I've just returned from our Carnival Finale - a Chinese Lantern Parade followed by fireworks. Last year I had a new paper lantern - a pleated paper cylinder about 9" high with a candle (nightlight) inside, but the air was damp and the paper went soggy and lost its pleats and the candle wouldn't light. This year my candle went out! There were a lot of lightless lanterns around! (The Health and Safety people don't seem have noticed these lanterns yet)
So I thought (as one does!) I'll make one for next year that won't collapse and that will hold a small torch - no problems lighting.
Has anyone ever made anything like this. My initial thoughts are for a fabric cube suppported by heavy interfacing, perhaps with a few holes in to allow more light to shine through. In a Chinese print fabric perhaps. Or perhaps a dragon appliqued.
I've looked for a pattern but they all seem to be the basic cylinder with slits cut round the middle we made as Christmas Decorations when we were 5. I thought I might find an Origami one I could adapt to fabric. My alternative thought is a Chinese dragon - but that sounds even more difficult. I do, however, have a whole year to complete it!
The fireworks, unlike the lanterns, were spectacular.