A crane is one of the most beloved motifs in Japanese craft, and this little chopstick rest lets you bring that elegance to the dinner table with almost no effort. It's the kind of small, thoughtful touch that makes a New Year's meal or a guest's visit feel a little more special.

In this tutorial we'll turn a slim strip of origami paper into a tiny standing crane that cradles your chopsticks. The folds are small and a touch fiddly, but each step is simple — take it slowly, watch the photos, and you'll have a whole flock ready for the holiday table.

In this guide I’d like to share a piece from my origami chopstick-rest series. The folds are small and delicate, but because each step is simple, I think you’ll find it easy to make.

Here’s the one I’m introducing: a crane-shaped chopstick rest.

It’s perfect for setting out when you serve New Year’s dishes or have guests over. A little handmade touch like this elevates both the holiday table and any visit from friends, so it’s well worth remembering.

So, let me show you how to fold a simple origami crane chopstick rest!

How to Fold a Simple Origami Crane Chopstick Rest

Use a strip of origami paper cut down to one-eighth of its original size. You may not need to make eight of them, but at New Year’s you could fold one for each family member, or make as many as you have guests.

It’s a little fiddly, but not difficult — so take a close look at the photos and fold along. Let’s get started!

STEP 1: Prepare a strip of origami paper cut to one-eighth of its original size.

STEP 2: Fold it in half at the center, crease, then unfold.

STEP 3: Fold the left and right edges up along the center line.

STEP 4: Fold the left and right corners in along the center line.

STEP 5: Turn the paper over and lay it with the corners pointing upward.

STEP 6: Fold both the left and right sides along the base of the upper triangle.

STEP 7: Fold both the left and right sides down in half.

STEP 8: Fold it down in half.

STEP 9: Fold it down in half.

STEP 10: Open the folded section and refold it into a bellows (accordion) shape.

STEP 11: Fold it in half at the center.

STEP 12: Bring the ends of the bellows folds together, one on top of the other.

STEP 13: Fold it in half at the center, then fold the corner tip in half.

STEP 14: Once the wings are shaped, your crane chopstick rest is complete!

STEP 15: Set your chopsticks on top, and it looks like this.

And that’s it — nicely done! How did it go?

It’s quite detailed work, but I don’t think the folding itself is hard. With my thick fingers, the tiny details were the tricky part (laughs).

The middle section near the end can be a bit fiddly to fold, so hang in there and do your best on those final steps (laughs).