Folding Money: T-Shirt Style, Easy Steps

Folding a bill into a t-shirt is a fun origami project and a creative way to give a gift or leave a tip. You can use any type of paper money, although US bills are easiest due to their slim dimensions. The process involves a series of precise folds, starting with a horizontal crease down the middle, followed by folding the sides towards the centre. The white tips are then folded under, and the corners are folded towards the centre to form the collar. The next step is to fold the bill into thirds, before making the sleeves with a series of precise creases. Finally, the bill is tucked underneath the collar, and the shirt is complete!

Folding the bill in half

To fold a dollar bill into a t-shirt, you must first fold the bill in half. This is the foundation of your origami t-shirt.

Start with the front of the bill facing up. Crease the bill horizontally down the middle, and then fold both the top and bottom sides inward. If you are using a one-dollar bill, make sure the picture of George is on the inside of the fold.

Now, unfold the dollar bill. You should have a clear middle crease. Next, you will fold both sides into the middle crease. This will create a crisp line down the middle of your t-shirt.

Now, you will turn the bill over and fold down the white part at the side near the edge. You will then turn the bill over again and fold the corners into the middle line, creating the collar of the t-shirt. The exact angles are not critical, but it is important that you create flaps at this step to hold the rest of the shirt in place.

Folding the bill into fourths

Now that you have your bill folded in half, it's time to fold it into fourths. This step is crucial to creating the structure of your miniature t-shirt. Firmly crease the bill as you make your folds to ensure it stays in place.

Take one of the two edges and fold it towards the middle fold. Then, do the same with the other edge, bringing it towards the centre as well. You should now have a long rectangular shape with the white portion of the bill visible on one side and the green portion on the other.

If you're using a dollar bill, you'll want to fold it where the green colour meets the white. This will create a crisp, defined edge for your t-shirt. Make sure to crease this fold nicely and firmly so that your bill doesn't unfold. You can choose to do this fold on either end of the bill, depending on which way you want the t-shirt to face.

Now, you're ready to move on to the next step of creating the collar of your t-shirt. Grab one of the corners of the bill and fold it so that the pointy end meets the centre line. Make sure to crease this fold nicely and firmly, as this will form the structure of your t-shirt's collar.

Folding the collar

Now it's time to fold the collar. This is an important step, as the collar will hold the rest of the shirt in place. Take one of the two top corners and fold it towards the centre line, ensuring that the fold is nice and firm so that your collar stays in place. Repeat this step for the other corner, so that you have two flaps that will make up the collar.

The exact angles of the collar are not critical, but you want to ensure that the flaps are the same size and shape so that the shirt looks symmetrical. It might be helpful to use the pattern on the bill to guide your folds, for example, folding to the edge of the green section or to the point where the "O" and "F" of "OF" divide.

Once you have your collar flaps, you can move on to the next step of folding the sleeves.

Making the sleeves

Now for the tricky part: making the sleeves. First, unfold the last fold you made to return to the long section. Then, take an imaginary line and draw it from the top and bottom points of the first crease on the left to a point somewhere in the middle of the centre section. Valley fold out and crease back so that it looks like you've popped a sleeve out of the side.

Now, make the other sleeve. Unfold the other side of the bill and repeat the process above. You should now have two sleeves.

Next, flip the whole section back up and tuck the edge of the shirt under the two collar flaps. Well done! You've made a dollar bill shirt.

Using different types of money/paper

• Start with the front of the bill facing up.
• Crease the bill horizontally down the middle, and then unfold it.
• Now, fold each edge to the center line.
• At the right edge, fold the white tips of the bill under.
• Fold those two corners towards the center line to form the collar.
• Fold the opposite end, dividing the bill into thirds.
• Slip the end neatly under the collar.
• Unfold the end of the bill again.
• At the 1/3 crease mark, make a squash fold to create the first sleeve.
• Repeat on the other side for the second sleeve.
• Tuck the end back under the collar, and your money origami t-shirt is ready!

It is important to note that the exact angles and measurements are not critical, especially when folding the collar. You can adjust the folds to control the length of the finished shirt. Additionally, using crisp, new bills will make the folding process easier and produce a better-looking shirt.

While the process remains the same, different currencies will provide different looks to the finished t-shirt due to variations in their designs and dimensions. For example, the dimensions of a US one-dollar bill are 66mm (2.6 inches) in height and 156mm (6.1 inches) in width. In comparison, the Euro is smaller, with a height of 62mm (2.4 inches) and a width of 127mm (5 inches). The Swiss Franc, on the other hand, is even smaller, measuring 65mm (2.6 inches) by 148mm (5.8 inches).

The type of paper and printing techniques used for different currencies can also vary. For instance, US paper money is made from a special currency paper composed of 75% cotton and 25% linen, while most other paper, such as that used for newspapers and books, is made from wood pulp. The use of different materials and printing techniques contributes to the unique look and feel of each currency, which will be reflected in the origami t-shirt.

So, feel free to experiment with different types of money or paper to create a unique and stylish money origami t-shirt!

Frequently asked questions