- The best choice of fabric for origami, according to the Fabric Origami Workshop website is 100 percent cotton broadcloth, as it produces a stiff crease. Stay away from synthetic blends, because they "do not absorb a stiffening agent very well." Choose a pattern or color that corresponds well with your project of choice or pick the exact opposite to add flare to your piece. For example, a brown, gold or green pinecone will have a realistic look, but a shiny blue, pink or red one will truly stand out.
- To allow the origami folds to hold their shape, first stiffen your fabric with a stiffening agent purchased at a craft store. Fabric Origami Workshop recommends starting with a piece of fabric roughly 1 inch larger than what you will be working with. Pour a few tablespoons of stiffener on your fabric and spread it until it covers the entire piece. Allow the fabric to dry on a drying screen. Iron the dried fabric on high heat with steam and leave flat to cool. Cut the cooled fabric down to the desired size.
- To create a pinecone like the one suggested by David Petty on Origami Nut , pre-crease a square of stiffened fabric into sixteenths. The size of the square is up to you and determines the size of the finished pinecone. Crimp the center of the fabric, then make alternating "valley and mountain" folds to create a tube. Interlock flaps. Reverse out all side flaps and fold tips to lock. Inside reverse the bottom corners and fold up the bottom flaps. Separate all flaps, then stretch to shape the sides. The pinecone should be able to stand on its base.
- Embellish your finished origami pine cone with beadwork, embroidery, paint or ribbons. Add a loop of ribbon to the top to turn it into an ornament or paint on some "snow" for a winter look. Fabric origami allows for more embellishment options than traditional paper.
next post