Toilet Paper Origami

Toilet Paper Origami (also called toilegami) is the origami-style folding of toilet paper. There are two ways to do toilegami:
    - fold the toilet paper while it is still on the roll, or
    - fold a single sheet of toilet paper.

Fold Toilet Paper while still on the Roll
This is seen in some upscale hotels where the cleaning staff will fold the first sheet of toilet paper into a triangle. The triangulated toilet paper informs the guests that the cleaning staff has been there, and has finished cleaning the room. The act of folding the first sheet of toilet paper into a triangle has spread to many hotels and to many countries. Some suggest that this behavior is a form of meme.

Stephen Gill spent 3 years photographing the folded toilet papers in hotels from various countries. He published a 52-page book called Anonymous Origami which shows the folded toilet papers.

Some hotels and resorts have taken toilet paper origami one step further by making more elaborate folds:

• Left: classic triangulated toilet paper origami
• Middle: pleated toilet paper inspired by HotelChatter
• Right: pleated-tuck toilet paper inspired by P O'Brian

Folding toilet paper into a triangle is so prevalent that an elderly Japanese gentleman invented an automated toilet paper folding machine called "Meruboa". With the push of a lever, Meruboa will fold the first sheet of toilet paper into a perfect triangle. According to this web page, manufacturers plan to make over 10,000 Meruboa holders per month, valuing over one billion yen per year. Images of Meruboa can be seen here, estimated at $75 each.

Diagrams

• learn to make the Triangle Fold
• learn to make the Diamond Fold
• learn to make the Pleated Fold
• learn to make the Pleated Tuck
• learn to make the Flourish (deg farrelly)

Folding one Sheet of Toilet Paper
Folding origami from one sheet of toilet paper is an example of how origami can entertain and amuse people of all different mindsets. If you are going to sit for a long time, why not fold an origami flapping bird with toilet paper?

Gibson and Galoob are dedicated to the toilegami lifestyle. They are spreading the word through their web site and their book Toilegami: The Practical Bathroom Book.

• fold a toilet paper flapping bird from toilegami.com
• fold a toilet paper rose from one sheet by traitorchild1800
• fold a toilet paper origami rose from many sheets by Loreya

Toilet Paper Wedding Dresses

When designing this web page, we stumbled upon wedding dresses completely made of toilet paper. Interestingly, they are all very beautiful: some have origami-like roses, pleats, and weaved pattern not unlike the origami creations made with paper. Toilet paper origami wedding gowns use glue and/or tape only. See 2007, 2006, and 2005 collection. [Photos from cheap-chic-weddings.com]

Other interesting toilet paper links marginally related to origami

• toilet paper folder and dispenser prototype made with Lego pieces (by dayammerkid). This dispenser is quirky & fun and shows the innovative nature of the creator.

• toilet paper dispenser Deluxe model by tp4unme. This dispenser is more serious: designed for people who have had a stroke or are incapacitated in other ways. Comes with hands-free, infra sensor so as to avoid contamination.

• cartoon curtesy of Tim Whyatt