How long does a coconut leaf grasshopper take to make?

About twenty-five minutes for a beginner. The body folds take five minutes and the rest of the time goes on shaping the eight leg strips.

Why do my grasshopper legs go flat?

The creases were too shallow or the leaf was too dry. Fold each leg into a sharp Z and press hard, and keep the leaf damp while you work so the creases hold.

Can I make a grasshopper from a palm leaf instead?

Yes. Palm leaflets are a little softer, so the legs are easier to fold but relax sooner. Add an extra hard crease at each knee to compensate.

What is the hardest part of this project?

Splitting the leg strips evenly. Cut them all in one pass so they are the same width, because uneven legs are the first thing the eye notices.

Coconut Leaf Grasshopper Tutorial for Beginners

In short

Fold a lifelike coconut leaf grasshopper from a single leaflet in about twenty-five minutes. A classic figure with springy legs and a folded body.

The grasshopper is the figure that makes people lean in. It sits on its back legs, it has a real body and a pair of folded wings, and it is made from a single coconut leaflet.

It takes about twenty-five minutes. The body folds are easy; the legs are where the care goes, and they are also what makes the whole thing convincing.

What sells a leaf grasshopper is the angle of the hind legs. They should be folded into a sharp zigzag that looks like it is about to spring, not laid flat like a dead insect. Get that one detail right and even a rough body reads as a grasshopper; get it wrong and a neat body still looks like a leaf.

What You'll Need

1 coconut leaflet, about 50 cm long
Sharp scissors
A damp cloth
A hard flat surface

Folding the grasshopper

1

Flatten the leaflet

Wipe the leaflet with a damp cloth and run your thumbnail down the spine so it lies flat and even.
2

Fold the body

Fold the leaflet in half lengthways, then roll the doubled strip into a tight cylinder about 10 cm long for the body.
3

Make the head

At the front, fold the tip back on itself twice to form a small pointed head. Pinch the folds hard so they lock.
4

Cut the legs

Split the lower half of the leaflet into four narrow strips on each side. Two strips per side become the front legs, two become the hind legs.
5

Zigzag the hind legs

Fold each hind-leg strip into a sharp Z, with the knee raised above the body. Crease both angles firmly.
6

Set the wings

Fold the remaining upper strips back over the body to form wings, then trim them to a soft point.

A folded coconut leaf grasshopper with raised hind legs — Raise the knees above the body; that angle is what makes it look ready to jump.

The legs are the whole trick

Front legs should be short and nearly straight, just enough to touch the ground. Hind legs should be twice as long and folded into a sharp zigzag, with the knee clearly higher than the back of the body. Fold them gently at first, check the angle by standing the grasshopper up, and only then press the creases hard. Once a crease is pressed in coconut leaf it is very hard to change.

Making it look alive

Fold the hind legs into a Z with the knee above the body, not a shallow bend.
Stand the grasshopper up as you work so you can judge the leg angles.
Keep the front legs short; long front legs make it look like a cricket.
A tiny bend at the neck stops the head pointing straight forward like a stick.

Fold the body cylinder first and let it dry for five minutes so it holds.
Cut all eight leg strips at once so they match in width.
Shape the hind legs before the front ones, as they set the stance.
Add the wings last so you do not crush them while handling the legs.
Press the finished figure flat under a book for ten minutes to lock every crease.