How to Make an Origami Wolf

Last Updated: February 20, 2023

An origami wolf is one of the easier animals to create and is a good warm up for more difficult origami animals like a dragon or a lion. Depending on your skill level, you can try your hand at a simple origami wolf, or a more complex origami wolf.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Creating a Simple Origami Wolf

1
Get a sheet of origami paper. You can also use A4 paper.
2
Fold the paper in half from corner to corner. The paper should look like a triangle.

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3
Fold the paper in half again from corner to corner. It should now look like an even smaller triangle.
4
Unfold the last fold you made. The paper should be in the shape of a triangle and have a nice, even vertical crease.
5
Turn the paper so the top point of the triangle faces you. Then, fold the top right corner to the bottom point of the triangle. Use the center crease as a guide.
6
Repeat the same fold on the left side. You should now have a diamond shape.
7
Flip the paper over. Then, fold the left corner over to the right corner.
- You should now have a half diamond shape.
8
Turn the paper so the longest angle of the triangle faces away from you. Fold the left corner over to the right side.
- This is going to be the wolf's tail, so fold it farther to the right for a bigger tail or less to the right for a smaller tail.
9
Fold the right side of the paper so it just overlaps the small triangle you just made. Then, take the top half of the fold and unfold it back to the right.
- There should now be some of the fold on the left side, some of the fold on the right side and a new area in the middle.
10
Fold down the middle piece. This will create a nose for your wolf.
11
Stand up the wolf. Admire your handiwork.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Creating a Complex Origami Wolf

1
Get a piece of origami paper. You can also use A4 paper.^{[1]
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Research source}
2
Fold the paper into vertical quarters. There should be four thin panels.
3
Fold the quarters on top of each other. This will be similar to the pleats in an accordion.
4
Make four inside reverse folds. Do this by taking the corners of the paper and folding them inside the folds.^{[2]
X
Research source} The paper should look like a triangle with four small triangles inside each corner.
5
Inside reverse fold the small triangles. They should now appear inside the larger triangles.
6
Rabbit-ear the top triangle flaps. Make this fold on both sides of the paper. This will make the paper more narrow.
7
Fold the top of the paper down. Tuck the top of the paper down inside the “body” of the wolf.
8
Fold back the front two flaps. This will make the head of the wolf.
9
Crimp the area right before the two flaps. Crimping means pushing the front of the two flaps back at an angle.^{[3]
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Research source} This will add dimension to the wolf's neck.
10
Inside reverse fold the top part of the neck. Bend the top part of the neck towards the body of the wolf. This will create wolf ears.
11
Fold back the back part of the triangle. This will create a tail so adjust it based on how long or short you want the wolf's tail to be.
12
Crimp the tail. This will raise it up so the wolf doesn't have a limp tail.
13
Mountain fold the tail. A mountain fold is when the crease sits at the top of the paper like the peak of a mountain.^{[4]
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Research source} Doing a mountain fold will narrow the tail.
- To give the wolf more detail, mountain-fold the back of the wolf's body. As well, you can crimp the front and hind legs.
14
Shape the wolf's body. To do this, reverse-fold the tip of the tail.
- Form hooves on the wolf by outside reverse folding the tip of the legs. Then, outside reverse fold the small triangle or tip on the legs.
15
Shape the wolf's head. Create more detailed ears by squash folding the ears and then valley folding them to create two perky ear flaps.
- A valley fold is when the crease is at the bottom of the paper and the paper folds upward to create a valley shape.^{[5]
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  Research source}
- Crimp the wolf's head and mountain-fold the wolf's neck.
- Outside reverse fold the tip of the wolf's mouth.
16
Stand your wolf up. Admire your handiwork.

Community Q&A

Question

What is a mountain fold?

Community Answer

A mountain fold is where the paper folds towards you when you are facing the flat side of the paper.
Question

I don't get it. Do I have to use an origami square paper or an A4 size printer paper?

Community Answer

The first one is made with origami paper, and the second one is made out of A4 paper.
Question

I don't get step 4! What do you mean?

Community Answer

In step 3 you have a triangle and then you fold it in half so that it is a smaller triangle, right? In step 4 you just unfold step 3 and then it will look like it did after step 2 again.