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Tessellations are fun to fold because:

1. The results can look amazing! What’s more, many models look equally good when viewed from the front or the back, so you often get two models for the price of one. You can also back-light the models with often stunning effects.
2. The models can be as simple or as complex as you like. If you’re prepared to spend a lot of time on the model, you can create multilevel masterpieces. If you’d prefer to keep it simple, you can limit yourself to just a few levels, and ad interest by choosing the most appropriate paper.
3. The folding process forces you to manipulate the paper in odd and interesting ways, and you can learn a lot about folding by mastering a few basic tessellation patterns. The collapsing process is often a matter of cajoling or encouraging the paper into its final shape rather than making precise creases, and that’s the type of experience which comes in incredibly handy if you want to produce organic-looking models such as flowers.
4. There's a huge feeling of satisfaction when an apparently random collection of creases is transformed or collapsed into a finished pattern.
5. There's lots of scope for experimentation, as even a simple change or mistake can lead to the discovery of a new and exciting pattern. It doesn’t matter if someone else has made the same discovery before: it’s original for you, and there’s nothing wrong with following in the tracks of other creative folders.
6. The preparation phase often involves a serious amount of pre-creasing, which can be oddly therapeutic, especially if you listen to music at the same time. It’s also a great way to wile your time during long train journeys.
7. Origami tessellations can be created on most types of paper, but they work best with specialist papers such as Tant, Stardream, Lokta, and Elephant Hide. These papers may be a little hard to obtain, but they’re a joy to fold and once you buy a few sheets, you’ll almost certainly find yourself using them for other models, especially animals.
8. You can use your experience with pre-creases and twist folds to create a range of other models, including the amazing Kawasaki rose.