Introduction to Basics Origami Diagrams

In the many years that Origami diagrams have been in existance, some standards on how to draw them have been developed. The Yoshizawa-Randlett system, which is accepted as an international standard, was first created by Akira Yoshizawa and then refined by Samuel Randlett and Robert Harbin.

Even though these standards exist there are still many variations in each individual diagramming style. I will try to present the most common symbols and variations here. This should help you to find your way through most Origami diagrams you come across.
You will find most of the symbols shown here again in the section Basic Folds, where they will probably make more sense in context.

Often (but unfortunately not always) the "paper" shown in diagrams will have a white side and a coloured side, like standard Origami paper (Kami). If this is the case you sometimes find a symbol which shows whether you should start with the coloured side up or the white side up.

Coloured-Side-Up

White-Side-Up

How To Make Origami Firework (Yami Yamauchi)

Quilling Origami

Quilling is an easy paper craft that requires minimal tools. It produces amazing results which can be used for decorating birth announcements, wedding invitations, and other embellishments.

The art of twirling paper started during the Renaissance when nuns decorated bibles and religious texts with swirly strips of paper. Back then, they used feathers (quills) for writing and it is believed that they rolled the strips of paper around the quill - thus the term "quilling".