HOW TO MAKE A KITE
Kitemaking, like other creative acts, can provide a great sense of accomplishment both from the kite’s visual aesthetics and the ability to control its flight. There’s a special thrill in building something and then seeing it actually fly in the sky. Kites can be simple forms or complex designs, constructed from basic or sophisticated materials, and they can easily be made at home.
Making and flying kites are great family activities – making kites with your children leads to creative thought, and flying the kites gets everyone up and moving around outside. Many of our members fondly recall making and flying kites with their parents. Many kite festivals have special kitemaking sessions for children that can help them build their first kite.
Making and flying kites are especially wonderful activities for children. Young children can decorate simple kites. Several companies that make kite kits that contain all the materials needed to help you make a kite with your children. For older children, learning how to control 2-line or 4-line stunt kites is particularly satisfying.
Here are some ideas to get you started.
Kite Plans
To build a really successful kite, you need to focus on creating a structure that is both strong enough and light enough to fly in a variety of wind conditions. These qualities will have a strong influence on your choices of sail material and spars. Besides those qualities, you need to pay attention to attributes like balance, bridling, wind speed, and turbulence, remembering that some kites will fly better than others in particular conditions. These factors have been taken into account by others who have tried a variety of designs. Take a look at what they have done.
Kite Workshops
Kite workshops for adults and children provide creative environments for learning how to construct and decorate kites. Adults learn how to make a kite or improve their kitemaking skills. The kids always enjoy building, decorating, and flying kites they make. Kite kits for kids of different ages can be made or purchased.
Kite Fabric
What you need to know.
Kite fabric is the fabric that you use to build a kite. You can use almost any fabric to build a kite.
Many fabrics have been used: bed sheets, blue tarps, tree leaves, plywood, raincoats, suit lining, that webbing in those old woven lawn chairs, various plastics and papers, potato chip bags, pizza boxes.
Again, almost any fabric can be used. It’s just that some fabrics may work better than others.
Kites in the Classroom
Kites in the classroom
No sew seams
Article from Kiting – Volume 30, Issue 4
Explore the world of Kite making
Kitemaking offers a great opportunity for imaginative and creative designs, but it’s often a good idea to start by constructing some designs that others have used and perfected before venturing onward to your own flights of fancy.
Take a look our resources for some ideas on getting started in kitemaking.