast” when you’re folding.

Plenty of options are readily available for basic origami paper. These are some that we particularly liked in testing.

Toyo 50 Colors Origami Paper (9.4-inch, 60 sheets)

The best origami paper.

This paper is notably easy to work with and available in every color you could want.

Buying Options

This affordable, colorful variety pack was easy to work with, has 50 colors to choose from (even a few foils for when you want some shimmer), and is available in a variety of sizes, including the 9.4-inch size, which Mihara recommends for absolute beginners, and the standard 6-inch size . The sheets are colored on one side and white on the other in the traditional style, which helps differentiate the two sides in directions for folding.

Opret Origami Paper (9.8-inch, 100 sheets)

A good alternative to our top pick.

This paper is another excellent choice, particularly for its variety of colors and ease of use while folding.

Variety packs from Opret also fit the bill for being single-sided sheets with plenty of colors, a pleasing texture, and a variety of sizes to choose from. I folded with the 8-inch size, and it offered plenty of room for folds without feeling unwieldy.

Taro’s Origami Studio Standard Origami Paper (6-inch, 300 sheets)

Thinner, with sharper creases.

This widely available, premium-feeling paper folds with especially sharp creases.

Based in Brooklyn, New York, Taro’s Origami Studio has a house-brand paper that’s a joy to work with and comes in a variety of sizes and quantities. The 6-inch paper I tested felt a little thinner than other paper I used, and it held creases so sharp I felt like a pro.

If you’re working on a large model or just love big paper, Taro’s Origami Studio even offers a pack in a jumbo 13.8-inch size . This is John Mayo’s preferred paper, which he called “just perfect.”

Budget pick

Bubu Origami Paper Kit (6-inch, 1,000 sheets)

Quantity over quality.

Paper feels a little less precious when you have a thousand pieces of it. Crumple at will.

Practice makes perfect, but when that practice results in a pile of crumpled high-quality paper, it can be disheartening. Enter this 1,000-pack of paper . It’s colored on both sides, which isn’t ideal, and sure, I can feel the difference in texture and weight between this and our picks, but it’s square, it’s paper, and there’s quite a bit of it.

This might be a good pack to have up your folding sleeve for a couple reasons, Mayo told us: “You can fold in bulk and not feel too precious about it, not feel bad when you screw one up, not feel bad throwing models out because you made so many, and not worry about letting a little kid play along with you.” He added, “My mom bought me this box of 1,000 sheets for Christmas which at first I thought was ludicrous but has actually been nice and mentally freeing to have around.”

Now that you have something to fold, it’s time to figure out how to fold it. But since origami has been around for several centuries, it’s not surprising that a lot of information is out there, and it can get overwhelming.

A solid place to start is a basic origami book, which uses diagrams to walk you through beginner models and establish basic skills to build on. Mihara’s favorite model to teach beginners is a paper cup, which takes just six steps to complete and is actually usable as a tiny drinking vessel if you use wax paper. But whether a model takes six steps or 600, she emphasized that the basic vocabulary of folds is the same.

“For music, you have a key that you follow, right? And then you follow the notes,” she explained. “Same thing for origami: It’s a step-by-step. It’s even more basic than that. For everybody, as long as you understand what a mountain fold and a valley fold is, you’re good.”

These so-called directional folds are the basis of your models. A valley fold, usually signified in diagrams by a dotted line, sees the edges of the paper facing up in what would be a V shape. A mountain fold, usually signified as a line of dots and dashes, is the opposite, with the crease on top, edges on the bottom. All books have a key, which Mihara recommends bookmarking and referring to often.

“Anytime you get a book, look at the front and see what their different lines and arrows mean, what their language for that book is, and then go forward,” she said.

Here are a few favorite beginner books I tested and chose based on the recommendations of our experts and then put to work.

Super Simple Origami

No frills, many thrills.

With clearly illustrated diagrams, this book helps even absolute beginners get folding in no time.

Many of the models in Super Simple Origami are, indeed, super simple. But it’s that simplicity and sense of achievement that made this title an absolute gateway.

The book, which is printed in color, features clearly illustrated diagrams for each step, as well as a photo of each of the 32 models. The first time I opened the book, intending to just flip through it, I couldn’t help but try the first model, a tent. Then I zipped through a house, a hat, a helmet, a heart, an arrow, and a box, staying up well past my bedtime and nudging my husband over and over: “Look!” He drew the line at me cooing “my son” over a small penguin I’d folded.

The most complex model in the book is a 16-step snake, so for a complete beginner, this is an extremely approachable and fun introduction to origami.

Densho Origami

The basics and beyond.

This easy-to-follow guide is perfect for beginners and provides enough variety to keep you folding from beginning to end. It has a few slightly more-complex folds than our top-pick book.

Another solid choice for absolute beginners, Densho Origami features instructions for 35 models with step-by-step color illustrations. These are divided into nine sections, and each model is given a difficulty rating from one to three stars. The sections help introduce how the same basic fold can manifest in different models, like the samurai helmet fold section, featuring instructions for a samurai helmet, cicada, turtle, and goldfish.

The most complex model in the easy-to-follow book is a 25-step star box, which I found to be an easily achievable and pleasing vessel for paper clips.

The Complete Book of Origami

A guide for the long run.

If you’re interested in going beyond origami basics, this book can get you there.

