Spine Dragon

Daniel Brown
2013 - USA

Complex

This model requires a large square, at least 16" / 40cm across. Tissue foil, double tissue, mulberry, or any other
thin, strong paper treated with methyl cellulose can make a successful dragon. Colored black on both sides is
ideal, however, the diagrams will show standard white/colored sides.

1. Begin white side up.

Crease diagonally.

2. Fold the corners to the

center and unfold.

3. Fold the corners to the

landmarks and unfold.

4. Turn over.
5. Make creases.

6. Pleat to the center.

8. Turn over.
7. Result.

9. The next steps will

focus on this part.

10. Add creases.

11. Crease through the

top 2 layers.

15. Squash open.

12. Add a horizontal

crease.

16. Fold the edges

to the crease.

19. Fold along the

edge behind.

22. Make four reverse folds.

13. Pinch the corner and

squash it to the side.

17. Fold the new edges

to the center line.

20. Fold the edge to

the center line.

23. Reverse fold.

14. Fold down.

18. Unfold to step 14.

21. Unfold to step 19.

24. Make six reverse folds

(three on each flap.)

25. Result.

28. Petal fold.

Repeat behind.

32. Fold down.

Repeat behind.

26. Repeat steps 10-24

on the lower corner.

29. Make a crease

and unfold.

33. The next steps

focus on the top.

27. Form a preliminary fold.

30. Bisect the long flaps

to the crease.
Repeat behind.

34. Make a crease through

all layers where the
thickness changes.

31. Divide into 4ths.

Repeat behind.

35. Divide the lower

part in half.

36. Divide in fourths.

37. Fold the point

to the crease.

38. Divide the space

between into thirds.

40. Result.

41. Turn over.

42. Valley through all

creases to make the
next steps easier.

44. Continue open sinks

along the precreases.

45. Pull out two points

as far as they go.
Leave the center
layer sunken.

48. Make creases.

49. Make creases to

divide in fourths.

46. Result. You should

see four horizontal
crease lines.

50. Reverse fold in

and out.

39. Divide the space

above into thirds.

43. Open sink in and out.

Note that it does not
begin on the petal fold
crease. The pleats from
step 6 do not need to
be opened.

47. Squash open.

51. Fold the right

point to the left.

52. Close and reverse

fold upwards.

56. Crease through all

layers.

60. Rabbit ear.

53. Result.

57. Pull out the hidden

flaps.

61. Reverse fold.

54. Fold upwards.

58. Bring downward while

folding in the sides.

62. Lift to look

underneath.

55. Make angle

bisecting creases.

59. Make creases from

corners to corners.
Take care not to rip
the thin center.

63. Squash fold single

layers to the sides.

64. Fold back down.

65. Repeat steps 54-64

behind.

67. Reverse fold along the existing creases.

Repeat behind.

69. More reverse folds. Repeat behind.

71. Make a combination of two

swivel folds. Start at the
existing creases on the left.

66. Crimp.

68. More reverse folds. Repeat behind.

70. The following steps focus on the middle area.

72. Fold to the left.

73. Repeat the double swivel

on this side.

74. Fold back to the right.

78. Bring the colored

area to the front.

83. This time, sink the

final two flaps.

75. The following steps will

focus on the wing.

76. Spread squash

fold.

77. Mountain fold

inside the colored
area.

80. Valley fold over.

81. Fold into its

nearest pocket.
Repeat behind.

82. Repeat steps 79-81

on both flaps of
the next level.

79. Spread squash

the next flap.

84. Result, showing

the nested spread
squashes.

85. Repeat steps 71-83

on the other side.

86. Mountain fold.

Repeat behind.

87. Outside reverse fold the two

hidden points created at step
63. Repeat behind.

90. Reverse fold the back legs

and crimp the front legs.
Repeat behind.

93. Open and squash downward.

Stretch out two layers on
each side, not all three.

97. Fold to the crease.

88. Thin with sinks.

Repeat behind.

89. Outside reverse fold the

legs. Repeat behind.

91. The next steps will focus

on the head area.

94. Open and squash

upward.

98. Fold up. There

is no landmark.

95. Fold and unfold.

99. Fold down. There

is no landmark.

92. Squash fold about

1/3 of the point up.

96. Fold the bottom

corners upward.

100. Fold down along

the crease.

102. Result.
101. Work in these creases
starting at the horns.

103. Curl the wings, spines, tail, and neck.

104. Completed Spine Dragon.

Daniel Brown 2011-2013
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55872529@N00/sets

Spine Dragon is made from a bird base modified with a strip graft to split the wings. I must give credit to
Robert Neale's classic bird base dragon which I used as a starting point in this design.
This crease pattern is white-side up, with red lines for mountain folds and blue lines for valley folds.
Daniel Brown 2011-2013
Full gallery of my original designs, folds of works by others, free bonus diagrams and photo guides at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55872529@N00/sets