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Origami Short-sleeved Dress

A flared dress with two sleeves and a folded neckline. Make a small paper model with measured folds and a complete illustrated guide.

Preparation + 11 numbered steps

Materials

6-inch square · 6 × 6 inches

One 6 × 6-inch square (15.24 × 15.24 cm) of thin paper, a ruler and a pencil. Contrasting paper sides help show hems. No scissors or glue.

Start the interactive guide ↓
Read all illustrated steps ↓Download PDF ↓ · one-page illustrated guide
Origami Short-sleeved Dress: a flared dress with two sleeves and a folded neckline
A flared dress with two sleeves and a folded neckline

Follow along

Preparation

The interactive guide needs JavaScript. Read every illustrated step below.

Camera only; does not change the fold.
Help · controls & diagram

Play or drag the progress slider to watch a fold from 0% to 100%. Use the view buttons or drag the diagram to look from another angle.

Blue and gold identify the original left and right halves, not the literal paper colors. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange highlights the moving packet and its hinge.

With the diagram focused: Space plays or pauses, ←/→ change steps, and Home resets.

Every step, at a glance

Compare your paper with each diagram after completing the action. Blue and gold identify the original left and right halves, not the literal paper colors. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange highlights the moving packet and its hinge.

  1. 0. Prepare the square
  2. 1. Crease the vertical center
  3. 2. Open the sheet
  4. 3. Crease across the middle
  5. 4. Open the cross creases
  6. 5. Fold in the right side
  7. 6. Fold in the left side
  8. 7. Open the left sleeve
  9. 8. Open the right sleeve
  10. 9. Turn the dress over
  11. 10. Fold the neckline
  12. 11. Level the hem behind
  1. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldPrepare the square

    PREPARATION · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Prepare the square

    Place the intended dress color down, with level top and bottom edges.

    Layers: One flat square.

    Check: All edges are straight.

    Explore this step ↑
  2. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCrease the vertical center

    STEP 1 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Crease the vertical center

    Bring the right edge to the left edge and press.

    Layers: Move the entire right half.

    Check: The side edges meet.

    Explore this step ↑
  3. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the sheet

    STEP 2 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Open the sheet

    Return the folded half completely to the table.

    Layers: Open the same half.

    Check: The center crease remains.

    Explore this step ↑
  4. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCrease across the middle

    STEP 3 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Crease across the middle

    Bring the bottom edge up to the top.

    Layers: Move the lower half.

    Check: The horizontal edges meet.

    Explore this step ↑
  5. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the cross creases

    STEP 4 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Open the cross creases

    Unfold the lower half completely.

    Layers: Open the same half.

    Check: The creases meet at the center.

    Explore this step ↑
  6. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold in the right side

    STEP 5 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Fold in the right side

    On the top edge mark 1.20 inches right of center; on the bottom mark 1.80 inches right of center. Join the marks and fold the right edge inward.

    Layers: Move the right side flap.

    Check: The folded edge slopes across the center.

    Explore this step ↑
  7. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold in the left side

    STEP 6 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Fold in the left side

    Mirror the two marks and fold the left edge inward.

    Layers: Move the left side flap.

    Check: The upper flaps overlap; the lower edges separate.

    Explore this step ↑
  8. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the left sleeve

    STEP 7 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Open the left sleeve

    On the left flap, join the top-left body corner to the crossing of the two free edges, 0.15 inches below the square center. Fold the upper flap outward on this line.

    Layers: Move only the folded left flap; keep the backing flat.

    Check: A triangular sleeve projects left.

    Explore this step ↑
  9. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the right sleeve

    STEP 8 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Open the right sleeve

    Mirror the sleeve fold on the right.

    Layers: Move only the folded right flap.

    Check: The two sleeves balance.

    Explore this step ↑
  10. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldTurn the dress over

    STEP 9 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Turn the dress over

    Turn the entire dress from side to side.

    Layers: Carry all sleeves and flaps.

    Check: The plain bodice faces you.

    Explore this step ↑
  11. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the neckline

    STEP 10 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Fold the neckline

    Fold the top edge down along a level line 0.55 inches below the original top edge.

    Layers: Carry the complete top packet.

    Check: A contrasting neckline appears.

    Explore this step ↑
  12. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldLevel the hem behind

    STEP 11 · Linked Origami Club diagram; measured adaptation

    Level the hem behind

    Fold the projecting lower tips to the back along a horizontal line 0.10 inches above the original bottom edge. Press the dress flat.

    Layers: Carry every layer below that line.

    Check: The dress has two sleeves, a neckline and a level hem.

    Explore this step ↑
Sources & notes

Origami Club; diagram credited to Fumiaki Shingu, Origami Club: Origami Short-sleeved Dress (web diagram).

Construction diagram ↗ · Reference model ↗

The reference diagram bears a Fumiaki Shingu copyright credit. This does not establish that the design is traditional or grant a reuse license. No reference text, drawings, photographs or animation are reproduced. These English instructions, measured geometry and rendered diagrams are original.

Adaptation: Uses the diagram labeled A One Piece Dress 1 on the onepiece2 page. Sloping side folds, separate sleeve flaps, neckline and hem are retained. Explicit hinge marks replace freehand shaping. The two hem tips are folded together across a single level hem line. Small flat decoration, not wearable clothing.

Original instructions and diagrams, made with AI assistance. About & reuse

Accuracy notes

Real-paper follow-along and paper weight have not been tested. Diagrams illustrate the sequence, not paper thickness, contact, collisions or exact layer visibility. One uncut square is carried through rigid-axis folds with persistent material coordinates. Shaping dimensions are authored landmarks rather than measurements claimed from the reference. Zero-thickness teaching geometry does not certify paper contact or physical foldability. Real-paper folding and wearable fit have not been tested.