How to Make a Kite With Bamboo

Kites bring out the inner child in nearly everyone who flies one or simply watches one soar through the air. Bringing back memories of long summer days with nothing to do but play and run, kites are the epitome of freedom. Let out your inner child by making your own kite with bamboo and experience that carefree feeling once again.

Things You'll Need

• Two thin bamboo sticks, one 30 inches and the other 35 inches long
• String (garden twine or butcher cord)
• 1 sheet of tissue or wrapping paper, measuring 40 inches by 40 inches
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue
• Colorful pieces of paper or ribbon
• Roll of kite line or mono-filiament fishing line
• at least 8 to 10 feet long

Instructions

1. Collect all the materials you will need for making your kite and have them ready to go. This will make for a more efficient creative process.

2. 

   Use two thin sticks of bamboo to form the center cross that will be the support for the frame. Position the longer bamboo stick vertically and the shorter one horizontally across it, about one third from the top of the vertical stick, to form a cross. For the horizontal stick, both ends should be of equal distance from the center.

3. 

   Cut a length of the string (garden twine or butcher cord) to tightly tie the two sticks together for strength and endurance.

4. 

   Tie a piece of the garden twine to the left end of the horizontal stick. Unravel and stretch the twine to reach the top of the vertical stick. Wind it tightly to the end of this stick. Unravel some more twine and then wind it to the end of the right-hand side of the horizontal stick.

5. 

   Complete the process by unraveling more twine and winding it first to the bottom end of the horizontal stick, and then tying it once again to the left-hand side of the horizontal stick. This will form the kite's outer frame, in a classic diamond shape.

6. Spread out the piece of paper you chose for your kite. Place the kite frame on top of the paper. Trace the outline of the kite onto the paper with a pencil.

7. Cut the shape of the frame from the paper, making the cut larger than the actual trace in order to leave ample room for edges to be folded over the sides of the kite. Place the kite frame on the paper again and apply glue to the excess edges of the paper. Carefully fold the edges over the string frame, and glue it to the inner side of the paper, essentially gluing the paper to itself over the kite frame.

8. 

   Make a tail by attaching pieces of colorful paper to a length of kite string. Attach it to the tail-end of the kite frame, tying it to the bottom of the vertical bamboo stick. Vent your kite by cutting six to eight 1-inch slits in the paper to allow air to flow through for optimum stability.

9. Cut a length of kite string 40 inches long. Attach it to the tail-end of the kite frame, tying it to the bottom of the vertical bamboo stick. Tie a loop right above the intersection of the two bamboo sticks. Tie the other end of the string to the top of the vertical bamboo stick. This is your bridle line. Tie a string from the tail of the kite to it's middle.

10. Finally, tie the roll of kite string to that tie string, and you are ready to enjoy the pleasure of flying a kite once again.

Tips & Warnings

• The string you choose must be lightweight enough to fly, but strong enough to endure any strong winds or other natural circumstances.