realize how much fun it is. Our printed U.S. currency is easy to fold, remarkably durable, intricately decorated, and globally ubiquitous. It is the most handy of all origami materials, and quickly becomes a fun pastime or social ice-breaker, especially when you may be killing a few minutes while waiting for someone or something.
We all relate to the “greenback.” Our first childhood allowance for becoming responsible for routine household or pet chores probably gave us the bills we held for the longest time. Children must save several weeks’ worth of cash to purchase something valuable, and in the interim, the precious bills are scrutinized, counted, and now, often folded. We often assure our young folders, who worry about “using up” their cash by folding it, that they can quickly unfold it and spend it. In fact, if they have ever spent dollar bills without folding them first, they have not gotten their full enjoyment from their money!
Perhaps this is why young visitors to our Origamido Studio; to the wildly popular Origami Now! exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts; to our Origami Do Experience—Waikiki; or to the Coolidge Crafts Exhibition Hall at Topsfield Fair were particularly captivated by the display of dozens of origami objects cleverly folded from cash.
There are now a respectable number of talented origami designers and authors who specialize in time-consuming, super-complex, magnificent manipulations of money, but we strongly feel that folding a bill to become a simple and attractive tip need not take three hands and a day off.
We recognized how wonderful the simple dollar bill folds were for introducing people to the fascinating world of folding, and our Money Origami DVD kit was Tuttle Publishing’s first foray into including our video instructions along with the printed diagrams in an origami kit. It quickly became their best selling title! We followed up with a Mini Money Origami DVD kit, and added a couple of projects with a touch more challenge to build on the basic skills represented by the simple selections in our popular primer kit.
This Dollar Origami book and
We always enjoy compiling our favorite dollar-based creations, and regularly come up with new models that we can’t wait to share. We hope you have fun folding our new offerings: Our rocket and rabbits, the “Reef Pony” sea horse, and Michael’s cuddly teddy bear are sure to delight your family and friends. Whether you are making a collection for your own display, decorating a holiday tree, giving cash in a unique way, or simply saying thanks for a small favor, we hope these new designs will soon become part of your origami repertoire.
Enjoy each piece of your money multiple times, and then use them to put a smile on the next face to see them!
—Origamido, Inc.
Richard L. Alexander and Michael G. LaFosse
Origami Symbols Key
Our diagrams use the standard origami notations that are shown here. If you are new to origami notation, please be encouraged that the project diagrams are complete and clear. However, your ability to easily interpret them will take time, like learning to read any foreign language. Studying from both the video lessons and the diagrams will help you to learn to read origami instructions much more quickly.
General Tips
Clean, crisp money is easier to fold, and new bills always work best. When selecting a bill for an origami subject, look for one that is printed symmetrically (equal margins all around, and the printed images are registered so that the fields align when held to the light). If your bills are limp, they can be gently ironed, but first place them between sheets of paper so the plastic inclusions do not mar the iron’s hot surface.
U.S. one dollar bills are remarkably strong, and for origami, they tend to be a bit stiff. For this reason, most dollar bill folders add a slight amount of moisture, either by swiping the bill with a moist napkin or towel, or with just a light spritz from a plant mister.
Consider gathering a few tools to make your results look neat and crisp: 1) a “bone” folder helps when setting sharp creases—or a coin, or even the bowl of a spoon; 2) a pair of fine tweezers helps to pull edges into proper alignment, and details into final position; 3) a bamboo skewer is useful for opening eyes and mouths on your miniature creatures; and 4) a pair of nylon jaw jewelers’ pliers will help you concentrate force to properly set multi-layer points and flaps.
Lee’s Coin Pouch
Designed by Richard L. Alexander
My father, Lee Alexander, has carried a rubbery plastic clamshell coin pouch ever since they were first developed. They used to be a popular tangible advertising item, and by carrying just a few coins, it prevented him from receiving handfuls of coins as change. Folding a similar object from a dollar bill goes one step further: It is lighter, thinner, and more compact. But best of all, if you get in a pinch, you will always have one dollar more than the sum of its contents!
1 Begin with the obverse side up. Mark the center of a long edge with a short valley fold pinch mark.
2 Valley-fold the short edges to meet at the middle.
3 Turn over, left to right.
4 Valley-fold the folded edges to meet at the middle. Allow the back edges to come to the front.
5 Move the top right flap to the left.
6 Valley-fold the corners of the right flap to the vertical crease. Valley-fold the left edge of the top flap the vertical crease.
7 Valley-fold the left flap to the right.
8 Mirror steps 5 through 7 on the left.
9 Open the pocket through the folded slit. This is the back of the coin pouch.
