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How to fold an origami polar bear

Fold a triangle, crease and cut four sturdy legs and a long neck, round the rump, then crimp the head down so the bear plods along nose first.

You need: 1 square sheet, 15 × 15 cm, pale blue-grey on one side, small scissors and a ruler. Hard, 12 steps, about 20 minutes.

Steps

  1. Fold in half. White side up, fold the top corner down to the bottom corner. The long fold at the top is the bear's back.
  2. Crease the front legs. Fold the right point over on an upright crease 2.3 cm right of the middle and crease it hard. This marks the back of the front legs.
  3. Open it. Unfold it again.
  4. Crease the hind legs. Fold the left point over on an upright crease 2.3 cm left of the middle and crease it hard. This marks the front of the hind legs.
  5. Open it. Unfold it again.
  6. Crease the neck. Fold the right point over on an upright crease where the right edge is 6.6 cm below the back. This marks the front of the front legs.
  7. Open it. Unfold it again.
  8. Cut legs and neck. Cut the bottom point off level, 6.6 cm below the back. Cut up the leg creases to 4.3 cm below the back and across between them. Cut the neck 3.2 cm deep.
  9. Hump and rump. Cut the back in a gentle slope from above the front legs down to the rump, and round the rump with three short cuts. Slant the legs in a little.
  10. Head up. Outside-reverse-fold the head up and back over the neck, on a crease from the back 4.6 cm from the nose. Each layer wraps round the outside.
  11. Head down. Outside-reverse-fold the head forward again on a crease from the same point, so it hangs low in front of the shoulders. Glue the head layers.
  12. Blunt the nose. Snip 5 mm off the tip of the nose so it ends square, like a bear's broad snout.

Off on patrol!

Colour the nose black, draw a small eye and a round ear on each side, and ink the claws. Stand your bear on its four paws.

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