Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Robert Homayoon. Robert Homayoon is an Origami Expert known for his engaging YouTube videos and accessible instructions. He has been teaching origami on YouTube since 2009. His channel has a following of over 676,000 subscribers, and his videos have garnered over 211 million views. Robert uses his channel to highlight his passion for teaching people origami, crafts, and how to solve puzzles. He graduated from SUNY Albany in 2007 and earned his D.M.D degree from Temple University Dental School in 2013.
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The origami swan is a very traditional structure. This swan is very simple to make. Requiring only several mountain and valley folds, this origami swan is very well suited for beginners. The results of this swan may look a bit shabby at first, but soon, your swan will look very elegant and beautiful after only a few minutes of practice.
Steps
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Get a square piece of paper, turn it over so that the colored side is at the bottom. You can find a range of origami paper on Amazon.- Fold the piece of paper in half diagonally, so that it looks like a triangle.Advertisement
- Unfold your triangle so that it looks like a square again.
- Take the two edges across from the center crease and fold them to that crease. It should make a kite shape.
- Turn your paper over.
- Take the sides of your kite shape and fold those into the middle crease again. The kite should be thinner with triangular designs on one side.
- Without turning the paper over, take the bottom point of the kite (the thinnest part) and fold it up to the top point of your kite shape, with the thin point along the middle crease.
- Take the tip of the thin point and fold down a small portion of the point down, the portion should look like a triangle that is only about 1 or 2 centimeters (0.4 or 0.8 in) tall. The triangle formed by the previous step that was a triangle, should now look like a very tall trapezoid.
- Remember that middle crease at the very first step? Fold the crease in half again. Except with the design side on the top.
- Tightly holding the base of the triangle, pull up the thin point of the triangle to a desired height. It could be straight up, or at a sharp angle.
- Pull the little part out to resemble a beak.
- Decorate as desired.
Finished.
Expert Q&A
- QuestionHow do I fold a sharp crease?
Robert HomayoonRobert Homayoon is an Origami Expert known for his engaging YouTube videos and accessible instructions. He has been teaching origami on YouTube since 2009. His channel has a following of over 676,000 subscribers, and his videos have garnered over 211 million views. Robert uses his channel to highlight his passion for teaching people origami, crafts, and how to solve puzzles. He graduated from SUNY Albany in 2007 and earned his D.M.D degree from Temple University Dental School in 2013.
Origami ExpertI often employ a technique where I use my thumb and fingernail, with the tip of my pointer finger, to run along the crease line. It's not exactly pinching the fingernail together but rather using the fingernail and the tip of the finger to align and define the crease sharply. Simultaneously, I secure the paper with my other hand to prevent any potential shifting that might occur while dragging my thumb and pointer finger along the fold. This ensures precision and stability in the crease. - QuestionWhat if I use a rectangle instead of square?
Community AnswerIf you were use a rectangular paper instead of a square, your swan will end up uneven. The extra paper will stick out and could ruin your swan. - QuestionDoes this swan stand by itself?
Community AnswerYes it does, if you have the bottom part spread a little bit.
Video
Tips
- If the paper is getting too difficult to fold, due to over-folding, start over. Or the swan will look crummy.Thanks
- Make sure the creases are very crisp and smooth. The more smooth, the more elegant the swan will look.Thanks
- At step one, the white side can be at the bottom. At the end, the swan would be mostly white.Thanks
Tips from our Readers 
- If you have a rectangular sheet of paper, fold one side into a triangle and cut it at the edge to get a square. Then, start folding!
- Make sure the wings of your origami swan are bigger than the front of its body.
Warnings
- Try not to get frustrated; just try again.Thanks
- Watch out for the edges of the paper, they are sharp. You don't want to get a paper cut.Thanks
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about origami, check out our in-depth interview with Robert Homayoon.
About This Article
If you want to fold a traditional origami swan, fold a square piece of paper in half diagonally so it makes a triangle, then unfold the square again. Fold in 2 edges to meet at the center crease so that the paper makes a kite shape. Turn the paper over, then fold the sides of the kite shape into the middle crease again. Take the bottom point of the kite and fold it up to the top point, then fold a small portion of the thinnest point and fold 1-2 cm back down. Fold the paper in half again along the middle crease, then pull up the thinnest point of the triangle to unfold the swan. For pictures of how to create the origami swan, read on!
Reader Success Stories
"I bought my daughter some holographic, colored sheets of paper from a local dollar store and didn't know what to do with them. We first made a couple of How.com.vn airplanes. Now, an awesome swan! What a great way to pass a few hours when you have nothing to do. Now she wants to find more How.com.vn origami animals. Thank you, instructors, for spending time with pictures to teach us some fun and exciting new things."..." more
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