You know how when you were a kid, your parents bought all your shoes just a little too big so you’d have something to grow into? You may have stumbled a bit at first, but eventually they fit perfectly, and you got more wear out of them.

That’s how I see The Complete Book of Origami . This volume starts with the basics but its 37 models include options with much more complex folds. All of these are thoroughly diagrammed, with a black-and-white photograph of each creation as well as step-by-step written instructions. In my testing, I appreciated the enlarged views that helped with particularly fiddly folds and the carefully phrased how-tos made even a 41-step turtle feel approachable with enough patience. That 75-step cicada, on the other hand? Maybe someday in the next 17 years.

Still, even though the models toward the end of the book made my head swim a bit, I marveled at the idea that I could make a tiny paper pianist seated at a tiny piano, or an extremely detailed cuckoo clock. It’s a book I can wear now and grow into later, if I eat my Wheaties.

Fun & Easy Origami Animals

Perfect for kids and other animal lovers.

This excellent intro to origami for complete beginners focuses on folding intricate birds and beasts.

This simple book , printed in color, is another by the author of Super Simple Origami that does a great job of welcoming new folders to … the fold. The 19 models in this one are all—you guessed it—animals, with complexity levels tamer than our other picks.

This volume holds the folder’s hand from the beginning with detailed instructions and diagrams, which some may appreciate and some may find too slow. The book also includes a packet of origami paper attached inside the back cover—a nice touch, especially if you’re buying the book as a gift for a total newbie. If you have another intro book that you like, you don’t need this one as well, but it’s a nice appetizer for the art form.

Pre-recorded and live video tutorials

Of course, if you’re a visual learner and know you’ll understand the folds better by seeing them in action, books aren’t the only way to learn. A thriving origami community is on YouTube (this roundup of origami specialty channels is great), with a video for any model you could hope to see demonstrated.

Mihara and her business, Paper Tree, have a very active channel (video) with a variety of tutorials, and Evan Zodl’s EzOrigami channel (video) was mentioned by experts as a particularly good option as well. Jeremy Schafer (video) has another popular channel, updating regularly and boasting more than 1,300 videos with a loyal audience.

Ultimate Origami for Beginners

An all-in-one kit with videos.

If you’re a visual learner, this kit may be for you: Each model’s instructions also have a video of the fold in action online.

But sometimes, a hybrid solution is even better. The Ultimate Origami for Beginners kit includes diagrams and a variety of papers (including different sizes and even a few pieces of play money for included dollar origami models), but most importantly a web address to access step-by-step videos of each project.

Without the videos, I would not recommend this kit. The first project in the booklet is a crane’s egg that’s made up of three modular pieces—a friend and I both tried to fold it with the diagram, and we tossed aside our papers in defeat, unlike the easy wins that greet you in other beginner-level books. With the supplemental video guidance (and the ability to hit pause and frown at a piece of paper like it’s hiding the secrets of the universe), the crane’s egg was much easier to tackle (if still a head-scratcher of a choice as the opening project).

Having someone talk you through a model, whether pre-recorded or in person, is also wonderful for accessibility. Lisamaria Martinez, who began adapting origami instructions for the blind community she’s a part of during the pandemic, said that this kind of instruction can be helpful even beyond the blind community.

“I can teach you origami without you having to use your eyes,” she said. “It’s all verbal instructions, and I love the challenge of trying to get everyone on board.”

Martinez maintains the Accessible Origami Project Facebook group and pointed those interested in instructions built with accessibility in mind to the collection on the Accessible Origami Project website .

In-person or live video lessons could also be your speed: OrigamiUSA maintains a listing of multitudes of local shops and origami groups across the country and offers its own Origami Connect online folding events . Mihara, too, hosts weekly free live classes over Zoom (just be sure to pre-register) and offers private lessons online or in person for a fee as well. All the experts I spoke with were eager to introduce potential origami artists to the hobby and encouraged people to reach out if they had questions about classes or specific resources.

“It never gets old when I teach someone for the first time how to do something, when the light bulb goes on, and they’re just like, oh my god, I can’t believe I did this,” Mihara said.

Specialty and inspirational resources

The world of origami is vast, and it offers near-limitless opportunities for learning about different specialty shapes you’re interested in, from folded flowers with delicately curved leaves, origami cats , dogs , and dinosaurs , and even military vehicles . If you’re interested in folding it, you can likely find a model for it, and if you can’t, then OrigamiUSA can probably help you track it down in their lending library or another one of their many resources.

Two guides to specialized options that I tested were particularly delightful and approachable for a beginner like myself: Tomoko Fuse’s Origami Boxes and LaFosse and Alexander’s Dollar Origami.

Tomoko Fuse’s Origami Boxes

Box yourself in.

Folding little boxes and containers from this book is satisfying, not to mention useful.

Tomoko Fuse is considered a living master of modular and practical origami, and Tomoko Fuse’s Origami Boxes is, well, exactly what it sounds like. The book has thorough color diagrams and photos for sturdy little containers of a variety of shapes and sizes, some with lids, some even with instructions for modular inserts, should you need to get organized within your tiny paper box.

The styles have so many variations that it’s tough to get an exact number. Even the simplest of the models, however, is a delightful and useful way to organize your small goods, or to deliver a palm-size gift. Before I knew it, I had a stack of containers tottering before me.

LaFosse & Alexander’s Dollar Origami

Jazz up your cash tips.

