Essential Origami: How To Build Dozens of Models from Just 10 Easy Bases [Paperback]

Steve Biddle (Author), Megumi Biddle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 1991

In Essential Origami, paper-folding experts Steve and Megumi Biddle reveal a remarkably comprehensive and easy-to-use technique to create dozens of dazzling models. The key to this unique approach is mastering just 10 easy base folds: the Bird Base, the Blintz Base, the Fish Base, the Frog Base, the Kite/Diamond Base, the Nappy Fold, the Pig Base, the Preliminary Fold, the Waterbomb Base, and the Windmill Base. Building on these base folds allows for countless creative inventions-from koala bears, Scottish terriers, antelopes, dragons, pandas, and planes with propellers, to multi-unit spheres, octagonal boxes, and other exquisite geometrical designs.

In addition to more than 1,000 step-by-step illustrations, Essential Origami contains helpful paper-folding tips, note-worthy trivia, and fascinating explanations that illuminate the worlds of both ancient and contemporary origami. A compendium to delight the novice and the expert alike, Essential Origami puts centuries of noteworthy techniques at everyone's fingertips.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Steve and Megumi Biddle are the authors of several books on origami. They live in England.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (May 15, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312057164
• ISBN-13: 978-0312057169
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,173,080 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great place to start and mature, January 11, 2001

By 

Russell Belfer (San Mateo, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Essential Origami: How To Build Dozens of Models from Just 10 Easy Bases (Paperback)

I bought this book to broaden the range of things that I could fold (knowing just 2 or 3 origami before reading this). It has exceeded my expectations. Not only did I quickly learn new things that I could fold, I also learned a broad range of fundamental patterns for origami, plus I found detailed instructions on complex models.

There are a variety of simple hat, box, flower, and animal models that you learn from the very start, but the patterns range up to much more complex models, like a wonderful Santa Claus origami that I've folded several times to add to Christmas presents. That one still takes me about half an hour to fold, but I'm working on it. This book covers many origami that can be made from a fairly broad set of basic folds, so you can go a long way with just this book.

The instructions are generally very clear with words and pictures for everything you need to do. The models do build on one another, however, and later in the book there are often back-references to previous pieces (which may themselves refer to earlier pieces). You should not expect to jump immediately to the most complex origami (unless you have significant prior experience, I guess).

I was prepared to buy a couple of books, if necessary, to learn a variety of interesting things to fold, but having purchased this one, I have not felt the need to buy another so far. I highly recommend this book.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars _The_ book for anyone learning or teaching origami, May 22, 1998

By 

Rose ([e-mail]) (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essential Origami: How To Build Dozens of Models from Just 10 Easy Bases (Paperback)

The short version of this review is: Wow. What a perfect book. What a classic. Wow. The long form is: As a student, I adore it. As a teacher, I adore it. As a gift-giver, I adore it. When I was on jury duty and wanted something to do that I could share with and teach to other people, it was the first book I looked for. When a friend wanted to learn, it was the first book I lent. When I forgot to buy a guest-gift the first time I met my boyfriend's parents, it was one of the two books I brought on the plane with me so that I could whip up something miraculous-looking without much time to work with (the other book being Tomoko Fusè's "Unit Origami", a classic of a very different sort). When looking for folds to memorize for those times when you need to fidget with something, it was the book I turned to; the Double Heart fold is one of my favorite fidgets. The short short version is: Buy it. You won't regret it.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent first origami book, will hook anyone, July 14, 2000

By 

Julia Starkey (Medford, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Essential Origami: How To Build Dozens of Models from Just 10 Easy Bases (Paperback)

This is a superb book about folding origami. It has simple instructions with clear folding diagrams and groups the origami models around simple to fold 'bases' so that once you learn how to fold a bird base, for example, you can learn how to make a half dozen models with the same start. Excellent for all ages. This is one of my favorite origami books that I regularly come back to