Adirondack Moose

Origami Animal Sculpture

Posted by Tuttle Publishing

About

The moose is the largest living member of the deer family, and is easily distinguished by its distinctive antlers. This was a fun and challenging model to design, particularly since my approach focused on simplicity, on the animal’s posture, attitude, and essential character rather than technical complexity. The design came together quickly as my initial idea turned out to be a good one. The model also has the virtue of standing well on four legs without wanting to tip forward or buckle, since the legs are developed from points in the middle of the paper.

Recommended paper: 131⁄2” square or larger.

Begin with a square, white side up.

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You Will Need (1 thing)

  • Origami Paper

Steps (54 steps, 45 minutes)

  1. 1

    Valley fold and unfold on the diagonals.

  2. 2

    Fold a corner to the center and make a mark; unfold. Fold a corner to the mark and make a second mark; unfold. Turn the model over.

  3. 3

    Fold the opposite corner to the second mark.

  4. 4

    Turn the model over.

  5. 5

    Valley fold on the diagonal.

  6. 6

    Valley fold one corner to the other, then unfold. Turn the model over.

  7. 7

    Perform a preliminary fold.

  8. 8

    Petal fold.

  9. 9

    Turn the model over.

  10. 10

    Petal fold.

  11. 11

    Fold the flap down. Repeat behind.

  12. 12

    Fold a near flap to the left. Fold a far flap to the right. (A “minor miracle.”)

  13. 13

    Fold a flap up and then down again. Repeat behind.

  14. 14

    Fold a near flap to the right. Fold a far flap to the left. (A “minor miracle.”)

  15. 15

    Pull the tip up, opening up the model as in a stretched Bird Base.

  16. 16

    Mountain fold the model in half, leaving the two flaps at the top.

  17. 17

    Reverse fold two flaps along the hidden creases.

  18. 18

    Reverse fold the two flaps back out so their edges lie parallel to the model’s edges.

  19. 19

    Valley fold a flap up as far as it will go without stretching the model.

  20. 20

    Pull out a layer on each side and squash fold it flat.

  21. 21

    Squash fold a layer underneath on each side.

  22. 22

    Fold and unfold, creasing only on the left side of the model.

  23. 23

    Fold and unfold, creasing only on the right side of the model.

  24. 24

    Valley fold a flap up. Rotate the model.

  25. 25

    Fold the model in half.

  26. 26

    Reverse fold. Repeat behind.

  27. 27

    Reverse fold again. Repeat behind.

  28. 28

    Mountain fold. Repeat behind.

  29. 29

    Mountain fold again. Repeat behind.

  30. 30

    Double outside reverse fold (crimp).

  31. 31

    Reverse fold the hidden flap in and out again.

  32. 32

    Squash fold.

  33. 33

    Unfold.

  34. 34

    Crimp fold.

  35. 35

    Reverse fold. Repeat behind.

  36. 36

    Crimp the hidden flap.

  37. 37

    Slide the flap down.

  38. 38

    Valley fold perpendicular to the edge.

  39. 39

    Valley fold perpendicular to the edge and unfold.

  40. 40

    Fold and unfold the corner. Unfold steps 38 & 39.

  41. 41

    Collapse on existing creases.

  42. 42

    Slide the flap back up.

  43. 43

    Valley fold on the ear. Repeat behind. Outside reverse fold on the snout.

  44. 44

    Valley fold on the ear. Repeat behind. Outside reverse fold on the snout.

  45. 45

    Valley fold on the ear. Repeat behind. Make reverse folds on the nose and the flap at the throat.

  46. 46

    Crimp to form the hind legs. Crimp at the snout.

  47. 47

    Mountain fold to narrow the head. Repeat behind. Slide the flap at the throat upward.

  48. 48

    Swivel fold at the hip. Repeat behind. Valley fold the antler forward. Repeat behind.

  49. 49

    Crimp to form the tail. Valley fold the antler back. Repeat behind.

  50. 50

    Spread the antler like a squash fold. Repeat behind.

  51. 51

    Sculpt the antlers.

  52. 52

    Raise and spread the antlers.

  53. 53

    Sculpt the model.

  54. 54

    The completed Adirondack Moose.