This book can help you learn to turn your cash into a crown, a little purse, a tiny rocket, and more.

Nobody is going to turn down a cash tip, but they’re really not going to turn down a cash tip folded into, say, a little rocket or seahorse or tiny crown. LaFosse & Alexander’s Dollar Origami teaches those models and more and includes practice play money that you can tear out via perforations in the back of the book. (The pack of play money that I used for testing was also wonderful.)

My daughter immediately stole a star I made out of five of the bills, and I love the idea of jazzing up a cash gift with a money band made of—you guessed it—more money. Note that since US currency contains cotton rag, it’s tough to get sharp creases on more-intricate models without tearing the money. I recommend the play money for the bulk of your folding and using real dollars for that wow factor when they’ll count the most.

Akira Yoshizawa, Japan’s Greatest Origami Master

An artful look at folding.

This book is a tribute to one of the greats of the art, featuring instructions, sure, but mostly wonder at what paper can become.

If you want to marvel at what’s possible with some clever folding, simply flip through the heavy hardcover book Akira Yoshizawa: Japan’s Greatest Origami Master . The book contains diagrams from the legendary origami artist, who passed away in 2005 , but to me, it’s most useful as inspiration—a constant source of “I can’t believe that’s made of paper” awe.

Mayo, who got into origami about three years ago, called this book his favorite, even though he said, “Many if not most of the folds in here are really challenging and well beyond my skills at this point.”

“To me there’s just something really special about this book and this man’s designs,” he said. “They are the perfect intersection of simplicity and expression—the fewest amount of folds to create the most evocative possible creatures.” He added, “To me, this guy is on a completely different level from most origami designers.”

Videos by Jo Nakashima , too, show off complex folds that are out of the reach of most but mind-blowing and inspiring to the budding enthusiast. They had me feeling like a kid who loves dinosaurs and stopped by to gaze at the T. rex in the American Museum of Natural History (which, coincidentally, serves as the headquarters of OrigamiUSA).

No matter your motivation for learning how to fold origami, Mihara told us it’s never too late to start. “Anyone can pick it up at any time, no matter what the situation is,” she said, adding that even those who previously had a bad experience can always give it another try.

Martinez, too, cited the satisfaction of seeing a model coming together. “What it teaches is, one, patience,” she said. “You’re going to fold and unfold, fold and unfold, crease and uncrease so many times at the beginning that you’re thinking, ‘All I’m doing is wrinkling this paper.’ But then there comes this magical moment where you do one thing and it all collapses into this beautiful model. That’s the magic moment.”

This article was edited by Ben Keough and Erica Ogg.

Linda Mihara, origami designer and owner of Paper Tree , video interview , November 2, 2023

John Mayo, origami hobbyist , email interview , October 23, 2023

Lisamaria Martinez, origami instructor , phone interview , October 20, 2023

Wendy Zeichner, president of OrigamiUSA , phone interview , November 5, 2023

Meet your guide

Kase Wickman

Kase Wickman is a freelance journalist and hobby enthusiast. She has never met a craft she didn’t want to try, and she especially loves sewing. She is the author of Bring It On: The Complete Story of the Cheerleading Movie That Changed, Like, Everything (No, Seriously) , and her work has appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, Cosmopolitan, and more.

Further reading

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After testing 14 craft subscription boxes with nine kids, we recommend the Koala Crate for preschoolers and the Kiwi Crate for early elementary students.

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Origami: The Art of Paper Folding

Welcome to the Origami Collection , an Open Library collection dedicated to books on origami , the ancient and amazing art of paper folding.

Origami consists of folding paper without using scissors or glue to obtain figures of various shapes. You don't need previous experience to start enjoying origami. Browse through the books we have selected for you and discover all the possibilities origami has to offer. Watch this video from the librarians at the Allen Public Library to see origami in practice.

Most books in this collection are in English, but remember that even thought the language may be foreign, the symbols are the same as in English books, so you should be able to follow the instructions. You can read or borrow a book if the bar underneath the cover says "Borrow" or "Read." If a book says it is "Not in Library" or "Checked Out," a copy might still be available! Click on the book's cover to see if you can borrow one of the other editions. Enjoy!

Image credits: Origami by Kendime ait ( CC BY-SA 3.0 ).

All Books in this Collection

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Aerogami (mostly paper airplanes)

Looking for origami that floats? Learn how to make paper sailboats .

Paper Animals

Looking for specific models? Learn how to make paper birds , paper dinosaurs , paper insects (including paper butterflies ), paper marine animals or paper reptiles .

Decorative Origami

Looking for holiday decorations? Learn how to make origami for Christmas , Halloween , and other holidays . You may also be interested in making paper flowers to decorate all year round.

Practical Origami

Looking for a particular use? Many people love origami boxes and origami cards (e.g. for gift boxes and greeting cards).

Action Origami

Modular Origami

Mathematical Origami

Advanced Origami

Looking for less complex designs? Find easy origami and intermediate origami level books. Origami for children includes many simple designs for beginners.

Creepy Origami

Origami in Literature

Origami for Kids

Looking for fun designs to make with kids? Find out how to make paper monsters and paper toys .

MEET THE AUTHORS ( see all )

Akira Yoshizawa · David Mitchell · Didier Boursin · Duy Nguyen · Eric Kenneway · Florence Temko · John Montroll · Jun Maekawa · Kunihiko Kasahara · Megumi Biddle · Michael G. LaFosse · Nick Robinson · Nicolas Terry · Paul Jackson · Rick Beech · Robert Harbin · Robert J. Lang · Samuel Randlett · Steve Biddle · Tomoko Fuse · Toshie Takahama · Toshikazu Kawasaki · Vicente Palacios · Yoshihide Momotani

BROWSE BY SUBJECTS

Action origami · Advanced origami · Aerogami · Decorative origami · Dollar bill origami · Easy origami · Erotic origami · Geometric origami · History of origami · Intermediate origami · Kirigami · Kusudama · Mathematical origami · Modular origami · Napkin folding · Origami cards · Origami in education · Paper animals · Paper airplanes · Paper birds · Paper butterflies · Paper dinosaurs · Paper insects · Paper marine animals · Paper monsters · Paper reptiles · Paper sailboats · Paper toys · Paper vehicles · Practical origami · Origami for kids · Towel folding · Traditional origami

LINKS (outside Open Library)

• USAOrigami . The largest origami organization in the United States.
• Origami Canada . A federal non-profit organization in Canada, devoted to the art of paper folding.
• British Origami Society . A registered charity in United Kingdom, devoted to the art of paper folding.
• Origami Australia . Find local origami groups around Australia.
• Find other organizations around the world: in Argentina , Austria , Czech Republic , France , Germany , Hungary , Israel , Italy , Japan , Netherlands , Poland , Singapore or Spain .

Want to donate a physical book to make it borrowable? See the Internet Archive Book Drive .

Curated by Open Librarians .

• Created October 28, 2021
• 173 revisions

Discover the Art of Origami

Unlock the magic of origami with our step-by-step instructions. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned enthusiast, explore captivating designs that bring paper to life.

Learn How to Make Origami

Looking to venture into the exciting world of paper folding but have no idea where to start? Our Beginner’s Guide is just what you need! With comprehensive instructions, this guide covers all the essential folds and bases that serve as the foundation for most origami models.

And the best part? You’ll be able to create your very first origami model, the traditional paper crane, by following our easy-to-understand steps. Don’t wait any longer to embark on this satisfying and creative journey!

Looking To Fold Your First Origami?

Unleash your creativity with our collection of 110+ easy-to-fold origami models, perfect for beginners. Take a sneak peek at our most popular diagrams, and get ready to impress your friends and family with your newfound skills!

Discover the Latest Posts From Our Blog

Most of our blog posts are galleries of amazing models folded by some very talented folders. You’ll also find news, book reviews, tips, new video tutorials, and much more.

How to Fold a Traditional Origami Heart

Marine Origami by Joseph Hwang Book Review

Origami In the Garden Film

Time is Running Out to Nominate Origami for the 2021 Joisel Award!

Introducing the Joisel Awards for 2021

Creating Through the Frankensteinian Method in Origami

Remodeling a Vintage Farmhouse in the Middle of the Country

PROJECTS Book Folding 101: How to Make Book Art

Are you familiar with book art? Here are step-by-step instructions to transform a book into a work of art.

There are moments in life when you realize that even the ordinary….

….can become extraordinary.

(total aside:  I know you might not have had a cup of coffee yet, but I wanted you to know we are going all profound this morning)

Like this simple Kentucky law book.

Out-of-date.  Destined for the trash.  Overlooked.  Underappreciated.  Forlorn.

Okay….you get the picture.

But with a little book folding, these simple pages transform into something that looks more like this.

It’s the state of Kentucky.

I know…. right?

Isn’t it amazing?  The weekend before last my sister taught a class on how to make these and how to book fold and how to transform an old, out-of-date book into something wonderful.

I folded this book into Kentucky, but you can make other states or words or monograms or hearts or arrows or….or…..or…..or the possibilities are endless.

And it’s easy.  Time-consuming, yes.  But really easy.  If you can fold a piece of paper….you can make this book.

And the best part?  My sister of previous book folding fame wrote up directions for all of us. But before we get started—here are some questions you’ve asked me about the entire book folding situation:

Q: Is book art folding easy?

Yes. Book art folding is actually super easy. It’s one of those crafts that looks so much harder than it actually is and with a little patience and perseverance, you can transform a book into a piece of art.  All you need to get started is a book and a template. I show you below what a template looks like and how to use it. You can create a pattern or template on the computer, or on your own with a little patience. You’ll want to add lines/stripes to your design as folding guides. I like to use Illustrator or Photoshop to do this, but you could also mark it out with a ruler and a pen.

Here is a link to custom book folding patterns you can order.

Q: What is 180 fold?

This is another way to create book fold artwork with one additional step. 180 fold is simply folding all the pages toward the spine before you start marking and creating the project.

Q: How many pages does a book need to have?

Typically, you’ll need at least 300 pages for an intricate folding project. The more pages that you have, the more pages you can fold and the design will be defined through the multiple folded pages. Just remember that a page of a book is really two pages ( front and back ), so if there are 400 pages in the book, there are only 200 available folds.

Q: How long does it take to create a folded book?

Usually 3-4 hours are needed to complete the folded book project. There’s a short learning curve that takes a little bit of time, but once you get started, it goes much faster.

Q: What do you do with old book pages?

