How to make an origami Unicorn
Designed by Jo Nakashima (12/jul/2014 + nov/2019)
Difficulty level: complex
This model was first designed in 2014, but this is an updated version with some “bug fixes” (legs are properly locked) and a color changed horn.
The biggest flaw of the old version is that the legs and layers of the body would spread open after a while. This could be solved using foil paper or the wet folding technique, but in my opinion a good design should hold the shape well even with normal paper. So, to solve this problem, I’ve made some locks on the legs similar to the hind legs of my origami Reindeer. Additionally, I rearranged some layers on the crimp fold of the neck and added some locks inside the body too.
Paper
The paper used in this tutorial is Copper tissue-foil 20cm x 20cm. For the first unicorn, I used Deluxe Washi White 24cm x 24cm (this is my recommended paper).
Origami Unicorn Diagrams
Notice: at first I’ve made these diagrams only for the video, not to be published separately. For this reason, some transitions or steps might not be so clear. If you find some step difficult, you can find more detailed instructions in the video tutorial.
Origami Horse and Pegasus
It’s easy to hide the horn to make a normal horse. The tutorial is the same as the unicorn until 31 minutes:
You can also add wings to make an origami Pegasus: