Start with a pattern meant for beginners
Cut a square from ordinary paper or use origami paper if you have it. Pick a short, complete diagram rather than a photograph of a finished model. OrigamiUSA's sailboat diagram, by Marcio Noguchi, begins with a square and shows each fold through the finished boat. OrigamiUSA also has a free diagram collection if another shape appeals to you. Open the original instructions and fold alongside them; creators and diagrammers deserve credit for their designs.
Work with the creases you can see
Make the first fold carefully and press along it with a fingertip. Before the next step, check which side of the paper faces up and where the folded edge sits in the drawing. If the shape stops matching the diagram, unfold to the last step you recognize. A second sheet is useful for trying a difficult turn without undoing the first one.
The book in the photograph is Won Park's Extreme Origami, shown beside a folded dollar-bill figure. It is a reminder that paper folding can grow wonderfully complex, but you do not need to begin there. A familiar square sheet lets you learn the language of the diagram first.
Try it again without looking
When the first shape is finished, set the instructions aside and fold the same model with another sheet. Notice which folds you remember and where you reach for the diagram. Look again, then finish. If you are folding with someone, trade places: one person follows the diagram while the other describes what they see. There is no need to race or make identical results.
Where the paper can go next
Leave the shape on a shelf, tuck it into a card, or give it to the person who folded beside you. Keep the diagram with it if you want to return later. For a project that begins with making the material itself, try paper from scraps. Handmade paper can be thick, so use a thin, flexible sheet for folding.
I hope this finds you well,
Scott