Some origami you fold to admire, and some you fold to play with — the Kisekae doll is firmly in the second camp. Kisekae means 'changing clothes,' and this little paper figure is really just a blank canvas: you fold it from a single sheet, then draw the face and hair however you like. No two ever turn out the same.

The fold itself is quick and easy — a handful of creases and two small triangle feet — so the fun is all in the decorating. Grab a square of paper and some crayons or pens, and in a couple of minutes you'll have a tiny paper friend staring back at you. Fold a few in different colors and you've got a whole paper family.

Things to prepare when folding a Kisekae doll

Items to prepare・ Origami: 1 sheet

If you want to draw a girl's face and hair, or create your own original doll, have a pen, colored pencils, crayons, stickers, etc. ready.

How to fold a Kisekae doll (explained with images)

STEP 1. Fold the paper at about one-third of its length.

STEP 2. Fold down about 1 cm along the edge.

STEP 3. Keeping the crease from step 2, fold the paper down.

STEP 4. Leave a gap of about 3 cm in the center, then fold the left corner up to the fold line.

STEP 5. Fold the right edge up to the fold line.

STEP 6. Open back up the flap that was folded down in step 3.

STEP 7. Fold the bottom left into a triangle. Make sure that the folded part is at a right angle.

STEP 8. Fold the bottom right into a triangle in the same way.

STEP 9. Turn it over.

STEP 10. Fold the left edge so that it is in the middle.

STEP 11. Fold the right edge in the same way so that it is in the middle.

STEP 12. Turn it over.

STEP 13. Draw the hair and face, and your Kisekae doll is complete.