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How to fold an origami flounder

A kite folded into a flat oval. Snip the tail and pleat each half so it flares into a fan, then draw both eyes on the top side, like a real flounder.

You need: 1 square sheet (15 cm), sandy brown on one side and white on the other, scissors, a white pen and a black pen. Hard, 12 steps, about 20 minutes.

Steps

  1. Fold in half. Brown side up, fold the top corner down to the bottom corner.
  2. And open it. Unfold it again, so you have a sharp crease across the middle.
  3. Make a kite. Fold the two right-hand edges behind to meet along the middle crease, so the front stays brown.
  4. Blunt the snout. Fold the left corner behind on an upright crease 2 cm from its tip.
  5. Round the head. Fold the two front edges behind on slants from the snout's corners, so the head is rounded.
  6. Round the body. Fold the top and bottom corners behind on long gentle slants, so the body is a flat oval.
  7. Square the tail. Fold the tail tip behind on an upright crease 2 cm from the end.
  8. Snip the tail. Snip along the middle crease from the tail end, about 5 cm.
  9. Fan pleat 1: over. Fold each half of the tail over to the left on an upright crease 1.5 cm from the end of the snip.
  10. Fan pleat 1: back. Fold it back on a crease from the same point on the outer edge, leaning out, so a ridge forms and the tail flares wider.
  11. Fan pleat 2: over. Fold each half over again on a crease 1.5 cm further along.
  12. Fan pleat 2: back. Fold it back on a crease from the same point on the outer edge, leaning out, so a ridge forms and the tail flares wider.

Flat out!

Draw both eyes close together on one side of the head, a small crooked mouth and dark spots all over.

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