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How to fold an origami black panther

Crease and cut a triangle into a long low body on four short legs, mid-step. Fold a long tail down, back and up, and add a blunt-nosed head held low.

You need: 1 charcoal square (15 cm), a small charcoal square (6.3 cm), scissors, a ruler, glue and a white pen. Hard, 22 steps, about 35 minutes.

Steps

  1. Body: fold in half. White side up, fold the top corner down to the bottom corner. The long fold at the top is the panther's back; it faces right.
  2. Body: crease the front legs. Fold the right point over on an upright crease 2.4 cm right of the middle, and crease it hard.
  3. Body: open it. Unfold it.
  4. Body: crease again. Fold the right point over again, on a crease 3.4 cm right of the middle.
  5. Body: open it. Unfold it. You will cut a front leg each side of this crease, one stepping ahead.
  6. Body: crease the hind legs. Fold the left point over on an upright crease 1.8 cm left of the middle.
  7. Body: open it. Unfold it.
  8. Body: crease again. Fold the left point over again, on a crease 2.7 cm left of the middle.
  9. Body: open it. Unfold it. You will cut a hind leg each side of this crease, one trailing behind.
  10. Body: crease the rump. Fold the left point over once more, on a crease 3.8 cm left of the middle.
  11. Body: open it. Unfold it. Left of this crease will be the long tail.
  12. Body: cut the legs. Cut the bottom point off level, 4.8 cm below the top fold. Cut up all 4 leg creases to 2.6 cm below the top, and straight across between the legs.
  13. Body: free the tail. Cut up the rump crease to 7 mm below the top, then along to the left point for a long thin tail. Round the rump, taper all 4 legs and slant the chest.
  14. Tail: let it hang. Fold the long tail down and back on a slanted crease from the top of the rump, so it hangs low behind the legs.
  15. Tail: sweep it back. About 3 cm down the tail, fold the rest back on a slant so it sweeps out behind, just above the ground.
  16. Tail: hook the end. Fold the last 2 cm of the tail up, so the end hooks up in a long curve.
  17. Head: new sheet. Set the body aside. Take the small charcoal square, white side up, turned like a diamond.
  18. Head: fold in half. Fold the bottom corner up to the top corner. The fold at the bottom is the jaw; the left point will be the nose.
  19. Head: the ear. Fold the right corner up on a crease from the middle of the jaw fold, so its tip stands up past the right edge.
  20. Head: turn over. Turn the head over. Now the nose points right and the ear is at the back.
  21. Head: forehead and nose. Cut the top point off level, 2 cm above the jaw fold, without cutting the ear behind. Snip the nose tip off square, 9 mm from the end, and round the chin.
  22. Glue it together. Glue the back of the head over the chest, low down, so the panther prowls with its head below its shoulders.

Silent steps

With a white pen, draw a narrow eye with a black slit, a shiny nose, a mouth line and whisker dots.

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