How to make a Moonraking Lantern the Slawit way.
The process of making a lantern begins with willow. The willow usually comes from Somerset, and is cut the previous autumn, tied in bundles, and weighted down in water. After a considerable time, it is removed from the water and the bark removed, before being stored. At this stage, the willow is called withy. It is very flexible when wet, and can be bent round in a circle and twisted into many shapes quite easily with a little practice.
We have usually two lengths of withy, one about 1.5 metres and one about 2.25 metres. The long ones are thicker than the short, and are used for the main structure of the lantern. The short ones are used for tying the long ones together, and creating patterns, this is called infill.
The tools that you should bring with you needed for making a lantern are a pair of secateurs and a pair of blunt nosed pliers. An apron is handy for keeping your clothes clean. We have a small number of these tools that you can borrow, but please bring your own if possible. All other tools and equipment are provided in your bargain basement session fee of £1.50 per person. No concessions!
The shape that forms the start of many lanterns is the circle. Soaked withy is wrapped round on itself and twisted into a circular shape. It is then fixed using masking tape. When dry, it retains its shape to a degree. Larger circles are made by twisting and taping two or more withies together to form one long one., while it dries. To form a simple lantern, take three circles of roughly the same diameter and tape them together in the shape of a ball. This is called the structure. Other pieces are then added to the shape to stiffen it and create the lantern. When the withy has dried, parts that are not needed can be cut away to leave the finished shape.
Make three circles 
Fasten two together 
add a third 
add some more structure and some infill 
Lanterns must be a minimum size before we allow them to be lit with candles. We keep a length of tubing which is wrapped in red and white tape so that we do not lose it, 
and use this to test the height and width of the lantern. If it does not fit, then the owner is not allowed to use a candle as its light source. When we have checked the size, a candle platform is built into the base of the lantern, and a metal tray with a candle holder in it is made and fixed with wire to the platform.
A candle in its holder fixed to the base with wire 
As the lantern is usually carried around the village on a pole, it is fitted with a wire carrying loop at the top, so that the lantern hangs vertically. It is now ready for covering with paper.
The paper used is tissue paper, and this is cut into suitable sized pieces and covered with paste. The sheets are then applied to the lantern, with a minimum of two sheets over avery area. For things like eyes and teeth, brown paper can be cut to shape and stuck onto the outside of the tissue. When the paste dries, a chimney is cut at the top of the lantern to let out the heat, and a specially constructed door is made in a suitable position that enables the candle to be lit for the procession.
The lantern is then checked for safety reasons by our team, and the owner is handed a safety list that explains what you can and must not do with a lantern.
On the way out, each owner is given a carrying pole with a wire safety hook on the end.
That's the basics of candle making. Looks complicated, but most people can make a reasonable lantern after a few hours training. Minimum time is about 4 hours or two sessions.
There are quite a few trick of the trade that you will only learn from attending a training session or two!
Happy lantern making.
