How to Make an Orca (Shachi) from a Plastic Straw
Note the terminology applying to each piece of the straw., Locate the bend in the straw., Cut out the backbone and stand., Begin tying the body of the orca., Tie the other wide stick., Tie the other wide strip again., Repeat the knotting and...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Note the terminology applying to each piece of the straw.
This diagram shows how the pieces of the straw will be used to make the orca.
The short end will be the tail, while the two long, thin pieces will be the stand (stick in the diagram) and the backbone.
You'll fold the long, wide pieces to make the body of the orca.
It might help you to print this off to follow.
Additionally, you might want to use a straw with colored lines running down the side for your first try. , For now, keep the bend in the closed position.
Flatten the straw.
Press down on each side of the bend to flatten the straw, running your fingers over the bend a few times.
Do not flatten the bend itself. , Pinch the straw flat between your thumb and forefinger with one hand.
With the other hand, use scissors to cut out your first piece.
With the straw flat, cut a thin strip off one side, making sure you cut both layers of the straw. (If you're using a lined straw, it might be useful to flatten the straw such that the thin backbone and stand pieces contain the lines.) Stop cutting when you reach the straw bend.
Cut out another thin strip on the other side of the flattened straw.
Again, don't cut along the edge itself but right next to it.
You should be cutting two layers of straw, not one.
There will be four "sticks" once you're done with cutting – two thin sticks and two wide sticks. , First, take one of the thin sticks and bend it so that it's at a 90-degree angle to the straw.
This stick will be the stand.
The other thin stick will be the backbone.
Grab one of the wide sticks and pull it under the backbone, then up and back down through the loop created.
Pull the knot created by the wide stick all the way up to the bend in the straw.
Tug gently on the bottom of the wide stick to tighten. , As with the first wide stick, pull it under the backbone, then up and back down through the loop created.
Move the knot up to the bend in the straw, layering on top of the first knot created with the other wide stick.
Tug gently on the bottom of the wide stick to tighten the knot.
Both wide sticks and the stand should be pointing in the same direction.
Gently fold the wide sticks upward on their respective sides.
This will position them away from the stand slightly, so that you can keep tying the body of the orca.
Begin tying again.
Grab the first wide stick you tied.
Pull it under the backbone, then pull up and draw back down through the loop created.
Tug gently on the wide strip to tighten the knot once it's at the bend in the straw. , Grab the second wide strip.
Pull it under the backbone, then upward and back down through the loop created.
Tug gently on the wide strip to tighten the knot once it's at the bend in the straw.
Again, both wide strips and the stand should be facing the same direction. , Fold the two wide strips upward and away from the stand again.
Fold the first wide stick, then the other, in the same motion
- looping under the backbone, then up and pulling down through the loop. , The fins on each side of the orca are called pectoral fins, or pec fins, and they're used for steering.
Back view Position the orca standing on the two wide sticks left from folding and tying in the previous steps.
You might have to bend the sticks a bit to get them into the right position.
Cut a small curved half moon on one fin.
Cut the same shape on the other side.
Pull away the pieces around the curved cuts.
Feather cut down the length of each pectoral fin. , Position the orca in your hands, with the short part of the straw away from your hold.
Bend the short part of the straw around to mold the body shape. , Cut a triangle into the short end of the straw.
Remove the part that becomes unattached.
As with the pectoral fin, feather cut the tail once it's in shape. , Remove the remaining backbone around which you folded the wide sticks by cutting.
Admire your completed orca. , You can stick small googly eyes onto the head using a tiny drop of glue. -
Step 2: Locate the bend in the straw.
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Step 3: Cut out the backbone and stand.
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Step 4: Begin tying the body of the orca.
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Step 5: Tie the other wide stick.
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Step 6: Tie the other wide strip again.
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Step 7: Repeat the knotting and tightening process three to four times.
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Step 8: Create the pectoral fins.
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Step 9: Create the bend in the body.
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Step 10: Cut the tail fin.
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Step 11: Cut the backbone.
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Step 12: Add eyes.
Detailed Guide
This diagram shows how the pieces of the straw will be used to make the orca.
The short end will be the tail, while the two long, thin pieces will be the stand (stick in the diagram) and the backbone.
You'll fold the long, wide pieces to make the body of the orca.
It might help you to print this off to follow.
Additionally, you might want to use a straw with colored lines running down the side for your first try. , For now, keep the bend in the closed position.
Flatten the straw.
Press down on each side of the bend to flatten the straw, running your fingers over the bend a few times.
Do not flatten the bend itself. , Pinch the straw flat between your thumb and forefinger with one hand.
With the other hand, use scissors to cut out your first piece.
With the straw flat, cut a thin strip off one side, making sure you cut both layers of the straw. (If you're using a lined straw, it might be useful to flatten the straw such that the thin backbone and stand pieces contain the lines.) Stop cutting when you reach the straw bend.
Cut out another thin strip on the other side of the flattened straw.
Again, don't cut along the edge itself but right next to it.
You should be cutting two layers of straw, not one.
There will be four "sticks" once you're done with cutting – two thin sticks and two wide sticks. , First, take one of the thin sticks and bend it so that it's at a 90-degree angle to the straw.
This stick will be the stand.
The other thin stick will be the backbone.
Grab one of the wide sticks and pull it under the backbone, then up and back down through the loop created.
Pull the knot created by the wide stick all the way up to the bend in the straw.
Tug gently on the bottom of the wide stick to tighten. , As with the first wide stick, pull it under the backbone, then up and back down through the loop created.
Move the knot up to the bend in the straw, layering on top of the first knot created with the other wide stick.
Tug gently on the bottom of the wide stick to tighten the knot.
Both wide sticks and the stand should be pointing in the same direction.
Gently fold the wide sticks upward on their respective sides.
This will position them away from the stand slightly, so that you can keep tying the body of the orca.
Begin tying again.
Grab the first wide stick you tied.
Pull it under the backbone, then pull up and draw back down through the loop created.
Tug gently on the wide strip to tighten the knot once it's at the bend in the straw. , Grab the second wide strip.
Pull it under the backbone, then upward and back down through the loop created.
Tug gently on the wide strip to tighten the knot once it's at the bend in the straw.
Again, both wide strips and the stand should be facing the same direction. , Fold the two wide strips upward and away from the stand again.
Fold the first wide stick, then the other, in the same motion
- looping under the backbone, then up and pulling down through the loop. , The fins on each side of the orca are called pectoral fins, or pec fins, and they're used for steering.
Back view Position the orca standing on the two wide sticks left from folding and tying in the previous steps.
You might have to bend the sticks a bit to get them into the right position.
Cut a small curved half moon on one fin.
Cut the same shape on the other side.
Pull away the pieces around the curved cuts.
Feather cut down the length of each pectoral fin. , Position the orca in your hands, with the short part of the straw away from your hold.
Bend the short part of the straw around to mold the body shape. , Cut a triangle into the short end of the straw.
Remove the part that becomes unattached.
As with the pectoral fin, feather cut the tail once it's in shape. , Remove the remaining backbone around which you folded the wide sticks by cutting.
Admire your completed orca. , You can stick small googly eyes onto the head using a tiny drop of glue.
About the Author
Deborah Lee
Creates helpful guides on practical skills to inspire and educate readers.
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