I love old book pages. They are one of my favorite things to decorate with. Here are a few suggestions for some crafts with old book pages:

• book page wreath
• bird and nest project
• paper Christmas tree
• fall leaves and decorating a hutch
• book page projects

Here’s a simple easy tutorial for book folding.

DIY Book Art

Tools needed:

Vintage book

Ruler (optional)

Instructions:

1. Pick your book

You probably want one that is at least 400 pages, unless you have a more intricate design. In which case, then you’d want one with 600-900 pages.

2. Choose what you’d like to create with book folding

Print out the font/photo on an 8 ½ x 11 size sheet of paper. You’ll want it to match the size of the book, and make sure that you’ve got margins of about an inch/ inch and a half from the bottom and top of your book.

This will allow you ample folding room.

3. Create a pattern for the book art project

You can do this on the computer, or on your own with a little patience. You’ll want to add lines/stripes to your design as folding guides. I like to use Illustrator or Photoshop to do this, but you could mark it out with a ruler and a pen. Remember that a page of a book is really two pages (front and back), so if there are 400 pages in the book, there are only 200 available folds. Each fold needs a stripe, so you’ll need at least two different colors of contrasting stripes (use highlighters).

If you want to have additional pages before and after the folded sculpture, make sure and account for those. So for a 400-page book, I’d want a pattern that had about 150 folds (or 150 stripes) in it, so that I could have 25 pages at the front and 25 at the back. If I wanted a fold for every page, I’d need it to be 200 folds (or 200 stripes)

4. Start folding

Okay, you’ve got your pattern, you’ve got your book. How do you start?

First, fold the top of your pattern sheet down so that you’ll have a guide for the top of your page. This will ensure that your folded section is even across the top.

5. Make a folding mark

Take a pencil and with your book closed, make a mark across all the pages about halfway between the spine of the book and the edge of the book. Do the same on the bottom of the page. These will be your folding guides.

6. Fold the first page

Next, tuck the pattern underneath the first page you want to start folding and line up your top guide with the top of your book. You’ll want to make sure the first stripe of your pattern isparallel with the outside edge of the book.

7. Mark the stripe after you have folded that page

To make the first fold, you’ll take the top right-hand corner of the page and fold it towards the middle to make a triangle. The angles of the triangle will be determined by the two guides you have – the mark you made at the top of the book as one corner, and the top of the first stripe as the second.

8. Complete the book art by pressing and folding

9. Keep folding

Now take the bottom right corner of that same page and repeat the process using the bottom of the first stripe as a guide and the bottom mark you made.

10. Make another hash mark

Make a hash mark on your pattern to indicate that you have completed that stripe.  Then push the pattern in towards the second of the book so that the second line is parallel with the edge of the book. Repeat the process.

11.  Keep folding until you have folded all the lines on the outline

12.  tell yourself you are brilliant when you’re finished.

PS  Here’s a couple of project notes:

1.  Turn on a television marathon.  This project took me about 3 hours from start to finish.

2.  At first, you will be convinced that your book will never look like what you planned.

At first, it looks like a bunch of folded papers and then about halfway through it all starts to look like something amazing.

3.  If this is all a little overwhelming and your eyes are glazing over.

No worries.  I completely understand.

There are tons of other book projects just waiting to be created.

That’s why I put together an entire Pinterest board of simple book projects just for us.

PS Here is a link to custom book folding patterns you can order.

disclosure: affiliate links are used in this post. If you purchase something through my links I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Thistlewood.

Want to know how to decorate your home for free? Click here to get my FIVE BEST secrets.

Posted On: March 25, 2015

Written By: KariAnne Wood

26 Comments - Leave a comment

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You had me until the Patience step. Going to you sisters amazing Etsy shop. Bless her patient heart. ;)

What a great way to repurpose an old book!

That's pretty cool, but I'm glad that your sister sells them because I don't think I'd have the patience to complete one.

Now that's impressive! I heart Kentucky! : )

I ain't got time for dat ...hahhhhhhhhhhhaaaaa

Quite interesting and unique! I lack the last item on the list though ~ :) xo Pat

This goes down as my favorite project ever! It combines two of my favorite things... michigan and books! Thank you so much for sharing. I can't wait to do this!

After patiently trying to see Kentucky in your fold, I thought I'll do my home state of Texas. Then reality set in. Texas is the 2nd largest state....big big book....many many folds....long long time...old old me. I'll just print out Kentucky Book and enjoy..I like Kentucky. Jere

Ditto! Fellow Texan ;)

Ditto! Another fellow Texan. And, my mother was born in Paint Lick, Kentucky, so there's a connection there!

Whaat? I think you must have needed to be there! Congrats to you and your creative siblings (don't you have a creative brother too?), but these are way too complicated for me.

Wha what? Ohhh sista - your Kentucky looks masterful... My Texas? I'll just frame a postcard ;)

Ahhhhmazing! What a conversational piece too. This would be a great project in the classroom when tied to the subject matter of the design. AND a lesson in patience.

Are you kidding me??? My lack of time as well as patience for this sort of thing.....priceless....$36.00 sounds cheap for one already made!

I am so impressed!! The first thing I thought of was to make the shape of Italy but then my saner self talked myself out of it :-( I do have patience -- I knit, sew crochet etc. but this seems way out of my league. So, I will fully appreciate your talent and well as your sister's. Great job!!!!

Hi...fun idea! Just wondering if you'd be willing to share your sisters Etsy shop info?!? Thank you!

