One of the most famous and traditional origami models is a Japanese red‑crowned crane. In Japan, cranes are the symbol of happiness. There is also a world famous legend about folded cranes. If you would like to make your wish come true, you should fold one thousand cranes.

You are going to make the traditional orizuru crane model. Orizuru means a folded crane in Japanese. What you need is a square piece of paper, some patience and imagination. Ready? Steady? Let’s make a crane!

The first step is paper. Just take an ordinary A4 format piece of paper. You simply take the top corner and fold it down to the edge so that you get a nice triangle. Cut off the unnecessary piece of paper. This way, when you open the triangle, you have the perfect origami square.  Then, you start with two basic folds. You fold the paper in half both ways. 

Then, you turn the paper over and fold in half diagonally in one direction, then the other. Unfold them.

Next, you take the piece of paper and try to tilt it so that the edges come together and you fold along the edges. Fold them down to the bottom. Take the edges to the centre so that you get a square base. This is a perfect example of the cushion fold.

Now, you have a square which is the base for the crane. Take the right hand edge and fold it in. Do the same with the left hand edge. 

Make a small fold of a top corner. When you do that, turn the paper over and do the same thing on the other side. Then, you open up all four sides.

Now, lift the top layer and push the left and right edges inside to create a smaller fold. Turn your model over and repeat the smaller fold on the other side.

When you take it into your hands, you will see the split part at the bottom. Take the corner edges and fold them into the centre. Then, turn the paper over and do the same two folds.

Then, hold the two flaps together and, at the same time, hold the remaining two together. Now, create the crane’s wings by folding them down and create the head by folding a small piece at the top. Now, your crane is ready. Well done.