Origami: How to fold Ornament Doll (Matryoshka; Russian nesting doll, Japanese Kokeshi doll, Japanese Samurai)

I’ll show how to make three types of dolls to you.

Since they all are famous, I bet you’ve seen them at least once.

The first one is “Matryoshka”. ❤

This is a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside the other,

known as one of the Russian famous souvenirs.

Though they’re also popular as good-luck charms for having an easy delivery

or being blessed with children, they are so cute too.

The second one is “Japanese Kokeshi”.★

It is said that Kokeshi was originally made as a bringer

of good luck for being blessed with children or having children’s toys.

I guess there are many people who have at least one in your house.

The third one is “Japanese Fukusuke”. ♪

Fukusuke, whose characteristics are a man sitting straight

and having big head with topknot, is a good luck doll.

Since all of them are like lucky charms,

why don’t you make your original dolls with origami paper

and decorate them in your room?

How to make a Doll 1  Matryoshka

１．First, fold it in half.

２．Again, fold it in half to make a square.

３．Open it up all the way,

and fold one side toward the crease you made (middle line), and put it back.

４．Fold it back toward the crease you made in No.3.

５．Fold both sides toward the crease you made (middle line) like the picture below.

６．Fold it behind along the black line shown in the picture.

７．It becomes like picture below.

８．Turn it over,

and fold only the top part up along the black line shown in the picture below.

９．It becomes like this.

１０．Turn it over.

Fold two corners back along the black lines shown in the picture below.

１１．Once you made the creases, put them back.

１２．Fold both sides along the black lines shown in the picture below.

１３．It becomes like the picture below.

１４．Fold both corners along the black lines shown in the picture below.

Fold two corners at the bottom a little bit up too.

１５．Turn it over.

１６．Put a round-cut drawing paper with the glue and draw your own face.

It’s done!

How to make a Doll 2  Japanese Kokeshi

１．Fold it in half.

２．Fold it in half again to make a square.

３．Open it up all the way,

and fold both sides toward the crease you made (middle line).

４．Fold only one side toward the crease you made like the picture below.

５．Put it back,

and fold it like a staircase along the black lines shown in the picture below.

６．It becomes like this.

７．Fold four parts along the black lines shown in the picture below.

８．It becomes like the picture below.

９．Flip it over.

１０． Draw your own face or patterns.  It’s done!

How to make a Doll 3  Japanese samurai

１．First, fold it in half.

２．Again, fold it in half to make a square.

３．Open it up all the way,

and fold four parts along the creases you made, like the picture below.

４．Once again, fold the four parts toward the center.

５．Turn it over.

６．Fold both sides toward the crease in the middle, like the picture below.

７．Open only the top parts.

８．It becomes like this.

９．Fold the top part down along the black line shown in the picture below.

１０．Fold the bottom part behind along the black line shown in the picture below.

１１．It becomes like this.

１２．Draw your original face and it’s done!

マトリョーシカでは、最後に画用紙などで顔の形を切って貼り、

自由に顔を描いて下さいね！★

裏白部分の袋になっているところに、メッセージカードなどを差し込んで

プレゼントしても喜ばれそうですね。

また、折り紙の大きさを変えて折ってみても良いですね。

こけしやふくすけも、自由に顔を描いてみましょう♪

着物部分も自由にアレンジしてみてくださいね！

【Translated by　 Kana Toda PIERCE】