Origami Butterflies Mini Kit_ Fold Up a Flutter of Gorgeous Paper Wings

The Tuttle Story
“Books to Span the East and West”

Most people are surprised to learn that the world’s largest publisher of books on Asia had its humble
beginnings in the tiny American state of Vermont. The company’s founder, Charles E. Tuttle, belonged
to a New England family steeped in publishing. And his first love was naturally books—especially old
and rare editions.

Immediately after WW II, serving in Tokyo under General Douglas MacArthur, Tuttle was tasked
with reviving the Japanese publishing industry. He later founded the Charles E. Tuttle Publishing
Company, which thrives today as one of the world’s leading independent publishers.

Though a westerner, Tuttle was hugely instrumental in bringing a knowledge of Japan and Asia to a
world hungry for information about the East. By the time of his death in 1993, Tuttle had published over
6,000 books on Asian culture, history and art—a legacy honored by the Japanese emperor with the
“Order of the Sacred Treasure,” the highest tribute Japan can bestow upon a non-Japanese.

With a backlist of 1,500 titles, Tuttle Publishing is more active today than at any time in its past—
inspired by Charles Tuttle’s core mission to publish fine books to span the East and West and provide a
greater understanding of each.

Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.

www.tuttlepublishing.com

Copyright © 2013 by Michael G. LaFosse and Richard L. Alexander

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval
system, without prior written permission from the publisher.

The origami models in this book may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission from
the authors.

ISBN: 978-4-8053-1278-0
ISBN: 978-1-4629-1731-0 (ebook)

Distributed by:

North America, Latin America & Europe
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive
North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436 U.S.A.
Tel: 1 (802) 773-8930; Fax: 1 (802) 773-6993
Email: [email protected]; www.tuttlepublishing.com

Japan
Tuttle Publishing
Yaekari Building, 3rd Floor
5-4-12 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku,
Tokyo 141 0032

Tel: (81) 3 5437-0171; Fax: (81) 3 5437-0755
[email protected]; www.tuttle.co.jp

Asia Pacific
Berkeley Books Pte. Ltd.
61 Tai Seng Avenue #02-12
Singapore 534167
Tel: (65) 6280-1330; Fax: (65) 6280-6290
[email protected], www.periplus.com

First edition
17 16 15 14 6 5 4 3 2

Printed in China 1312CT

TUTTLE PUBLISHING® is a registered trademark of Tuttle Publishing, a division of Periplus Editions
(HK) Ltd.

Contents


Key to the Origami Folding Symbols
Introduction
For George Morikami
For Sharon Friedheim
For Mara Sparks
For Beth Kawazura
For Reiko Nishioka
For Vancouver and for Elsa Chen

How to Download the Bonus Material of this Book.


1. You must have an internet connection.
2. Click the link below or copy paste the URL to your web browser.
http://www.tuttlepublishing.com/origami-butterflies-mini-kit-downloadable-

cd-content
For support email us at [email protected].

Key to the Origami Folding Symbols Take

a few moments to become familiar with these symbols and their meanings. As
you watch the video, look at the corresponding diagrams in the book to reinforce
your understanding. Once you learn this elegant diagramming system, you will
be able to enjoy countless origami books.

Scalene squash fold: Forms an asymmetrical triangle with no congruent edges.
Isosceles squash fold: Forms a symmetrical triangle with at least two congruent
edges.

Introduction



Michael LaFosse folded his first original origami butterfly
while riding a subway with Alice Gray more than 30 years
ago. They had just left Lillian Oppenheimer’s Origami Center
in Union Square, where Michael showed Alice his amazing origami praying
mantis. Alice offered to show him around the Entomology Department at the
American Museum of Natural History, so off they went. En route, Michael
folded the first Butterfly for Alice. Encouraged, Michael began developing a
system to produce a variety of interesting butterfly wing patterns.

Years later, we attended our first origami convention in New York, where
Russell Cashdollar displayed sets of interesting origami butterflies. Inspired by
Russell’s work, Michael has been developing stunning new origami butterflies
ever since.

Origami butterflies were part of Michael’s exhibition for the Morikami
Museum in Florida’s Palm Beach County. The museum hosted Michael for an
Artist in Residency program to design and fold dozens of origami fine art
renditions of animals and plants for a traveling exhibition to raise public
awareness of Florida’s hidden nature. Most of the butterflies in this kit are
named to honor the contributions of Morikami personnel. To view some of
Michael’s art made from my handmade Origamido paper, please visit
www.origamido.com.

We hope you enjoy the original origami butterfly designs presented in this kit!

