Origami Praying Mantis

[Intermediate] How to fold an origami Praying Mantis whose head rotates 180°! I used 6-inch kami but I would recommend using at least a 10-inch square. Warning: This model is more complex than most of my models that I post here. Please understand that I'm trying to offer origami to a range of skill levels including the more advanced folders so if you get stuck, it just means that you are not quite ready for this level of origami, and to try some easier models first like the Two Interlocking Rings    • Fold 2 Interlocking Rings by Jeremy S...   or one of the Easy Flashers    • Easiest Flasher - Easy Flasher   . That said, relative to other origami mantises in diagrams and videos, this one ranks as considerably easier while still capturing a realistic appearance. All other mantises I've seen include antennae but I chose to design my praying mantis excluding the antennae because on the real praying mantis the antennae are so thin that I think that it is the head not the antennae that most captures the essence of the praying mantis. I didn't want it to be possibly mistaken for some other insect. I've shown this model a few times in my juggling/origami shows and my audience members were able to quickly recognize it as a praying mantis.

I think this tutorial is very followable but I do apologize for the little blurriness in some of the up-close shots. I didn't notice it while looking into the camera's viewfinder. I probably should have used 10-inch kami or just not have zoomed in so much. I'll keep that in mind for the future.


Alaina’s Origami Music Key Videos went through the video and provided the timestamps in this comment: "Oh good lord that’s a long video. Well here are the time stamps

0:00 Intro
0:30 making the precreases
09:45 pleat-sinking
14:45 finished body
15:10 the legs
22:15 the head
32:30 finished model and outro

Thanks Alaina!

Just a tip to all you video creators.... Putting the timestamps in the above format is the method to make clickable timestamps in your videos.

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