How to Make Round Chinese New Year Paper Lanterns

Make your own Chinese lanterns for your New Year's party.

Chinese paper lanterns are an ideal decorating choice for New Year's gatherings. Rather than purchasing several of these decorations, give them a personal touch by making them yourself. Choose card stock printed in colors and patterns that complement the rest of your holiday decor. In just a couple of hours you can create enough paper lanterns to fill an entire room. These festive additions to your party are sure to be a hit with your guests.

Things You'll Need

• Card stock
• Glue
• Yarn
• Needle
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Draw an oval that is 2.5 inches wide by 5-inches long. On each of the small ends of the oval, draw a 1/4 round circle. Next to your first oval draw another with matching circles and allow the middle of the sides to touch. Repeat the pattern down the length of an 8.5-inch-by-11-inch piece of copy paper until you have six ovals.

2. Draw a 1/4-inch square tab half way down the outer edge of the last oval. On the first oval draw an "X" in the middle of the inside edge. The tab and the "X" will serve as guides when connecting your lantern. Scan your pattern and copy and print it onto 25 pieces of decorative card stock.

3. Cut out the pattern, making sure to leave the ovals connected. Leave the glue tab intact. Form a circle with the cut-out. Glue the tab onto the "X" that is marked clearly on the template.

4. Cut a piece of yarn 20-inches long. Thread the yarn through a large-eye sewing needle. Fold the thread in half, making sure the needle is resting in the crease. Fold the yarn three more times at the other end to form loops that are 2-inches long and knot it. Cut the end of the loops to make a tassel.

5. Find the circular shapes on both ends of the lantern pattern. Push the needle and yarn through one of these circles starting from the outside and pushing inward. Thread through the remaining circles, weaving the thread and needle in and out until you reach the last circle on the same end. This is the bottom of the lantern.

6. Pull the yarn toward the top of the lantern and repeat the threading process. Your needle and yarn should be on the inside of the lantern, so you will start threading from the inside out. Push the needle through the last circle shape and pull the yarn taut, causing the lantern to form a ball.

7. Snip the yarn and remove the needle. Double knot the yarn at the base of the lantern to secure it. Knot it again at the top of the remaining thread and hang.