What age is this origami Nesting Crane with Chick for?

About Age 10+. It is rated “Challenge” (level 4 of 5), with 23 steps, and takes about 40 minutes.

What paper do I need?

2 sheets of origami paper (15 cm / 6 in for the parent and half that size for the chick; different colors look cute) No scissors or glue are needed.

What is it called in Japanese?

In Japanese it is “巣ごもり鶴” (巣ごもり鶴). 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 & BugsOriginal

How to make an origami Nesting Crane with Chick巣ごもり鶴Nesting Crane with Chick

A parent crane spreads its wings a little and bends its neck down to look at its chick. This challenge version uses a big and a small sheet and is finished in 3D.

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23 steps
about 40 min
2 sheets of origami paper (15 cm / 6 in for the parent and half that size for the chick; different colors look cute)
Age 10+

How to fold

大きい紙（親）と小さい紙（ひな）を、色の面を上にして三角に折る
Place the big sheet (parent) and the small sheet (chick) colored side up and fold them into triangles.
2まいとも同じ折り方です。ひなの紙は小さいので、ていねいに。
さらに半分の三角に折る
Fold them in half again.
袋を開いて、四角につぶす
Open the pockets and squash them into squares.
うらがえす
Turn them over.
こちらも四角につぶす（正方基本形）
Squash this side into squares, too. This is the square base.
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、ふちを内側へ（花弁折り）
Lift the bottom corner of the top layer and fold the sides in (petal fold).
うらがえす
Turn them 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 on this side, too.
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 them 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して、真横へ出す（首）
Inside reverse fold the left point straight out to the side. This is the neck.
右の足も中わり折りして、真横へ出す（しっぽ）
Inside reverse fold the right point straight out, too. This is 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.
親とひなで、頭を曲げる向きを反対にします（あとで向かい合わせるため）。
親のしっぽの先を中わり折りして、ふさふさの羽をつくる
Inside reverse fold the tip of the parent’s tail to make the tail feathers.
手前の羽を、下へたおす（上から見た形）
Fold the front wings down. Now you see the cranes from above.
親の羽のまん中に、折りすじをつける
Crease the parent’s wings across the middle.
親の首のまん中に、折りすじをつける
Crease the parent’s neck across the middle.
ひなを、親の頭の前に、向かい合わせに置く
Place the chick in front of the parent’s head, facing the parent.
親の羽を少し広げて先を下げ、首を起こして折りすじで前へ曲げる。ひなは首を高く起こす
Open the parent’s wings a little and let the tips droop. Raise its neck and bend it forward at the crease. Raise the chick’s neck high.
首としっぽは、羽と直角になるように、たてにして起こします。
できあがり！親鶴が、首を曲げてひなを見守っています。巣ごもり鶴のできあがり！親の羽の下に、ひなを少し入れてかざってもすてきです。
Finished! The parent crane bends its neck to watch over its chick. Your nesting cranes are finished! You can also tuck the chick a little under the parent’s wing.

Fun fact

「鶴の巣籠（つるのすごもり）」は、尺八などで演奏される古い曲の名前です。ひなを育てて巣立たせる親鶴の気持ちを表しているといわれます。

"Tsuru no Sugomori" (The Nesting Crane) is the name of an old piece of music played on the shakuhachi flute and other instruments. It is said to express the feelings of a parent crane raising its chick until it leaves the nest.

Origami English in this model

❓ FAQ

What age is this origami Nesting Crane with Chick for?: About Age 10+. It is rated “Challenge” (level 4 of 5), with 23 steps, and takes about 40 minutes.
What paper do I need?: 2 sheets of origami paper (15 cm / 6 in for the parent and half that size for the chick; different colors look cute) No scissors or glue are needed.
What is it called in Japanese?: In Japanese it is “巣ごもり鶴” (巣ごもり鶴). 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.