Makoto Yamaguchi

KUSUDAMA BALL ORIGAMI

CONTENTS

Symbols for folding ..... .. .......... 3

Diana .......................... 14

Comet ........... . . . ........... 17

Luminous ..... . .................. 18

Neptune ......................... 2 1

Triangle Unit ..... .. . . ... . ......... 24

Tassel .......................... 26

Paper Tassel ....... . ..... .... ..... 27

Flower ........... ... . . . ... . ..... 30 UFO ..................... .. .. .. . 31

Breeze ............... ... .. . ..... 34

Elegance ..... . . . . . .. .. . . . . ..... 38

Diamond ........................ 40

Dice ........ .. .. . . . . . .. . ....... 42

Mercury ......................... 44

Venus ........................... 46

Tassel ..... . ... . .. . . . ..... . . ..... 49

Pluto ............. . ............. 50

Crown ..................... .. ... 52

Festival (1) ..... . .. . . ...... . .... 57

Festival (2) ............ .. ... .. .... 59

Rhapsody ................ . . . .... 61

Shooting Star ........... . .. ... .... 62

Starflower ....................... 65

Morning Dew ..................... 68

Butterfly ................. .. ..... 70

Pansy ........................... 74

KUSUDAMA is a decorative paper ball for festive occasions. Originally it was an ornamental scent bag hung to clear away noxious vapors, thus the name "KUSU" (medicine) + "DAMA" (ball). Origami works are usually made from one piece of square paper, but Kusudama Origami is different. It combines several units of ongaml. Folding each piece and then joining the units with the completed ball in mind is an enjoyable process. No intricate methods are Involved: folding and joining the units is simple and easy. This IS a basic book for beginners. The step-by-step illustrations are clear, and there IS no guesswork. A completed Kusudama makes a wonderful present. and is indispensable as a Christmas decoration.

SYMBOLS FOR FOLDING

Valley fold Mounlaln told

I/. -----------

-- ----- Fold and unfold \0 make a crease \

_ .. _ .. - .. -Enlarged IIgure

Turn over

Inside reverse fold OulSIde reverse told

Pleat

o /

Fold backward (j

Reduced IIgure

3

BREEZE

(See page 34 )

DICE (See page 42)

PLUTO (See page 50 )

5

6

UFO (See page 31 ) SHOOTING STAR

(See page 62 )

PANSY (See page 26.)

DIANA (See page 14 )

MERCURY (See page 44)

DIAMOND (See page 40.)

7

COMET (Seepage 17

ElEGANCE (See page 38 )

FESTIVAL (See page 57.)

10

BUIIERFLY (See page 70)

MORNING DEW (See page 68)

3

VENUS (See page 46)

Put the second grrup of units on lop of the first group, and thread the marked string through the second group, and the other strings in the following cxder: the second stnng into the third silt, the third stnng Into the second slit,

Pull the stnngs one by one and shape the whole carefully.

Hold each of two strings tCgether and make a loose knot In the center and pull the string slowly. When the knot comes to the base, fasten it tightly so that the W'hoIe makes a round ball.

12

Thread the stnng through the loop of the hanger.

8

Tie twtce firmly as in step 6.

Cut the strings near the base. Completed.

DIANA

BLINTZ FOLD @

,

~ /

, /

/ /

, , , , , , /

, /", , / Fold the four corners to the center

14

Make creases

Fold the pOint to the crease.

Make creases

/ ,

, , /

, /

, /

/ /

Make creases.

@

Fold the other points In the same way

, , ,

/

Make creases

Make creases

Fold SIX pieces 01 Ihls bas,c unll

Fold Ihe Opposite corner In the same way

Open the upper layers

This shows how 10 fold

Fold so thaI the marked part comes InSide.

15

16

Insen the pOint and lix, uSing a lillie glue.

JOIn the four Units to make a nng

\~---1'

/'

Seen tram the top

Completed

Jam the top and the boUom the same way

I\/V_ -~Y1 " /

/ ,

Combine lOp and bottom In the same way

Combine four Units and jOin them

!.--"_ J

Seen from the top

COMET

-~/

@

Completed

17

18

LUMINOUS

, , ,

, , ,

, , , ,

Fold the lour corners up to the creases

/'-.

