How To Make A China Dragon

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Chinese kite making is considered an art form in Mainland china, and in some Chinese families, kite-making techniques and patterns have been passed down for generations.^[1] Chinese kite making involves using bamboo and newspaper to brand kites that tin range from the size of a postcard to several feet high.

1. 1

   Look for high quality bamboo. Unlike other kites, Chinese kites are traditionally made from strips of bamboo. You lot tin can find bamboo at specialty art supply shops and online. The bamboo is then cutting into thin strips with a knife and used as the frame for the kite.^[two]

   • If you cannot find bamboo, you can utilise thin wooden dowels from your local art supply store. However, the traditional Chinese fashion of making kites uses bamboo.

2. 2

   Select thin silk or thin, long fiber newspaper. Chinese kites are usually fashioned from sparse silk or thin, long fiber paper. You can discover thin silk at your local material store and look for thin, long cobweb paper at your local craft shop. Long fiber paper contains long, natural fibers, such as hemp, and is known for being potent and light.^[3] Kites made with thin silk are considered more high quality than kites made with newspaper.^[four]

   • Some kite makers use newspaper or structure paper for their kites. The traditional Chinese kite is usually made of thin silk or high quality paper, but you tin can utilise newspaper if y'all practise not accept access to silk or specialty paper.

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3. iii

   Assemble the other supplies for the kite. To round out your supplies listing for the kite, you should ensure you accept:

   • 8.v 10 xi" (21 x 29.7 cm) evidently paper
   • Masking record and/or gum
   • Scissors
   • Twine
   • Spool of thread and a needle
   • Measuring tape
   • A crepe streamer
   • Paint and/or markers to decorate the kite

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1. 1

   Choose the pattern for the kite. Chinese kite designs vary from simple fighting kites that are small and quick to the more circuitous dragon, goldfish, and swallow-shaped kites. Y'all may want to choose a simpler design for your first Chinese kite and then progress to more difficult designs as you go more proficient at shaping.^[5]

   • Consider a design in the shape of an animal, like a bird, a butterfly, or a dragonfly. Chinese kites normally apply an animal pattern or representations of animals. No matter what creature you choose, y'all should go for a shape that is symmetrical, with equal cloth on either side of the kite.
   • Another pick is to choose a diamond or circle every bit the shape for your kite. You could so decorate the diamond or circle with beast images.

2. 2

   Make the body of the kite. Once you have selected a kite pattern, you should make the torso of the kite. The kite can exist fabricated out of a sail of sparse, long fiber paper or newspaper.

   • To brand the kite, draw or trace an image of the creature you are going to use for the kite. For example, if yous are using a butterfly shape, you lot could trace one butterfly wing on one side of the piece of paper. You could so fold the piece of paper in half and cutting out the wings. This will ensure y'all have a symmetrical kite, with 2 equal halves. The same process tin can exist practical for a diamond or circumvolve shape as well.

3. iii

   Embrace the kite with a piece of newspaper. In one case you have completed the kite body, you should encompass it with another piece of paper, newspaper, or thin silk so it is durable and strong. If you are using sparse silk, y'all should piece of work carefully and slowly as you do not desire to tear the silk.

   • Place the kite along the fold of the newspaper or the middle of the piece of paper. Trace the kite on the paper and cut it out. So, attach the comprehend to the kite with tape, taping along the sides of the kite.

4. 4

   Decorate the kite. Information technology is easier to decorate the kite when it is flat and does not yet accept a frame. Get creative and use paints, markers, or colored pencils to draw designs on the kite. If you are using an beast shape, similar a butterfly or a bird, draw in details plant in nature, such as butterfly wing designs or bird feathers. Use bright, vibrant colors so the kite looks pretty when it is flight in the wind.^[6]

   • If you are using a diamond or circle shape for the kite body, y'all can yet draw representations of animals on the kite. Cut out images of your favorite animal and paste them on the kite or draw images that are colorful and interesting on the kite.

5. 5

   Put tung oil on the kite. According to Chinese tradition, the kite torso is commonly treated with tung oil or Chinawood oil, which is fabricated from the Euphorbiaceae tree, institute throughout key Asia. This will permit the paper to remain stiff but lightweight. If you do not have access to tung oil, you tin skip this step.^[7]

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1. 1

   Frame the kite with the bamboo or the wooden dowels. Brand a frame with bamboo or wooden dowels to ensure the kite stays airborne in one case it is in the sky. You will need to cut the bamboo or the dowels then they fit the shape of the kite.