—Origamido Studio
Richard Alexander

A Butterfly for George Morikami

George Morikami came to the U.S. as a teenager in 1906
to join the Yamato Colony, a community of Japanese
farmers in Florida. Morikami bought land in Boca Raton
and Delray Beach, which he farmed for decades. Through
his generosity, this land became the Morikami Museum
and Japanese Gardens, where Michael has taught paper
making and folding on several occasions.

1 Begin with the minor color facing up. (A) Valleyfold in half, bottom edge to

top edge. Unfold. (B) Pinch a short valley fold at the quarter length, aft er
aligning the bottom edge to center crease. Unfold. (C) Pinch a short valley fold
at the eighth length, aft er aligning the bottom edge to the first pinch mark.
Unfold.

2 Lay the lower pinch mark on top of the upper pinch mark and valleyfold the

flap halfway between the two pinch marks. Unfold.

3 (A) Valleyfold the bottom left and right corners to the valley crease above.

(B) Valleyfold the flap upward to lock the corners inside.

4 Turn over, bottom to top.

5 (A) Valleyfold the bottom edge to the crease, making only a pinch mark.

Unfold. (B) Valleyfold the bottom edge to the pinch mark, making a new pinch
mark. Unfold. (C) Lay the lower pinch mark on top of the upper pinch mark and
valleyfold the flap halfway between the two pinch marks. Unfold.

6 (A) Valleyfold the bottom corners to the valley crease above. (B) Valleyfold

the flap upward to lock the corners inside. Rotate the paper 90 degrees
clockwise.

7 Valleyfold in half, bottom to top.

8 Squashfold the right half. Look ahead for the result.
9 The squashfold in progress.

10 Your paper should look like this. Turn over, left to right.
11 Squashfold the right half. Look ahead to step 12 to see the result.

12 Valleyfold the bottom corner to the middle of the top edge. Unfold.

13 One at a time, squashfold the right and left halves of the model to form the

wings. Look ahead at step 14 to see the results.

14 Your paper should look like this. Mountain-and valleyfold the abdomen

over the right wing, aligning as indicated.

15 Valleyfold the left wing to match the right wing. Unfold.

16 (A) Squashfold the paper for the head. (B) Mountain-fold the corner

behind. (C) Your paper should look like this. (D) Fold the wings together.

17 Mountain-fold abdomen edges inside. See step 18 for the detail view.

18 The view from underneath. Fold the lower edges of abdomen inward.

Close the abdomen.

19 Valleyfold the wings down on each side.
20 A Butterfly for George Morikami.

A Butterfly for Sharon Friedheim

Morikami Museum Education Department’s Sharon
Friedheim was instrumental in introducing us to several
natural history parks and resource centers that partnered
with Morikami to help us set up our FLorigami:
Unfolding Florida’s Hidden Nature exhibition.

1 Begin with the minor color facing up. (A) Valleyfold in half, bottom edge to

top edge. Unfold. (B) Pinch a short Valley fold at the quarter length, aft er
aligning the bottom edge to center crease. Unfold. (C) Pinch a short valley fold
at the eighth length, aft er aligning the bottom edge to the first pinch mark.
Unfold.

2 Lay the lower pinch mark on top of the upper pinch mark and valleyfold the

flap halfway between the two pinch marks.

3 Turn over, bottom to top.

4 (A) Valleyfold the bottom edge to the crease, making only a pinch mark.

Unfold. (B) Valleyfold the bottom edge to the pinch mark, making a new pinch
mark. Unfold. (C) Lay the lower pinch mark on top of the upper pinch mark and
valleyfold the flap halfway between the two pinch marks. Unfold.

5 (A) Valleyfold the bottom corners to the valley crease above. (B) Valleyfold

the flap upward to lock the corners inside. Rotate 90 degrees counterclockwise.

6 Valleyfold the paper in half, bottom to top.
7 Squashfold the right half. Look ahead to see the result.

8 Turn the paper over, left to right.
9 Squashfold the right half. Look ahead to step 10 to see the result.

10 Valleyfold the bottom corner to the middle of the top edge. Unfold.

11 One at a time, squashfold the right and left halves of the model to form

scalene triangle shapes for the wings. Look ahead at step 12 to see the results.

12 Valleyfold the hidden flaps of the hindwings out, as far as they will go,

flat.

13 Your paper should look like this. Mountain-and valleyfold the abdomen

over the right wing, contacting the indicated edge of the top layer.

14 Valleyfold the left wing to match the right wing. Unfold.

15 (A) Squashfold the paper for the head. (B) Mountain-fold the corner

behind. (C) Your paper should look like this. (D) Fold the wings together.

16 (A) Mountain-fold the abdomen edges inside.

17 The view from the underside. Fold the lower edges of abdomen inward.

Close the abdomen.

18 Valleyfold the wings down on each side.

19 A Butterfly for Sharon Friedheim.

A Butterfly for Mara Sparks

Morikami Museum’s exhibit preparator, Mara Sparks,
helped to arrange the layout and prepare the signage to
make our FLorigami exhibition so popular.

