A couple of years ago, I was looking for a bat model to share with others for Halloween. In looking through my books and online resources, I found many bats, though some were too simple and others just too complex for what I wanted to do. So, I sat down with my paper and started folding, experimenting and refolding. I came up with this little bat that seemed just right. I call the model Goldie the Halloween Bat. I made many of these bats into a brooch and gave them to staff and patients in the infusion room at our local hospital.
About the Diagrams
At Gerardo Gacharná Ramírez’s UnFold gathering on Oct. 2, I taught Goldie the Halloween Bat in a breakout room. There were four people in the room, one of whom was Chris (“Star Wars Origami”) Alexander. After folding the bat, Chris offered to diagram it for me, which he did. I was/am so excited to have one of my models professionally diagrammed. I couldn’t have been happier than on the day that I received the PDF of my model.
Paper
I usually start with scrap paper to get the hang of a model and work out any kinks or little adjustments. Using a square piece of copy paper works well. For the most part, almost any kind of solid-colored origami paper would be appropriate for this model. Using paper with the same color on both sides might be the best choice in order to avoid seeing a little edge of a different color on the wing or body. I’ve used kami, recycled papers (tea bags), kids’ construction paper. The thinner the paper, the smaller the bat you can fold. Use double-faced tape or a self-adhesive magnetic strip to hang. To make a brooch, make a bat from a 3-inch square, glue the model to a round disc cut from heavy-weight paper, and then attach a brooch pin to the back.
I have to thank all the origami heroes who have been supporters and have encouraged me along the way.
Comments
Congratulations Linda and thank you for sharing the diagrams! Thank you as well, Chris, for making them for her. What an uncomplicated and attractive bat model; I do wonder why the bat is named Goldie... very curious.
Hello Gerado, the bat is named Goldie after Goldilocks from Goldilocks and the Three Bears. She was on the search for that "just right" thing, be it porridge, chair, or bed. So, after trying to fold a bat that wasn't too difficult or too easy, and one that had some detail, I came up with this one. To me, it was the "just right" model for what I wanted to fold. thanks for asking.