Origami Koi Fish

Koi are a beautiful species of fish that are often seen decoratively in koi ponds. In this Instructable, you will learn how to fold your own origami Koi fish!

• One sheet of origami paper. Many colors are okay: white, red, orange, yellow, black, and gray are all fine.

Fold the square origami paper in half as shown.

With open side up, fold two equal triangles towards the middle line as shown

Fold the top of triangle on the left side down towards the side of this triangle as shown. 

Unfold and rotate 90 degrees. Find the middle point C between marked folding points A and B.

Fold to make a crease along point C and parallel to the top line. 

Fold the right side up and left (center at point C, see above image). Unfold.

Fold the corner DD against the blue crease. Unfold.

Mountain fold along blue creases and valley fold along green creases. 

Mountain fold along blue crease

Fold back fin along the marked place as shown.

Flip over, and flatten fold as shown

Fold a line at E, parallel to the blue line, as shown. Then fold up G towards the tip H. Note folding the two ends properly along the side slopes.

Fold point I onto point I’, then fold back along the line JJ’ as shown. Do the same on the other side.

Fold along line KK’ to create a crease, unfold. Then fold down to align lines using the crease as shown. Do the same on the other side.

Fold along line LL’ to create a crease, unfold. Fold up as shown to complete the fin. Do the same on the other side.

Fold along MM’ back to hide. Similarly do the same on the other side.

Fold along NN’ to create a crease, unfold. Then fold in along the crease as shown. Flip fold to the left.

Fold the other side as shown.

Fold head in a bit, as shown. Do the same on the other side.

Mountain fold to form fish body; side fold-in as shown as fish side body for both sides.

Apply glue to the back and back fin. Fix the head and fail in position as well.

Use a pencil to roll some curves in the fins and tail.