1 Begin with the major color facing up. (A) Valley-fold the paper in half,

bottom edge to top. Unfold. (B) Valley-fold the bottom edge to the center crease.
Unfold. (C) Move the bottom edge to the lower crease line and make a pinch
mark. Unfold.

2 Lay the pinch mark on top of the lower crease and valley-fold all the way

across the paper. Unfold.

3 Valley-fold the bottom corners up to align with crease “B” from step 1.

4 Valley-fold the bottom edge up using the bottom crease formed in step 2.
5 Rotate the paper 180 degrees.

6 (A) Valley-fold the bottom edge up to the crease, making a short pinch mark.

Unfold. (B) Valley-fold the bottom edge to the pinch mark. Unfold.

7 (A) Valley-fold the bottom corners up to align with lowest crease. (B) Valley-

fold the bottom edge up.

8 Valley-fold the paper in half, short edge to short edge, and then rotate it 90

degrees clockwise.

9 Squashfold the right half. Look ahead to step 10 to see the result.

10 Turn the paper over, left to right.

11 Squashfold the right half. Look ahead to step 12 to see the result.
12 Valley-fold the bottom corner to the middle of the top edge. Unfold.

13 One at a time, squashfold the right and left halves of the model to form the

wings. Look ahead at step 14 to see the results.

14 Form a crimped overlap at the middle of each wing by moving the top

layer of the hindwing up, Valley-folding the lower layers to the corners. Sharpen
the middle mountain creases.

15 Inside-reverse-fold the indicated corner on each side.

16 Mountain-fold the free edge of the top layer on each hindwing. Mountain-

fold one third of the short edge of each hindwing’s lower flap, behind.

17 Your paper should look like this. Mountain-and valley-fold the abdomen

over the right wing, aligning as indicated.

18 Valley-fold the left wing to match the right wing. Unfold.

19 (A) Squashfold the paper for the head. (B) Mountain-fold the corner

behind. (C) Your paper should look like this. (D) Fold the wings together.

20 (A) Mountain-fold the abdomen edges inside. (B) Valley-fold the wings

down.

21 Mountain-fold the tail of the hindwing in half and gently curve it outward.

22 A Butterfly for Mara Sparks.

A Butterfly for Beth Kawazura

Morikami’s School Program Specialist, Beth Kawazura,
helped us arrange paper making and folding workshops at
area schools, resulting in the students folding a colorful
garland of 10,000 origami Florida Soft shell Turtles, each
bearing the crest or emblem of the folder’s school.

1 Begin with the minor color facing up. (A) Valleyfold the paper in half,

bottom edge to top. Unfold. (B) Move the bottom edge to the center crease and
make a short pinch mark. Unfold. (C) Move the bottom edge to the pinch mark
and make another short pinch mark. Unfold.

2 Lay the lower pinch mark on top of the upper pinch mark and valleyfold all

the way across the paper.

3 Valleyfold the indicated short edges to align with the bottom folded edge.

4 turn the paper over, top to bottom.

5 (A) Valleyfold the bottom edge to the crease. Unfold. (B) Valleyfold the

bottom corners up to the crease.

6 Use the existing crease to valleyfold the top edge down.

7 Valleyfold the bottom layer up, flush to the folded edge above. Rotate the

paper 90 degrees clockwise.

8 Open the paper.

9 Valleyfold in half, bottom to top.
10 Squashfold the right half. Look ahead to see the result.

11 Your paper should look like this. Turn it over, left to right.
12 Pull out and flatten flaps “a” and “b.”

13 Squashfold the right half. Look ahead to step 14 to see the result.

14 Valleyfold the bottom corner to the top of the split. Unfold.

15 One at a time, squashfold the right and left halves of the model to form the

wings. Look ahead at step 16 to see the results.

16 Form a crimped overlap at the middle of each wing by rolling the top edges

down. Use the horizontal mountain crease to fold the forewing paper down over
the hindwing, creating the forewing overlap.

17 Detail to follow.

18 (A) Valleyfold the square corner so that the top edge runs parallel to the

crease. (B) Mountain-and valleyfold the triangle flap into thirds. Inside-
reversefold the lower corner of the forewing. Complete on both forewings.

19 Mountain-fold the indicated edges of the hindwings behind.
20 Mountain-and valleyfold the abdomen over the right wing.

21 Valleyfold the left wing to match the right wing. Unfold.

22 (A) Squashfold the paper for the head. (B) Mountain-fold the corner

behind. (C) Your paper should look like this. (D) Fold the wings together.

23 (A) Mountain-fold the abdomen edges inside. (B) Valleyfold the wings

down on each side.