The Origami Forum

I was just wondering how long people who are here have been folding origami. I have been folding for 2 years, only one year with complex models, and hlf a year with crease patterns.

2 1/5

Been folding for 14 years. Complex stuff for 10-12 (Depends whether Montroll is considered complex). Crease patterns for about 5. Designing, the same.

Approximately since kindergarten (~22 years ago) more intensive since I was five (~19 years ago), really complex stuff since I have Internet (~4years).

About 11 years now. Designing for about 8. Did origami for 5 years before I met anyone else who also had an interest in origami.

I've been folding for almost 1 year; I really wish I had more experience under my belt.

24 years.

Been folding since I was born

i'm just 2years~

I have been folding daily since early July (about 3 1/2 months.) I am making fast progress, but still find some models (eg Lang's insects) not merely impossible for now but impossible for the foreseeable future.
(I have tried repeatedly to find a good explanation of how to obtain step-by-step instructions from a crease pattern, but with no luck. Until I learn this, I cannot fold from CPs, and until I can fold from CPs, I cannot design. It is a Catch-22.)

GreyGeese, I don't agree with you about not being able to design something until you can fold from CP. I have never in my life folded anything from CP. In fact, I don't do any folding at all! Only designing when I have time (and then obviously fold the result if I like it). So give it a try and don't get discouraged.
A good way to try is to fold an intermediate model. Mark where the different parts of the model is on the sheet. Then unfold. Now try playing with that base, for example try to "add" paper to the areas of the feet to make toes. Or add paper to the head to make a bottom jaw. Then try to combine, meaning to add toes and a bottom jaw. You will learn alot this way. I hope it helps!!
Good luck
Quentin

When I think of designing, I think of designing from scratch. My only source for how to do that is Lang's book, which is based on crease patterns. It also doesn't do me much good to create a design if I can't write a folding sequence for it.
(One thing I have learned is that design can be folded in more than one way, some easier than others. Montroll and lang often have models of similar finished complexity, but Montroll's are nearly always easier to fold. I attribute this to his skill at finding an easier folding sequence.)

Finding a good folding sequence is an art indeed. I can't do that most of the time and end up just mass collapsing from a CP I have been folding for about 10 years, and now that I think of it I have been designing for longer than I thought-at least 6 years. And I have to say that Origami Design Secrets by Lang is the best tool ever for understanding CPs.

I understood Design Secrets very well (my strong math background helped.) I am confident that I can now (at least in theory) design a base with any number, length, and location of flaps. I just can't fold it!

Ive been designing for a little less than a year. I think knowing how to fold crease patterns helps designing, but sometimes good desings come about when your just randomly folding.