How to Make an Origami Yoda From a Cover

Use origami folding techniques to make Yoda

In Tom Angleberger's book, "The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda," outcast Dwight has an origami Yoda finger puppet that dispenses sage advice to Dwight's classmates. The book contains directions so readers can make their own backwards talking Jedi master, but the results don't look like the much more complex origami Yoda featured on the cover of the book. These directions are for the origami Yoda on from the cover.

Instructions

1. Lay the paper so the color you want for the robe is facing up and the color you want for the head is facing down. Fold the top three-fourths of the way down, leaving some of the robe side of the paper showing.

2. Make Yoda's mouth by making a pleat fold. Fold the top sheet up and crease slightly below the top crease. Fold the paper back down, creasing it below the crease just made, so there's now an extra ridge in the paper.

3. Make Yoda's eyes by making a reverse pleat fold, by folding the paper under and then up. Very close to this, make a regular pleat fold.

4. Make Yoda's robe by making a pleat fold and reverse pleat fold at the bottom of the paper, where the robe side of the paper is showing.

5. Make Yoda's ears by folding down the top corners. The head color side edge should be flush with the bottom edge of the head color. Unfold and then tuck the corners inside, using the previous fold lines as a guide.

6. Turn the entire piece over and fold the left and right sides in towards the center on a slight angle. Fold the ears so they stick out on the sides. Turn entire piece over and fold the pleated section of the head color down so it's visible.

7. Sculpt the face pleats to get the expression you want on Yoda's face.

Tips & Warnings

• The Yoda on the book cover was made with paper that's green on one side and light brown on the other.

References

• "Origami Yoda Home Page"; Finally! Instructions for Folding an Origami Yoda like the one on the Cover!; Tom Angleberger