I like to fold books but these directions have me stumped. Any chance you or your sister might provide a video?

Amazing! But, no way. I don't think my brain can do that?! Glad your sis takes custom orders on these books. Oh, by-the-way, what about them Wildcats?!!! I bleed blue! C-A-T-S!!!

I think I either need more pictures or a how to video...I dont understand...wah! I really want to try this. I have old books just begging to be used.

This is awesome!! My sister in law gifted me with two books and the instructions for making them into works of art. I'm going to pull them out next fall (they are Christmas themed) and see how I do. Kudos to your sister. Does she have a blog? Jane

That is amazing

Definitely need a video or in class instruction! Checked out Whitney's Etsy store. WOW.

your family is just too talented for words. that being said, I got lost when you said to make the mark between the spine and something...I must not be too bright. this would be fun to do however..... Linda xoxo

What a wonderful idea and thanks so very much for the tutorial. Happy Easter!

I live in Tennessee and will need a long book! Looks fun!

i always love book page art, and this is truly different. thanks for the instructions (which are beyond my skills set, lol.) enjoy! b

Comments are closed.

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How to Make a Paper Book

Last Updated: July 13, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Amy Guerrero . Amy Guerrero is an Arts and Crafts Specialist and the Owner of Sunshine Craft Co., a crafting studio based in Phoenix, Arizona. Amy specializes in macrame, DIY crafting, and teaching fiber arts. She offers monthly in-person and online workshops along with having developed a range of DIY craft kits for at-home projects. Amy holds a BS in Industrial Design from Philadelphia University. She worked as a graphic designer before starting her own business. Sunshine Craft Co. is a creative hub that offers a wide range of workshops, tools, and resources for any craft project to inspire creativity and community engagement. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 523,819 times.

Making a book out of paper is a fun and easy project that has many purposes, for home and school. You can use your book as a journal, sketchpad, or gift for someone. A home-made paper book is a great activity for kids, too. Paper journals are far less expensive than buying pre-made journals, and you can customize the cover and the pages.

Making a Small Book

• Be sure your folds are even and you crease each one well. Consider sliding your fingernail or something hard such as the edge of a pencil over the crease.
• Start by folding the paper so that it is long and skinny (long edge folded to long edge).
• Then fold the paper in half short edge to short edge.
• Fold the paper in half again, short edge to short edge.

• Be sure you stop cutting at the horizontal seam. You are just cutting a slit in the paper, you are not cutting it all the way across.

• You will need to reverse the direction of the fold on one of the seams.
• Push the two ends towards each other until you have 4 “wings” moving outward from the center, like a cross or an X. [3] X Research source

Making a Medium-Sized Book

• Knowing the purpose of your book will help you decide the appropriate number of pages.
• Consider also having one sheet of special or colored paper that you can use as the book cover.
• You can use more than 12 pages, but binding may become more difficult with more pages.

• This guide assumes that you will be using standard letter-sized paper (8.5”x11”), but other sizes may work as well.
• Paper with a heavier weight (thickness) may be more durable than printer paper.
• Resume paper or paper with a colored finish provides a nice visual effect if you plan to give the book as a gift.
• Avoid using lined notebook paper if possible. The lines will be vertical and the paper book will not look as nice as it would with other paper.
• Folding each page individually will give you a cleaner crease and more even lines than trying to fold all of the pages together at once.
• Be sure the edges of the page are lined up nicely before making your crease.
• Sharpen your crease by running your fingernail along it, or by sliding a hard object such as a pen or pencil along the edge.
• If you nest more than six pages together, the inner pages will start to protrude beyond the outer pages and your book will not look neat.
• If you have an even number of pages, try to make even sets of book sections (for example, 2 sets of 6, 3 sets of 4, or 4 sets of 3 pages).

• Try to stagger the staple placement on the sections so that there is not a bulge from a stack of staples all together when you bind the sections together.
• Depending on your binding technique, this step may not be necessary. If you will be taping, it is necessary.

• Check all edges for neatness and uniformity. If one of the pages is sticking out, it may not have been folded neatly. You may want to replace it with a more carefully folded page.

Binding Your Book

• Prepare your book cover by folding it in half short end to short end and sharply creasing the edge.
• When you put the cover on your pages depends on the type of binding you choose.
• Cut a piece of sturdy tape, such as duct tape, slightly longer than your book.
• Carefully place the tape on the front of the book spine and wrap it around the back so that half of the tape is on each side of the front and back book page.
• Cut excess tape from above and below the book.
• Cut two pieces of tape the same length of the book.
• Fold the tape in half long ways, sticky side out.
• Open the back of your book and place the folded tape along the crease on the inside back cover. One side of the tape will be on the inside of the back cover and one side will be on the outside of the last inner page.
• Open the front cover of your book. Place the second piece of tape, also folded lengthwise sticky sides out, along the crease between the inside front cover and the outside of the first inner page.
• Close the book and firmly run your hand along the folded edge to secure the taped pieces.

