MBFFE032 - ORIGAMI RAVEN (FROM A SQUARE) - ALSO AVAILABLE IN CZECH
For this tutorial in Czech, go to the following link:
Design: Traditional
Text-Based Instructions copyright 2026 by Jiřà MojžÃÅ¡ek, Prague, Czech Republic
Translation into English and editing by Lindy van der Merwe
This raven is an action model. If not folded precisely, it may look more like a crossbill.
We start with a square.
1.
Place the paper with one of its corners pointing away from you.
2.
Bring the top corner to the bottom corner, crease, and unfold.
In other words, we form a line bisecting the left and right corners and then unfold.
3.
Turn the paper over from left to right, still keeping it in the diamond orientation.
4.
Bring the left corner to the right corner, crease, and leave folded.
In other words, we bisect the top and bottom corners, folding from the left.
We now have a two-layered triangle with its longest side — the base — on the left.
5.
Bring the entire top-right edge to the vertical base of the triangle (the front layer of paper only), crease, and unfold.
In other words, we form a line bisecting the top corner of the front layer. We fold from the right and then unfold.
6.
Bring the entire bottom-right edge to the vertical base of the triangle (the front layer of paper only), crease, and unfold.
In other words, we form a line bisecting the bottom corner of the front layer. We fold from the right and then unfold.
7.
Flip the paper over from top to bottom. , , (
We will still have the two-layered triangle with its base on the left, in a vertical position, and its third corner pointing to the right.
8.
Bring the top-right edge to the base of the triangle (the front layer of paper only), crease, and unfold.
In other words, we form a line bisecting the top corner of the front layer. We fold from the right and then unfold.
9.
Bring the bottom-right edge to the base (the front layer of paper only), crease, and unfold.
In other words, we form a line bisecting the bottom corner of the front layer. We fold from the right and then unfold.
10.
Unfold the paper all the way flat, so you have the square in the diamond orientation again.
Make sure the paper is kept in place so that the corners where most of the lines converge are still at the top and bottom.
The center horizontal crease will be one single valley fold running from left to right.
The edges of the paper will tend to lift slightly off the folding surface.
11.
Important: Carefully make sure that folding in the next steps takes place only along the previously creased lines.
No new creases should be created!
12.
At the bottom corner of the model, start to bring both edges towards the vertical center line
We slowly move up to the first line.
Its two halves form a slightly obtuse angle.
13.
We need to recrease this line towards the left and right, changing it from a mountain into a valley fold.
14.
Rotate the model on the table, like a carousel, so the bottom point ends up at the top.
This will allow us to work on the second half of the model.
15.
At the bottom corner of the model, start to bring both edges towards the vertical center line
We slowly move up to the first line.
Its two halves form a slightly obtuse angle.
16.
We need to once again recrease this line, changing it from a mountain into a valley fold.
17.
We now have a very narrow rhombus shape. Its sharp corners point towards us and away from us, while, at its widest part, there will be two structures that are standing up with their tips pointing to the ceiling.
18.
Using the existing horizontal line that runs through the widest point of the rhombus as a hinge, bring the bottom point upwards to meet the top point, folding the model in half.
Do not be alarmed by the two flaps that will protrude on the sides of the new triangle.
19.
We now have a completely flat model on the table.
It's largest point is facing away from us. Nearest us is the hinged edge created in the previous step.
On the sides near us are also two smaller spikes, the future raven wings.
20.
Bring the top corner of the front layer (which is made of multiple layers of paper) straight down to the center of the base, which you can highlight by slightly arching the paper along the vertical center line, and crease.
In other words, we divide the height of the front layer in half, folding from the top.
This creates what we'll call the "lower triangle"; its point faces down, and the base of this lower triangle is formed by the last fold we made.
21.
Bring the right edge of the lower triangle diagonally upwards to meet its base, crease, and unfold.
In other words, we form a line bisecting the upper-right corner of the lower triangle. We fold from the bottom right and then unfold.
22.
Bring the left edge of the lower triangle diagonally upwards to meet its base, crease, and unfold.
In other words, we form a line bisecting the upper-left corner of the lower triangle. We fold from the bottom left and then unfold.
23.
Bring the edges of the lower triangle together, starting from the point and creasing only about halfway.
In other words, we bisect the bottom point of the lower triangle by raising the edges upward from the left and right, working from the point up to the creases already formed.
We have created a trough — the lower half of the beak.
24.
Next, we will work with the "upper triangle," formed by the middle point; it shares a base with our lower triangle.
25.
Bring the right edge of the upper triangle diagonally downwards to meet its base, crease, and unfold.
In other words, we form a line bisecting the lower-right corner of the upper triangle. We fold from the top right and then unfold.
26.
Bring the left edge of the upper triangle diagonally downwards to meet its base, crease, and unfold.
In other words, we form a line bisecting the lower-left corner of the upper triangle. We fold from the top left and then unfold.
27.
Bring the edges of the upper triangle together, starting from the point and creasing only about halfway.
In other words, we bisect the top point of the upper triangle by raising the edges upward from the left and right, working from the point up to the creases already formed.
We have created the upper half of the beak.
28.
Lift the top edge of the model until the entire model stands up facing you like a vertical wall.
The bottom edge of the model remains on the folding surface; facing you is the open beak, with the wings spread out to the sides.
29.
Fold the model in half along the vertical center line; its sides — the raven's wings — fold away from you, and at the same time, the beak takes shape and closes.
30.
If you pull the wings outward to the sides, the beak opens; when you press the wings together, the beak closes.
Making origami accessible through text-only tutorials.
For non-commercial use only.
Compiled: August 2026
This text is copyright 2026 by accessorigami.com and the authors.