Fold on the creases

@

, , ,

Make creases

@

Fold the points as shown_

Blintz Fold

/

r

Blintz Fold

Open the two flaps

Combine the four unlls In the same way

Lift one corner of Ihe Irlangle

Insert the pomt Into the slot

Make Sl)( units In the same

way

19

20

Make a ring by JOining the four points

Completed

Combine the top and bottom units

@

BLINTZ FOLD

Make creases.

,

Fold the other liPS In the same way

NEPTUNE

, , , , ,

, , , , ,

FOld the corners to the center

Make a Blintz Fold

21

@

22

/

@

Unfold

The ratio of the paper Sizes

Triangle JOints (8 sheets)

Open the four lIaps.

Kusudama units

(6 sheets)

Make 6 Units In the same way

Completed

See page 24 for the triangle unl!

Inserllhe corners Into the pockets of triangle Joints

\

,

JOin Ihe o!her corners In the same way

Make two groups of the Ihree units and JOin !hem

23

TRIANGLE UNIT

@

@

,

, , , ,

, , , ,

Unfold

Repeal the same fold as In step 2

24

, , , , , , ,

Bring (6) 10 the center crease_

Unfold

, , ,

B

A

G) ,---/.,----------,

It 1---

Make a crease

Slots

FOld over at the Intersecllng point

, ,

, , , ,

Unfold

Fold over

- the lip Into the pocket. Inse, ,

,

FOld along the crease.

, , ,

, , , \ ,

Completed

Fold over

, , , ; .. - " , ,

"--- , Fold over.

r==~7

Fold over

25

26

TASSEL

- _. -- -- - -Fold together a bunch 01 colorful strings

. ---- --

@

Tie the middle WIth a pieCe of slnng

-.. . . "- - -

Let both ends drop down.

@

Completed.

@

Tie the base 01 the bunch. Trim lhe end

Use lour stripS of paper as long as you like

FOld the other three stripS In the same way

I H

ftjj over. leaving a space 'ICe the width of the slnp

@ r-

-

PAPER TASSEL -

-

@ , . -. .

- I I ...

I

Put the fourth slnp over the third and through the first stnp

Put the third way

@

J.

@

I I

slnp In the same

r

"-

~

'-

\ ,

r

Put the first Sinp between the second

r

-

-

27

r-@

V

1 17/

1 over one 01 the stnps

"\

Fold o ver the second stnp

- I 1 1

'--

~

-

1

1 '

~ /1

Fold over the third SIn p

Put the last slnp through the !irs! slnp

'-

V

29

FLOWER PART

, , ,

, , ,

" , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Make creases Completed

30

BLINTZ FOLD ;:::.--

,

, , ,

Bring the lour corners 10 the center

Also fold the underneath triangles

Fold and open the upper layers

@

Blintz Fold

~-

FOld so that the underSide tnangles come out

@ ,

Make creases

Blintz Fold

@

Make creases

MaKe creases

UFO

, , , ,

Make creases

/1

1/ ""I Unfold.

Push Inward the marked parts

, ,

31

@ Unfold the lXlder IIiangIes /

(Reduced figUre~

~ /'

Insert the corner

Fold on the crease

32 Fold and open the upper corner

"

Unfold the upper fnangOs

0 , /

/ " Begin With the FLOWER PART on page 30.

Outside paper

Fla#e<

L __ .2LpaI1_~ Use paper 1/4 the size

of the outside paper

See page 17 fex this KUSUDAMA.

, , ,

Fold and Insert the corner Into the slot

Make 6 of thiS unit, and assemble the Units in the same way as shown on pages 16 and 17

Completed

See page 16 for this KUSUOAMA.

Fold and open the upper corner

Push Inward the marked pans

Fold and open the under triangles

Fold and open 1he under corners

Fold and Insert the other corners In the same way

33

BREEZE

@

I I I 0 I 0 I I

~~ : ~ I 0 I 0 , I

I I

Fold over 10 the center line

@

--

@

34 Fold In half Fold both sides in the same

way.

Fold the corners to the center

/1"'1 Repeat the same fold on the other side.

@

Pull Qut the corners

@

FOld the corners In triangles.

FLOWER PETAL

FOld over

Fold the corners to the center

Open the tnangles and flauen