The Origami Forum

I know it's probably the easiest design in his book but I'm stuck on step 9, my paper seems to be backwards from the image in the book because I can't fold the paper down on that side like it is shown in the book after the squash fold, anyone else get stuck here or have advice?

Thanks!

Make sure that you follow the preceding steps carefully. And check the crease orientations. (Dashed = valley, dash dot = mountain)

It should be quite straight forward. Good luck!

Although it is not the same model, you can go to http://www.pem.org/sites/origami/ and click on "Fold More Models" in the upper right hand corner, select the "Origami Now!" set, and watch Michael Lafosse fold his Alexander Swallowtail Butterfly. It isn't the same model, but it has many of the same folding sequences and you can see that particular technique used in the demonstration.

I always seem to rip where the head should be as I fold the body over to meet the bottom edge of the hindwing and then bringing the second wing over. Any tips to prevent that or get around it?

What paper are you using? It must be pretty thick to keep ripping.

Either that or the paper isn't very enduring, like copy paper or newspaper...