The Origami Forum

Alright so basically I'm trying to fold some cranes for a classmate who recently became a paraplegic, but I need some details on how to present the cranes. The cranes are fairly small, so can anybody recommend a type of string on which to skewer the cranes? And is there a specific number of columns of cranes that should be made or is it up to the folder? Thanks in advance.

Well, it's all pretty much up to you. I'd take a look at some pictures online before arranging, though. Take a look here and here.

Thanks, I saw those but I can't find any images that are closer up. Is fishing line the best there is for string or is there something thinner?

you can get fishing line in almost any kind of thickness

It's been six days of folding cranes and my knuckles are starting to ache when I bend my fingers... are there any long term effects from folding origami for long sessions?

long term effects appears when you keep a behavior for long periods of time, let's say five days a week for a year or so. But you can get an injury or lesion on your muscles if you don't exercise them in both ways (compressing and extending) or don't give them a proper rest (in the case of finger and hand's muscles don't fold more than 4 or 5 hours without a rest of 20 minutes at least). A good exercise on origami is to extend your hand on the table and pick each finger, one at the time, by its ending point and try to lift it up as much as you can until it pains, keep them there for a couple of seconds and then release it back down; mostly of the folds are compressing actions and that gives the muscles the chance to clean its acids remains, which ultimately produce the aches.

Also if you keep a bad posture (hunching, bent neck) or if you rest in your arms on the edge of the table you could have aches or lesions.

hope this is some help.

regards

Thanks, you seem to know your stuff.
My posture has always been bad, and coupled with poor eyesight is just a recipe for trouble. I'm always hunched over when I fold...