How to Make a Chinese Parade Dragon

Over the course of the year, there are many small town parades.  This year, why not try something different for the parade you walk in.  Make a Chinese Parade Dragon.  This article will give you step by step instructions for making your own Chinese Parade Dragon.

Make the Head

Step One; Gather your materials.  You will need a large cardboard box for the skull.  Keep the flaps on the box.  You will also need two extra flaps of equal size.  These will be to support the mouth.  Two large pieces of foam for the teeth. These should be equal in size to the two extra flaps, if possible.  Red fabric for the tongue.  Green fabric for the head. Tempra paints (red, black, yellow, white), brushes, yellow tennis ball, hand stapler, glue gun, scissors, needle and thread are also required.

Step Two;  Shape the foam into a mouth with two sets of teeth.  Glue these to the two extra cardboard flaps for stability.  Set it aside to dry.  Next, glue or staple these to the front flap on your box.  You might want to separate the lower and upper part of the mouth with two sticks.  Your skull is finished.  Cover the skull with the green fabric.  Use glue or stapler to hold it in place.  Let it hang down on the sides a bit.  This will help cover the person that handles the head.  Cut the yellow tennis ball in half and glue it to the fabric over the mouth area.  These are the eyes.  Use your black paint for the eye lens.  Cut your red fabric and make a long tongue.  You can double it over and stitch it together with the needle and thread.  Glue it to the the bottom of the mouth.  Set the head aside to dry well.

Make the Body

Step Three;  Gather your material.  You will need a long large piece of fabric at least 4 to 5 feet wide.  The longer the better.  If you can get green that matches the head, you are in great shape.  You need lots of 6 to 10 inch long fabric squares for the scales.  These are sewed on with the needle and thread.  It is also the most time consuming.  Next, you need two foot long pieces of fabric about 4 inches wide.  These get sewed on to the edges(sides) of your fabric.  They go on both sides.  These help to cover the people supporting the dragon.  You also need 5 to 6 hula hoops (same size). These are stitched to the underside of the body.  Now put your paint to good use, by making spots on the dragon's body.

Bring it Together

Step Four;  Attach the head to the first part of the body fabric.  This needs to be very strong and secure.  Attach the back flap to a hula hoop or stable it to some wood flats.  Whatever works best for you.

Step Five;  Practice a serpentine movement with it together.  The leader must be able to see where they are going. Others will hold and support the body with the hula hoops.  Simply, follow the leader.

A Chinese Parade Dragon is an excellent craft project for children to do.  Have some fun with it and be creative.

note; image provided by www.cbkids.ca

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