   • Cut the bamboo or the dowel then they are long plenty to cantankerous over the center of the kite. One piece will go lengthwise and one piece will go width wise, forming a "T" shape on the kite. If you are using wooden dowels, you should wrap the terminate of the dowels in masking tape then they do non pierce through the paper and damage your kite.
   • Lay the dowels or the bamboo so they form a "T" shape. Use twine to secure the ii pieces together in the middle of the kite. You can also use mucilage or masking tape to secure the pieces extra well as you lot do not want the middle of the dowels to come off the kite.
   • Secure the bamboo or the dowels to the kite. Apply masking record to secure the bamboo to the kite. Identify the tape v inches (12.vii cm) below the edge of the kite on each dowel or piece of bamboo.

2. 2

   Use twine to terminate the frame. Wrap the twine around the tip of ane dowel and and so run it around the ends of the other dowel then the twine outlines the shape of the kite. Go on the twine taut every bit you wrap it around the dowels.

   • Twist the twine around ane end of the dowel and knot it around the end of the towel. Then, secure the twine with a slice of tape. Wrap the tape so it is folded securely over the twine.
   • Finish the frame by folding the edge of the paper over the framing twine. Then, unfold it and spread glue over the edges of the dowels. Press the edges over the cord and let them air dry. This volition ensure the twine frame stays attached to the kite torso.

3. 3

   Attach the bridle string. The bridle cord is the string that yous will apply to assistance fly the kite. Normally it is about 3 times as long equally your kite. The bridle cord attaches to the kite at both ends of the frame and then the kite line attaches to the bridle. You can use measuring tape to measure out the bridle cord so it is at to the lowest degree three times equally long as your kite.

   • Cut the string once y'all have measured it and necktie one end of the string to the dowel located at the lesser of the kite. In one case the string is knotted to the dowel, you can thread it through the paper on the decorated side. This volition ensure the decorated image is showing when you fly the kite.
   • Thread the other cease of the string through the newspaper at the height of the kite. Knot it to the top of the dowel. The determent cord should at present be hanging from the front or decorated side of the kite.
   • Identify your finger 17" (43.ane cm) down the length of the cord from the pinnacle of the kite. This is the tow point or the indicate where the kite reel will be attached to the string. Brand a loop in the string at the 17" point.

4. 4

   Make the kite reel. The kite reel is how y'all will reel out enough string to help the kite fly. You can use a spool of thread or twine as the kite reel for an easy, quick reel. Other options include using a piece of wood or a piece of heavy cardboard.

   • Attach the kite reel to the bridle cord past tying the kite reel string to the bridle string. Tie the kite reel string just under the 17" (43.1 cm) knot on the bridle cord. Then, slide a wooden dowel through the spool of thread and secure it with tape. This will allow the kite reel to release thread easily when the kite is in the air.

5. 5

   Put the tail on the kite. Finish the kite by adding a tail. The tail can exist made of a paper streamer and should be at least i and a half times the length of the spine of the kite. Usually a tail that is longer volition ensure the kite flies straight. The tail also provides drag for the kite and so information technology can fly at a college altitude and in a direct line.^[eight]

   • Y'all tin can make a tail that is one long cord or several strings tied together. Adhere the tail to the bottom end of the kite with tape, making sure information technology is centered on the kite.

6. half-dozen

   Fly the kite in an open outdoor area. Kites wing all-time outside in an open surface area similar a field. Choose a day with winds that are not also lite or as well strong, unremarkably between 5 to 25 mph (eight to 40 km/h).

   • Never wing the kite near power lines or other tall obstructions as it can go tangled and get damaged.

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Add New Question

• Question

  Did the Chinese make kites in the shape of collywobbles?

  

  Sometimes their kites were in the shape of butterflies, but sometimes they were not.

• Question

  What do traditional Chinese kites look like? I tin can't find much about what they looked similar.

  

  Try doing a google search for "traditional Chinese kites" and they click on the link for images at the top.

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Things You'll Need

• Bamboo or wooden dowels
• Thin, long fibered paper or sparse silk
• viii.five x 11"(21 x 29.7 cm) plain newspaper or paper
• Masking tape and/or glue
• Scissors
• Twine
• Spool of thread and a needle
• Measuring tape
• A crepe streamer
• Pigment and/or markers to decorate the kite

About This Article

Article Summary 10

If you want to make a Chinese kite, cut out the shape of your kite from two layers of sparse fiber newspaper or newspaper and decorate your kite with paint, markers, or colored pencils. Make a frame past attaching 2 bamboo or wooden dowels with twine in a T-shape. Attach the frame to the kite with tape, and then tie twine to the tip of each dowel so it outlines the shape of the kite. Make a determent string that'due south three times the length of your kite and adhere it to both ends of the frame. Tie your kite reel to the bridle cord and attach the tail, and then take your kite for its kickoff flying! For tips on making your kite expect like an animal, read on!

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Chinese-Kites

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