• If you are using a cover, place the folded cover over the stacked book sections.
• Use a hole puncher to punch holes in the entire book where you would like the binding to be. The holes should be close to the folded edge of the book, but be sure you do not punch the folded spine.
• Make at least two holes. You can have more if you would like, but be sure the holes are spaced apart evenly so that the binding is aesthetically pleasing.
• If you have more than six pieces of paper, you may want to punch holes in each book section separately, but be sure to measure where the holes go so that they will align neatly when you combine the sections.
• For shorter journals, try using decorative brads through the punched holes.
• Thread string or ribbon through the holes in your book and tie neatly. String can be woven in and out of multiple holes, then run down the back cover of the book along the spine and tied together, or separate small bows can be tied for each hole, with the string going through a hole, around the spine of the book, and being tied to itself. [6] X Research source
• For much longer journals, consider sewing the book sections together with strong thread by punching holes in each section and passing needle and thread in and out of the holes until all sections are bound together. [7] X Research source

Community Q&A

• Children making a paper book should be closely supervised when using scissors. Thanks Helpful 20 Not Helpful 21

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• ↑ http://www.makingbooks.com/hotdog.shtml
• ↑ http://www.fimp.net/makeabook.html
• ↑ http://www.tortagialla.com/2012/10/10/folding-paper-for-your-journal/
• ↑ http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2014/04/gift-idea-homemade-journals.html
• ↑ https://curiouslycrafty.wordpress.com/tutorials/

About This Article

To make a small paper book, start by folding a piece of paper into eighths, taking care to make crisp and even folds. Next, unfold the paper and refold it in half, from short edge to short edge. Cut the paper along the vertical fold seam in the middle of the paper until it intersects the horizontal fold seam. Then, unfold the paper again and refold it in half, from long edge to long edge. Lastly, push the two ends toward each other, separate the middle seams, and flatten the paper to enclose the pages of the book. For tips on binding your book, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Free Folded Book Patterns by Heather Eddy Art

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Thanks for re-introducing me to the work of Heather Eddy. Years ago I found her website and purchased a few of her book folding patterns, including ones that got me started in creating my own patterns. Since then I have folded many book patterns as gifts. Suffice it to say, forgot about her website. So, it's good to revisit.

That's great to hear! I've always enjoyed Heather's blog.

Thank you SO very much for sharing this information. I am going out of my mind with anxiety right now and I'm thinking that this may be tedious enough to get me to refocus. It looks like it's a lot of fun.

I'm so glad you found the post helpful, Christine. Sending wishes that folding books will turn into a good distraction.

I have been trying to find a folding pattern for a marijuana leaf is they are way you can help me please

Here ya go: https://www.etsy.com/listing/204305597/cannabis-420-leaf-book-folding-pattern and https://www.etsy.com/listing/837416635/cannabis-leaf-book-folding-pattern-hemp

I took a look at the page links given above and WOW! Thank you Ann and Heather for such amazing generosity! I am looking forward to trying out these patterns!

Happy folding!

I'm trying to find a mmf pattern for the word Read

Googling mmf book folding pattern for word read brought up this: https://www.etsy.com/listing/835153025/read-mmf-pattern-491-pages-23cm-high

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23 fun and free book folding patterns 2024

Turn your old books or charity shop finds into beautiful artwork with these free book folding patterns. There's everything from hearts to home to get you inspired!

Phoebe Burt

Book folding is a recent crafting phenomenon that's popular with paper crafters and book-lovers alike. Using books that vary in length, book folding is when you fold each page of the novel to a certain measurement creating an overall phrase, motif or symbol. There's a huge range of book folding patterns out there that'll teach you how to fold everything from your Hogwarts house to your pet! Book folding can be a little tricky to get the hang of at first (you'll definitely need that ruler handy) but once you've learned how to follow the pattern and chart you'll be a book folding whizz.

There's a few abbreviations you need to know before you start book folding. These terms you'll see in most book folding patterns and they're much simpler than they look.

• MMF - This stands for measure, mark and fold.
• 180 Fold - To make a 180 fold, you fold every page towards the spine before marking and cutting.
• Combi Fold - After measuring and marking, fold your first and last page to 45 degree angle instead of straight.
• Shadow Folding - to create a shadow on your design, leave every other page unmarked.

Now you're down with the book folding lingo it's time to get folding. We've gathered 23 free book folding patterns from around the web to get you started. We've included everything from sayings to animals so we hope there's a pattern for you! There's plenty of paid patterns over on Etsy so check them out too.

Once you've mastered these book folding patterns check out our quilling ideas for beginners and origami for beginners round-ups. They're full of fun projects that you'll love.

23 free book folding patterns

1. read book folding pattern.

Eco-friendly DIY has a great free book folding pattern for beginners. Hannah talks you through all the basic techniques and has a step-by-step guide to show you how to make this read motif. We love that she's created an easy-to-follow table that shows you how far to fold on each page of the book.

2. Hedgehog book folding pattern

Alison Walker has a fab YouTube video that shows you how to turn a book into a hedgehog. We know, we know it's not technically book folding as it's not inside the book but it's just too sweet not to include!

3. Heart free book folding pattern

Bookami has loads of free book folding patterns on their site and we love all of them. This cute heart design would look lovely displayed all year round on your shelves or make for an extra special Valentine's Day gift. Head over to their site to download your free book folding pattern.

4. Cat book folding pattern

Folded Book Art has tons of free book folding patterns which are broken down into handy categories like Animals, Baby, Celebration, and more. We know many of our makers are cat-lovers so we thought we'd include this cute free cat book folding pattern. For more purrrfect projects check out our free amigurumi cat pattern and our how to draw a cat tutorial.

