Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this “zhezhi materials” thing, and let me tell you, it’s been a ride. I started with pretty much zero knowledge, just a vague idea and a whole lot of curiosity.
My First Steps
First, I gathered all the stuff I thought I’d need. This included:
- Various types of paper (some thin, some thick, some fancy origami paper)
- Some fabric scraps (denim, cotton, felt – just whatever I had lying around)
- Thin cardboard (like from cereal boxes)
- Scissors, of course
- A ruler (because even I need some straight lines)
- Glue (both a glue stick and some stronger craft glue)
- Some pens and markers for decorating later
I basically just dumped everything onto my work table and stared at it for a good while. It looked like a chaotic mess, to be honest. Then, I decided to just start with the basics – paper. I followed some simple online tutorials for origami, just to get the feel for how different papers fold and crease. Some were surprisingly easy, others…not so much. The thin paper was great for sharp creases, but it also tore easily. The thicker paper was sturdier, but harder to work with for detailed folds.
Experimenting with Different Materials
After I got bored with the paper, I moved onto the fabric. This was a whole different ballgame. Fabric doesn’t crease the same way paper does, so I had to rethink my approach. I found that ironing the fabric first helped a lot. I used the glue stick to hold some of the folds in place, but for some of the thicker fabrics, I needed the stronger craft glue. It was messy, but I managed to make a few simple shapes.
The cardboard was interesting. I couldn’t really fold it the same way as paper or fabric, so I ended up cutting out shapes and gluing them together to create 3D forms. It was more like building with flat pieces, rather than folding. I used the ruler a lot here, to make sure my cuts were (somewhat) straight.
The Messy Reality
Let me tell you, my workspace looked like a tornado had hit it. There were scraps of paper and fabric everywhere, glue smudges on the table, and I probably had glitter in my hair. But, it was fun. I learned that different materials behave in very different ways, and that sometimes, the best way to figure things out is to just jump in and try.
I made lots of mistakes along the way.
The Results (So Far)
I haven’t created anything super impressive yet, but I’ve definitely learned a lot. I have a few wonky-looking origami animals, some slightly lopsided fabric shapes, and a couple of cardboard structures that are (mostly) holding together. It’s a start! And the main thing is, I enjoyed the process of experimenting and seeing what each material could do.
