How to Make a Suit Out of Paper

Create a conversation piece out of three rectangular pieces of paper. You can fold the paper, using the Japanese art of origami, to create a three piece suit. The three piece suit includes a shirt, belt and pants. The belt holds the three pieces together so the paper suit is easily displayed on a bulletin board, on a shelf or hanging in a doll house. Each piece of the suit is made from a separate rectangular piece of paper. Allow approximately 15 minutes to complete the project.

Instructions

Shirt

1. Place a 2 1/2-by-6-inch rectangular piece of paper on a flat work surface. Position the piece of paper so the long edge is along a vertical axis. Match the left and right sides. Crease along the fold line firmly. Open the fold.

2. Match the left edge to the center fold line. Crease along the fold line firmly. Repeat the process with the right edge.

3. Flip the folded rectangle over. Fold the top edge down 1/4 inch. Crease firmly along the fold line. This is the beginning of the collar.

4. Flip the folded rectangle over again. Fold the upper left-hand corner toward the center fold line. Position the point approximately 1/4 inch from the top edge. Crease along the diagonal fold line. Repeat the process with the upper right-hand corner.

5. Fold the bottom edge up 2 3/4 inches. Crease firmly along the fold line. Fold the bottom edge up again and tuck it under the two points of the collar. Crease firmly along the fold line.

6. Open the two previous folds made in Step 5. Rotate the rectangle so the collar is on the bottom of the rectangle. Gently unfold the right and left edge without disturbing the collar. Fold the top of the rectangle down along the first fold line.

7. Hold the upper left-hand corner of the rectangle. Tuck the remaining left-hand edge between the folded bill along the vertical fold line. A small sleeve is created with a 45-degree angle. Continue to push the left edge of the bill until creases along the vertical fold line. Repeat the process with the right-hand corner of the rectangle.

8. Rotate the rectangle so the collar is on top. Fold the bottom edge up and insert it under the collar. A sleeve will extend to the right and left of the collar along the top fold line. Press all folds firmly. Set the finished shirt aside.

Belt

1. Place a 2 1/2-by-6-inch rectangular piece of paper on a flat work surface. Position the piece of paper so the long edge is along a horizontal axis.

2. Match the top and bottom edge. Crease firmly along the fold line. Repeat this process two more times.

3. Set the belt aside until assembly.

Pants

1. Place a 2 1/2-by-6-inch rectangular piece of paper on a flat work surface. Position the piece of paper so the long edge is along a horizontal axis. Match the top and bottom edges. Crease along the fold line firmly.

2. Match the top and bottom edge of the rectangle together a second time. Crease firmly along the fold line.

3. Match the left edge to the right edge. Crease firmly along the fold line. Open the fold.

4. Fold the left-side at a 90 degree angle at the vertical center fold line. The center fold line will create a point to a triangle. Repeat the process with the right-hand side.

5. Flip the rectangle over. Look at the top of the folded paper. A triangle is created from the fold of the two sides. Fold the top point of the triangle down and make a fold along the bottom edge of the triangle. Crease firmly along the fold line. Set aside for assembly.

Assembly

1. Pick up the shirt so the collar is on top. Gently squeeze the top and bottom edge of the shirt to open the pocket between the folded layers of paper. Insert the end of the belt on the left hand side of the shirt approximately 3/4 inch.

2. Position the pants so the folded triangle is facing you and on the top edge of the pants. Slide the triangle over the top edge of the belt.

3. Fold the belt to the back of the shirt, around the right side and across the front. Crease firmly along the fold lines.

4. Gently squeeze the top and bottom edge of the shirt. Insert the remaining length of the belt inside the shirt at an angle.

5. Manipulate the left edge of the belt so it is flush with the edge of the shirt. Crease firmly along the fold line. Press the front of the shirt to crease the angled belt to hold it in place.

References

• Cox: The Shirt