Towel Origami

From LoveToKnow Origami

While towel origami is not actually true origami, you can still make animals and objects by employing many of the same techniques.

Elephant made out of folded towels.

Folding Towels Creatively

Most people know how to fold towels properly. However, folding towels to stack in a linen closet and folding towels for display require different skills. Almost anyone can fold a towel into a square or rectangle, but few can turn that same towel into an elephant, origami monkey or cat.

Folding fabrics, including towels, uses origami skills in a unique way. Towel origami is often used on cruise ships and in hotels, but the art also comes in handy when:

  • Putting into bath and candle gift baskets
  • Using in guest bedrooms
  • Demonstrating at a hobby club or as part of a school presentation
  • Keeping kids occupied on a rainy day
  • De-stressing after a long day of work

Unlike origami paper, bath and hand towels are not usually shaped in perfect squares. For this reason, some people prefer to begin by using washcloths in their towel art, as they resemble a square.

Experienced origami folders may notice that some of the more traditional “rules” of origami are bent when folding towels. Rubber bands are often used to secure the towels into their shape. Google eyes, tails, sunglasses and other decorative elements are also incorporated into many of the designs.

OshiboriArt

Oshibori towels are small hand towels used in Japanese restaurants. They are usually wet and may be slightly warm in the winter and cool in the summer. As Nick Ramsay, founder of the website OshiboriArt discovered, they are perfect for making into small origami animals and other items.

You can visit his website to see short video clips and instructions on how to make:

  • Croissant
  • Rabbit
  • Elephant
  • Bird
  • Godzilla
  • Cow
  • Penguin
  • Man

If you cannot find authentic oshibori towels, you can cut regular towels or towel fabric into a square approximately 30 centimeters to complete the instructions found on OshiboriArt.

Towel Origami Resources

Making an animal or object out of a towel can be simpler than learning to do traditional origami. While original designs are exciting to create, many people begin by following instructions found in pamphlets, in books, and online. Visit YouTube and do a search for “towel origami instructions” to find step-by-step videos that outline how to create three-dimensional figures out of towels. If you are looking for a particular animal or object, include that in your search parameters as well.

You can also learn how to do towel origami from these resources:

Other Resources

Blogs devoted to origami, hobbies and crafts often include instructions on how to make towel origami shapes. Do a search on a blogging website or through a search engine to find simple origami instructions and diagrams for towel folding.

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