5. Christmas angel book folding pattern

Christine Craft's free book folding pattern is perfect for Christmas. Christine shows you how to fold your book (choose a festive novel like A Christmas Carol for an extra Christmassy edge) into this pretty angel. This would look so good sat atop a book-lovers tree or perched on your stack of books.

6. Dog book folding pattern

We couldn't include a free book folding pattern for cat lovers and not include one for dog lovers! Folded Book Art has this cool bone pattern which will show all your guests just how much you love man's best friend. This book folding pattern is a little more complex so we'd recommend practicing on an easier project first.

7. Home book folding pattern

All in The Folds is the ultimate book folding website! They have loads of free patterns as well as paid-for patterns making it the go-to hub for book folding addicts. Sign up to their website and you'll get access to their past free book folding patterns as well as their free project of the month. How lovely is this home pattern?

8. Tree book folding pattern

Scrappy Sticky Inky Mess is a great place to go if you're a newbie to the world of book folding. They teach you all the basics including how to an alternative for counting pages, adding a ribbon, multi-line folding, and much more. They have a whole blog post full of templates including the tutorial for these tree book folding patterns.

9. Lantern book folding patterns

Candice from ReFabDiaries has kindly uploaded her free book folding patterns that were originally featured in Budget Living Magazine and we're so glad she did! These cool wall art books are a fab way to upcycle old books or charity shop books into unique artwork for your home.

10. Mum book folding pattern

Give your mum a special handmade gift this Mother's Day with Doodle and Stitches free book folding pattern. Learn how to fold a book with their step-by-step tutorial and use your mum's favourite childhood book to fold with. For more Mother's Day projects check out DIY Mother's Day gifts round-up.

11. Free book folding shapes

Rather than folded motifs inside the books Jen from Frugal State has gone one step further. She shows you how to turn books into these 3D shapes that make cool decorations for your bookcase, side tables, shelves... or anywhere you fancy! You could also spray your shapes in different colours to match your decor.

12. Free book folding pattern for Halloween

Book folding is for every season. All Free Crafts shows you how to turn a book into a spooky little pumpkin. This is the perfect free book folding pattern for beginners because it's really simple and takes very few steps. To match your new paper pumpkin why not make our Halloween garland ?

13. Chinese symbol folding patterns

Oru Fun has several Chinese symbol book folding patterns on its blog. These patterns don't come with a step-by-step tutorial but they do have a chart. As long as you can read book folding charts you'll be fine but we recommend this project for more experienced book folders.

14. Rose book folding pattern

Ok so this one isn't technically book folding but it was too pretty for us not to include! Fern Makes shows you how to turn a few pages of a book into this delicate rose. Make a single rose or fold up several pages to make a bunch - either way, we think it would make a lovely gift for a book-loving pal.

15. Alphabet book folding patterns

Once you've learned how to fold the alphabet the world of book folding is your oyster. Heather Reddy Art shows you how to fold each letter of the alphabet with simple charts and instructions. Having this guide handy will allow you to fold full names, places, and phrases making your book fold more personalised.

16. Squirrel book folding pattern

Make everyone's fall friend with Love Book Folding's free book folding pattern. They have lots of lovely projects on their site but we especially loved this squirrel pattern. Plus the Youtube video which accompanies the pattern is ideal for book folding beginners.

17. Number book folding patterns

Mr_o_uk over on the Instructables blog has created a really useful tutorial on how to fold your own numbers. We love that he's used them as table numbers at his wedding! If you're looking to give your wedding a crafty touch check out our DIY wedding favours post.

18. Fold your state!

Show some national pride and fold your country, county, or state. Thistle Wood Farms has the free book folding pattern for the state of Kentucky over on her blog. She shows you exactly how to fold old books into something beautiful that you can display for years to come.

19. Whimsical tree book folding pattern

This magical-looking tree is by Failin over on the Instructables . They show you how to turn the middle of your favourite book (we're thinking a fairytale would be great for this) into a little tree. Use their free pattern to make yours and gift it to a little one who's hoping to spot a fairy one day.

20. Faith book folding pattern

Fold your faith with Create and Craft's free book folding pattern. They've made a handy downloadable PDF that has all the instructions you'll need as well as a handy chart. This is a lovely project for those of you wanting to show your devotion and faith - no matter what religion you ascribe to.

21. Splodge book folding pattern

Fold your own abstract splodge with Oru Fun's free book folding pattern. This one would be a great one to paint or spray different colours and use as decoration in a kid's room.

22. Batman free book folding pattern

For all you superhero and Sci-Fi fans, Folded Book Art has free book folding patterns for you. They have a collection of different patterns including this Batman one. There's everything from Star Wars to Star Trek, Spiderman to a dragon!

23. Christmas tree free book folding pattern

Dazzle someone special this year with this amazing Christmas tree book folding pattern. Get the free tutorial over at It's Always Autumn .

Start book folding this weekend

Book folding is one of our favourite hobbies. It allows you to turn old books into wonderful works of art and takes very few supplies. Cost-effective and creative? What more could you want?

Pick your favourite book folding template from our round-up and give it a go this weekend. We guarantee it'll make you fall in love with book folding and paper crafting in general!

Try more paper crafts with Gathered

If you enjoyed these book folding templates then you'll also love our paper cutting templates . It's full of beautiful designs to both inspire and excite you!

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SEO and Communities Editor, Gathered

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