10-fold Origami: 30 Projects You Can Make in Ten Folds or Less

by Peter Engel

Some origami projects can have as many as 50 folds…but not these! Every charming paper sculpture from the traditional pinwheel and sailboat to the romantic valentine and picture frame requires only ten steps. And with three levels of difficulty to choose from, both beginners and more skilled origami crafters will find plenty of enjoyment. Paper master Peter Engel calls his models “playful art and artful play,” and the beautifully photographed designs are organized into such appealing categories as Wild Kingdom, Delectables, and Just for Fun. The engaging pieces include a high-heeled shoe, a gorgeous butterfly, a rocket ship that Engel originally devised as a child, a complete diner breakfast with eggs and all, and an adorable hatching chick.

Genres: Origami, Nonfiction, Crafts, Art, Self Help, Middle Grade, High School

80 pages, Hardcover

First published September 10, 2009

About the author

Peter Engel is an origami artist and theorist, science writer, graphic designer, and architect.

Engel studied the history and philosophy of science as an undergraduate at Harvard University, where he began studying origami seriously under design scientist Arthur Loeb. In 1987 he graduated from Columbia University with a master's degree in architecture.

Engel's writings on science have appeared in various publications including The New York Times, Discover, and Scientific American. He has published several books about origami.

Reviews

[Theresa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Complicated, advanced patterns made in just 10 main (advanced, not easy) steps. (some have an a,b,c added. Duck, house, pinwheel, sailboat. Food: candy cane, ice cream cones, bacon. etc. Romantic: valentine, butterfly, wedding ring, etc. Animals: bat, penguin, snake, etc.
Fun: rocket ship, spinner, hatching chick, etc.

Most not made to stand up by themselves, but attached to a poster or something. Egg looks stupid and frame is too much work for the need. Gave up on the bacon, candy cane, cone, shoe, butterfly, bat, … Actually, gave up completely.

Hints: Double-sided tape comes in real handy. Duck: make tail longer and wings shorter so it’ll stand up. Windmill: good luck finding a stick you can put a pin in. Ring does not make sense, step 5 reverses all you did previously.

Worked: Sailboat, Valentine.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would be happier with this book if the title were less misleading. The designs all take far more than 10 folds, and often the steps have been broken down into sub-steps to conform to the concept. There's a solid range of intermediate and advanced designs, a few of which are extremely cute renderings of non-traditional subjects (like bacon and eggs), but very little elegant simplicity.

[Manintheboat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bacon and eggs is adorable.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some were easy. Others just felt inept. Looked easy but my origami skills are waning.

[Max Dearing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Instructions were clear and easy to follow.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

An introduction to origami with a 10 step fold to a completed project. Definitely include some different colored and patterned paper to help make the final project stand out.