How to Do Origami Alpacas

Transform paper squares into alpacas with origami folding patterns.

The art of folding lightweight or decorative paper into specific objects refers to origami. Replicate different wildlife animals, such as alpacas, and create a paper farm. Recreating animals often requires a significant amount of folds and creases. Craft enthusiasts mastering the different folding methods can reduce the amount of folds by using two paper sheets. Use the first sheet to create the alpaca's distinguished elongated neck and front legs, then use the second to create the body. The two folded sheets are inserted into each other to create the alpaca. Choose paper in the desired patterns, colors or textures.

Things You'll Need

• Origami paper squares (2 sheets)

Instructions

Making the Alpaca's Body and Hind Legs

1. Fold a 4-inch width by 4-inch length origami paper square in half. Crease the fold and open. You will have a visible center fold line.

2. Place the center fold line vertically on your table. Fold the right and left side edges of the paper to the center fold and crease.

3. Fold along the center fold line once again and close. The square appears like a folded vertical strip. You will have two open flaps on one side and a fold on the remaining side.

4. Turn the sheet horizontally on your table with the fold line at the top and the open flaps facing the bottom. Take the upper right corner and fold down. Use the middle point of the folded paper strip as a guide. Crease the fold. The fold appears like a horizontal upside down “L.”

5. Hold the sheet horizontally in your left hand. Fold the upper right corner along the crease and fold vertically into the center back end. The paper will naturally fold along the creases made in the previous step, enabling you to open the back end and eventually stand the alpaca. As the fold line collapses, close the end. Although the shape still appears like a horizontal “L,” the back end flaps open and close.

6. Open the back end slightly and fold each of the lower end corners into the flap created in the previous step. This step forms the alpaca’s hind legs.

Making the Alpaca's Neck and Front Body

1. Fold the second sheet into a triangle shape, by folding one corner of the square to the opposite corner. Crease the fold.

2. Turn the triangle vertically on your table. The fold line faces your right hand and the open points face your left hand.

3. Fold the left point to the right. Flip the triangle over and fold the remaining point to the right as well. You will have two mini triangle shapes protruding from the fold line on your right.

4. Hold the shape in your left hand. Collapse the upper end along the creased fold lines. As the upper end collapses, the shape flattens. The flattened fold protrudes along the left side forming the alpaca’s head.

5. Fold the protruding mini triangles from Step 3 inside of the folds to create the alpaca’s neck.

6. Fold the lower left corner to the right, forming a mini half diamond shape. Crease the fold. Slightly open the creased diamond and flatten. This step forms the feet. Keep the shape in a vertical position on your table.

7. Insert the body from Section 1 into the back of the vertical shape. Adjust the legs to stand the origami alpaca.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are having difficulty folding and collapsing the ends, it is a sign that the fold lines were not sharply creased.