So, I had this idea kicking around in my head the other day. You know how sometimes you see really sharp folds and pleats in fancy clothes? It got me thinking about origami, that paper folding stuff I used to do ages ago.
I figured, why not try mixing the two? See if I could make something wearable using origami techniques. Seemed like a fun little project to keep my hands busy. Didn’t really have a grand plan, just wanted to experiment.
Getting Started with Fabric Folding
First, I grabbed some paper, just regular printer paper, and started folding some classic shapes. Made a few cranes, a couple of boxes, just to get the feel back. Folding paper is easy, right? The creases stay sharp, it holds its shape.
Then came the tricky part: fabric. I knew paper wouldn’t last two seconds if I tried to wear it. So, I dug through my scrap bin. Found some leftover cotton pieces, a bit stiff which I thought might help. I also had some felt squares.
I started trying to fold the fabric just like the paper. Let me tell you, it was completely different. Fabric just doesn’t want to hold a sharp crease like paper does. It’s soft, it slips, the folds get all rounded. My first few attempts looked less like origami and more like crumpled laundry.
I thought maybe starch would help? So I sprayed some starch on a piece of cotton, ironed it until it was quite stiff, and tried again. That worked a bit better! The folds were definitely crisper. Ironing became a big part of the process – fold a bit, iron it down, fold the next bit, iron again. It was slow going.
Making Something Wearable
After messing around for a while, I decided to try making a simple geometric brooch. Something like a folded star or a stylized flower. I picked a nice bright red felt square, thinking the thickness might help it hold the shape without needing tons of starch.
I carefully folded the felt, pressing down hard on each fold. Didn’t use the iron this time, just finger-pressed it as much as possible. It was still a bit fiddly, especially the smaller folds. Had to kind of pinch and hold things in place. I ended up putting a few hidden stitches in with matching thread on the back, just to make sure it wouldn’t pop open.
Once I had the shape looking decent, sort of like a multi-petal flower, I found an old pin back from a broken badge. A little bit of strong fabric glue on the back, stuck the pin on, and let it dry completely.
And that was pretty much it. It wasn’t perfect, not like those super precise fashion pieces you see. The folds are a bit softer than paper origami. But you know what? It looked kinda cool. A unique little handmade thing. I pinned it onto my jacket the next day. Felt quite pleased with my little experiment, turning paper folding ideas into something I could actually wear. It’s definitely something I might play around with again, maybe try different fabrics or shapes next time.
