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Flat Origami Garden Eel

A narrow folded body with a bent, blunt head. Follow the complete folding sequence, then add the optional drawn details for a flat ocean scene.

Preparation + 14 numbered steps

Materials

6-inch square · 6 × 6 inches

One 6 × 6-inch square (15.24 × 15.24 cm) of thin origami paper. Ruler and pencil for measured folds; optional pen for the face. No scissors or glue.

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Read all illustrated steps ↓Download PDF ↓ · one-page illustrated guide
Flat Origami Garden Eel: A narrow folded body with a bent, blunt head
A narrow folded body with a bent, blunt head

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 track the original left and right halves of the sheet, not literal paper colors. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange marks moving paper 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 track the original left and right halves of the sheet, not literal paper colors. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange marks moving paper and its hinge.

  1. 0. Prepare the diamond
  2. 1. Crease the vertical center
  3. 2. Open the diamond
  4. 3. Crease the horizontal center
  5. 4. Open both creases
  6. 5. Fold an offset triangle
  7. 6. Turn the triangle over
  8. 7. Wrap the first band
  9. 8. Wrap the second band
  10. 9. Wrap the third band
  11. 10. Wrap the last band
  12. 11. Stand the strip upright
  13. 12. Blunt the head tip
  14. 13. Bend the head sideways
  15. 14. Finish the garden eel
  1. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldPrepare the diamond

    PREPARATION · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Prepare the diamond

    Place a corner upward with the intended body color facing down.

    Layers: One square.

    Check: The long diagonal is vertical.

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

    STEP 1 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Crease the vertical center

    Bring the right point to the left point and crease.

    Layers: Fold the whole right half.

    Check: The opposite corners meet.

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

    STEP 2 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Open the diamond

    Return the right half fully to the table.

    Layers: Open the same half.

    Check: The vertical crease remains.

    Explore this step ↑
  4. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCrease the horizontal center

    STEP 3 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Crease the horizontal center

    Bring the bottom point up to the top point.

    Layers: Move the complete lower half.

    Check: The side points stay fixed.

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

    STEP 4 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Open both creases

    Unfold completely.

    Layers: Return the lower half.

    Check: Two diagonal creases meet at the center.

    Explore this step ↑
  6. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold an offset triangle

    STEP 5 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Fold an offset triangle

    Mark a horizontal line 0.3 inch above the center. Fold the top point down along it.

    Layers: Move the full upper section.

    Check: A narrow strip of the reverse side remains visible along the lower sloping edges.

    Explore this step ↑
  7. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldTurn the triangle over

    STEP 6 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Turn the triangle over

    Turn the complete packet over from side to side. Keep its long edge at the top.

    Layers: Turn all layers.

    Check: The narrow contrasting margins are on the back.

    Explore this step ↑
  8. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldWrap the first band

    STEP 7 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Wrap the first band

    Measure 0.85 inch down from the top edge and fold that edge down along a horizontal line. Flatten the band.

    Layers: Carry all layers in the band.

    Check: The first wrap is flat, not a tube.

    Explore this step ↑
  9. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldWrap the second band

    STEP 8 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Wrap the second band

    Measure 0.85 inch down from the new top edge. Fold the complete band down again.

    Layers: Carry the doubled band and all paper above this line.

    Check: The next hinge is 1.4 inches below the original center.

    Explore this step ↑
  10. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldWrap the third band

    STEP 9 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Wrap the third band

    Repeat the 0.85-inch downward wrap.

    Layers: Move every layer above the new crease.

    Check: The strip gets thicker as the triangle becomes shorter.

    Explore this step ↑
  11. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldWrap the last band

    STEP 10 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Wrap the last band

    Make one more 0.85-inch wrap downward. Press the long strip flat.

    Layers: Carry all layers of the wrapped band.

    Check: A narrow strip remains with short sloping ends.

    Explore this step ↑
  12. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldStand the strip upright

    STEP 11 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Stand the strip upright

    Rotate the whole model a quarter-turn counterclockwise on the table.

    Layers: Rotate every layer without a new crease.

    Check: The long strip is vertical.

    Explore this step ↑
  13. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldBlunt the head tip

    STEP 12 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Blunt the head tip

    Fold the top point down on a horizontal line 0.6 inch below it, about 3.64 inches above the original center.

    Layers: Move all layers in the small top tip.

    Check: The top end is less pointed.

    Explore this step ↑
  14. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldBend the head sideways

    STEP 13 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Bend the head sideways

    At a point 2 inches above the original center on the strip’s left edge, draw a 45-degree crease rising to the right across the strip. Fold the upper end to the right.

    Layers: Move the whole upper packet together.

    Check: The head projects to the right of the long body.

    Explore this step ↑
  15. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFinish the garden eel

    STEP 14 · Origami Club sea creature diagram

    Finish the garden eel

    Draw one eye near the head end and optional spots or stripes. Display the strip flat; it is not a standing model.

    Layers: Ink is decoration, not another paper layer.

    Check: A long narrow body ends in a short bent head.

    Explore this step ↑
Sources & notes

Origami Club; diagram copyright Fumiaki Shingu, Origami Club: Flat Origami Garden Eel (undated web diagram).

Complete reference diagram ↗

The reference diagram credits Fumiaki Shingu. That credit does not establish a design-reuse license or traditional attribution. Source diagrams and text remain separately protected. These English instructions, material geometry, illustrations and PDF are original; no reference assets or code are included.

Adaptation: Based on the Chinanago diagram (garden eel). The reference marks 8 mm and 22 mm without a paper size. This six-inch version uses a 0.3-inch offset and four consecutive 0.85-inch flat wrapping folds, rather than a cylindrical roll. It remains a flat strip. The head tip and bend are measured adaptations; the decorative stripes and eye are optional drawing.

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.