Origami Page:
Necktie

Mary Ellen Palmeri

Welcome to our monthly "Origami Page". Origami is folding paper and ending up with delightful figures and models, such as flowers, boxes and animals. This feature will showcase a different origami model in each monthly issue, with diagrams and photos to help readers learn how to fold them. Most models use one square of paper, some use a rectangle, and others use more than one piece of paper.

Click for printable file.

Neckties have a long history in the world. They date back to the 1600's and became a popular fashion accessory in the 1800's. The custom of gifting neckties on Father's Day in the US and other Western countries began as early as 1920, but I cannot discover WHY they became such a popular gift for the occasion!

I decided to create an origami necktie instead of buying ties for the men in my life since they rarely, if ever, even use them! These origami creations signify traditional nostalgic sentiments and are fun to make and personalize for each person. They can be decorated in so many ways: using colored pencils and/or markers; adding colorful stickers; stamping images or text with rubber stamps

My "Origami Necktie" can be used in different sizes:

A small version can be used to decorate a hand-made card. Use a 4" square for a greeting card size of 5.5" x 4.25". A 6" square makes a larger tie that needs a 8.5" x 5.5" card. These cards can be used for any occasion, Father's Day, Birthdays, Anniversaries, etc.
A larger version made from an 8.5" square can be used AS the card, with a message written or stamped on the front.
And a life-size model can be folded from a 12" square of scrapbook paper. One way to present it is wrapped in a box as a real necktie. It can be used just as a joke, but is also a great way to disguise and present a gift card for that special guy who just doesn't need a real tie!
This model can also be combined with another origami model, the "Message Shirt", which appeared in these pages back in June 2016. If you fold the Message Shirt from 8.5 x 11" paper, the tie should be folded from a 3" square to fit the shirt. Decorate as desired.
See: http://tucsonhappenings.com/eZine/0406-june-2016/Origami/default.asp

Happy folding!

Origami originated in ancient Asian cultures and has been adapted by contemporary artists worldwide to reflect their own cultures. Local artist Mary Ellen Palmeri has incorporated paper folding into many of her mixed media art paintings, and teaches origami classes locally and nationally. Some of her work can be seen in a Tucson Happenings feature here: Artist_Profile

Ms. Palmeri's original origami models have been published in books and magazines, she has been featured on broadcast media, and her mixed-media fine art works often include various original origami models. Origami LAFF (Lyric Arts Folding Fest) is a Tucson based club founded by Ms. Palmeri to provide a venue for sharing this art. The group meets monthly at a local library; for more details please contact the artist at info@lyric-arts.com