The Origami Forum

I want to fold the praymantis from origami insects II, but i cannot get past step 35? could someone take a picture or video or something to demonstrate how to do it? also, what kind of paper is recommended to fold this model? tissue-foil? mine keeps on ripping. THANKS

Steps 32-36 are collapsing the paper in a similar way to half of a bird base (although with different angles). Or, another way of looking at it, a petal fold from behind. However, I found it an unusual way of diagramming the step. It's a very similar process, but I think you might find it easier to make the pre-creases in steps 32-34, open back out to step 32, and then collapse the whole thing in one go. You're aiming for it to be symmetrical and to end up looking like the picture in step 37.

Hope that helps - it's not a tricky step but difficult to explain in words! I folded it out of tissue foil, about 40cm square I think, which gave a fairly nice result but the layers of the body were very thick, I don't think it would have worked any smaller.

Good luck!

could you show a picture?

This is the folding sequence that I would use. Note that I have not folded the whole model as it would at this stage, but just the part we are focused on.


Start as in step 32 but having done the precreases in steps 32-34.


These are the creases that you are going to do. You would see the same on the other side of the triangle.


Slightly different angle of view. Squash fold just the top section of the triangle.


Pinch together the sides of the section below this, all on existing creases.


Swing the remaining section to one side. You are now at step 37.

THANK YOU! i will get back to you if i get stuck again.

how about the open sink on step 47???

Are you sure about that? You've either got the wrong step or a different set of diagrams to mine - step 47 on mine is just a fold and unfold.

i think i have a different diagram than you...errr....nvr mind, i finished it, but the head is a little bit messed up.