What age is this origami Crane with Spread Wings for?

About Age 10+. It is rated “Challenge” (level 4 of 5), with 18 steps, and takes about 18 minutes.

What paper do I need?

One sheet of square origami paper (15 cm / 6 in). No scissors or glue are needed.

What is it called in Japanese?

In Japanese it is “つる（立体）” (立体の鶴). The word origami (折り紙) itself means “folding paper”: ori = fold, kami = paper.

Can I print the instructions?

Yes. “Print the diagram” puts every step on one page (or a PDF), and the practice sheet has the crease lines printed on the paper. Free for home and classroom use.

★★★★Challenge Birds & BugsTraditional

How to make an origami Crane with Spread Wingsつる（立体）Crane with Spread Wings

A paper crane with its wings spread and its body puffed out. Fold a classic crane, then shape it so it can stand on a shelf.

★★Easy Crane (Easy)★★★Crane (Medium)★★★Flapping Bird (Medium)★★★Standing Crane (Medium)★★★Flying Crane (Medium)★★★Jumbo Newspaper Crane (Medium)★★★Crane Chopstick Rest (Medium)★★★Crane and Turtle (Medium)★★★★Dancing Crane (Challenge)★★★★Nesting Crane with Chick (Challenge)★★★★★Linked Cranes "Imoseyama" (Master)★★★★★Ring of Four Linked Cranes (Master)★★★★★Crane Family (Five Linked Cranes) (Master)

18 steps
about 18 min
1 sheet of origami paper
Age 10+

How to fold

三角に折る
Fold in half to make a triangle.
さらに半分の三角に折る
Fold in half again.
袋を開いて、四角につぶす
Open the pocket and squash it into a square.
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも袋を開いて、四角につぶす
Squash this side into a square, too.
下のふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折りすじをつける
Fold the lower edges to the center line and unfold.
上の三角を折って、折りすじをつける
Fold the top down and unfold.
1まいめを下から持ち上げて、ふちを折りすじで内側へ（花弁折り）
Lift the bottom corner of the top layer and fold the sides in along the creases (petal fold).
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも、下のふちをまん中に合わせて折りすじをつける
Fold the lower edges to the center line and unfold.
こちらも花弁折り（鶴の基本形）
Petal fold this side, too. This is the bird base.
下のふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折る
Fold the lower edges to the center line.
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも同じように折る
Do the same on this side.
左の足を、中わり折りで上へ（首になる）
Inside reverse fold the left point up to make the neck.
右の足も、中わり折りで上へ（しっぽになる）
Inside reverse fold the right point up to make the tail.
首の先を中わり折りして、頭をつくる
Inside reverse fold the tip of the neck to make the head.
羽を左右に広げて、胴をふくらませる
Spread the wings and puff out the body.
羽のつけ根を両手で持って、左右にゆっくり引っぱります。
できあがり！羽を左右に開いて、羽のつけ根をそっと引っぱると、胴がふくらみます。背中の小さなあなから息をふきこんでもOK。立体の折り鶴のできあがり！
Finished! Spread the wings and gently pull them apart so the body puffs out. You can also blow into the small hole under the body. Your 3D crane is finished!

Fun fact

折り鶴のくわしい折り方が書かれた、のこっているいちばん古い本は、1797年の「秘伝千羽鶴折形」です。

The oldest surviving book about folding paper cranes, Hiden Senbazuru Orikata, was published in Japan in 1797.

Origami English in this model

❓ FAQ

What age is this origami Crane with Spread Wings for?: About Age 10+. It is rated “Challenge” (level 4 of 5), with 18 steps, and takes about 18 minutes.
What paper do I need?: One sheet of square origami paper (15 cm / 6 in). No scissors or glue are needed.
What is it called in Japanese?: In Japanese it is “つる（立体）” (立体の鶴). The word origami (折り紙) itself means “folding paper”: ori = fold, kami = paper.
Can I print the instructions?: Yes. “Print the diagram” puts every step on one page (or a PDF), and the practice sheet has the crease lines printed on the paper. Free for home and classroom use.