Origami for beginners
Everything you need to start folding: the paper, the handful of folds every model uses, the bases, and the easiest models to try first, each with a diagram for every step and a 3D version you can watch.
Start with these
What paper to use
Origami paper (kami) is thin, square and coloured on one side; 15 cm (6 in) is the usual size. Start bigger while you learn. No origami paper? Printer paper is fine for planes, cups, hats and faces: fold one short edge down to a long edge, cut off the strip, and open the triangle to get a square.
The basic folds
A valley fold folds the paper towards you (a dashed line in diagrams); a mountain fold folds it away from you (dash, dot). Fold and unfold leaves a crease to use later. Reverse folds turn a point inside or around a flap: necks, heads and tails.
The bases
Many models start from the same few shapes. Learn the preliminary base and the bird base and you can fold the crane and dozens more.