origami girls clothes

Making origami clothes is a fantastic project for scrapbooking, making handmade greeting cards, or creating a paper doll wardrobe.

Here are instructions for three classic pieces: The One-Piece Dress, The Pleated Skirt, and The Blouse.

1. The Classic Origami Dress
This is the most popular model. It looks like a retro sundress with a cinched waist and a flared skirt.

Paper: 6-inch (15cm) square. Patterns like polka dots or florals work best.

The Base: Start with the patterned side down. Fold the paper in half vertically and horizontally to create creases, then unfold.

Cupboard Fold: Fold the left edge and the right edge to meet the center line. You now have a tall rectangle.

The Sleeves: Turn the paper over. Fold the left and right edges to the center line again. The paper is now very narrow.

Open the Sleeves: Look at the top of the paper. Gently pull the inner corners of the top layer outward and squash them flat. It should look like a "V" or the roof of a house. These are your sleeves.

The Waist (The Trickiest Part):

Flip the paper over.

About 1/3 of the way down from the top, fold the bottom part of the paper UP.

Then, fold that same section DOWN, leaving a small gap (about 1 cm) between the creases. This is a "Z-fold" or "Accordion fold." This creates the waistline.

The Skirt:

Turn the paper over so you are looking at the front of the dress.

Gently pull the bottom left and right corners of the skirt outward to flare them. The waist you made in step 5 will tighten as you do this.

Final Shaping: Flip it to the back. Fold the sides of the bodice (the chest area) inward slightly to give the dress a more feminine shape. Fold back the sleeves a tiny bit if they are too long.

2. The School Uniform (Pleated Skirt)
This creates a cute, A-line pleated skirt.

Paper: 6-inch (15cm) square. Plaid or solid colors look best.

Preparation: Start white side up. Fold in half vertically and unfold.

The Hem: Fold the bottom edge up about 1 cm (this will be the white trim at the bottom, or keep it colored if you use double-sided paper).

The Pleats:

Turn the paper over.

Fold the paper in half vertically.

Fold the left and right edges to the center crease.

Keep folding edges to the center until you have divided the paper into 8 or 16 vertical strips (accordion style). Unfold everything so you just have the creases.

Forming the Skirt: Re-fold the accordion pleats so the paper is a scrunched-up strip.

The Waist: Pinch the top of the gathered strip tightly.

The Flare: While pinching the top, fan out the bottom of the skirt.

Locking it: Apply a tiny piece of tape or glue at the waist (on the back) to keep the pleats gathered at the top but open at the bottom.

3. The Simple Blouse / Shirt
This pairs perfectly with the skirt above.

Paper: 6-inch (15cm) square (or smaller if matching the skirt).

The Center: Fold in half vertically and unfold.

Cupboard Fold: Fold the left and right edges to meet the center line.

The Sleeves: Fold the top left and right corners outward diagonally. The corners should stick out past the straight edge. These are the sleeves.

The Collar:

Flip the paper over.

Fold the top edge down about 1 cm.

Flip the paper back to the front.

Take the top left and right corners (near the center line) and fold them diagonally down toward the center line. It should look like a "V" neck or a collar.

Shorten: Fold the bottom edge up to make the shirt the desired length (usually a square shape).

Tuck: Tuck the bottom of the shirt under the top of the skirt if combining them!

Pro-Tips for "Designer" Clothes:
Paper Choice: The thinner the paper, the better. Traditional Washi paper or "Chiyogami" works beautifully because it holds creases well without tearing.

Embellishments: Use tiny real buttons, sequins, or a small ribbon bow to glue onto the waist of the dress.

Scale: If you are making these for a card, a 6-inch paper makes a rather large dress (about 3-4 inches tall). For smaller, cuter clothes, cut your paper into 3-inch (7.5cm) squares before starting.