How to Make a Diamond Kite

Always wonder how to make a homemade kite? Well here is a simple way to make a kite of your own! Make it yourself, or make a day of crafting with the kiddos.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Twine
• Two long straight wooden sticks
• Scotch tape or glue
• 1 sheet of strong paper, or a piece of news paper folded
• Marker, crayons, or whatever you would like to decorate your kite

1. Make a cross with the two sticks, making sure you place the shorter stick horizontally across the longer stick. Take your string, and tie the two sticks together where they cross.

2. Make a notch at each end of all stick points. This is where you will being placing your string through, so make sure it's deep enough for your string type. Take another piece of string, and measure all around the kite frame. Now cut.

3. 
    
   What the string frame should look like.

   Make a loop in the top notch and fasten it by wrapping the string around the stick. Stretch the string through the notch at one end of the cross-piece, and make another loop at the bottom. Stretch the string through the notch at one end of the loop at the bottom. Stretch the string through the notch at the other end of the cross-piece. Finish by wrapping the string a few times around the top of the stick and cutting off what you don't need. Pull tight, but not to bend the sticks.

4. Now take your strong piece of paper, and lay it down flat. This will become your sail material. Place the stick frame down on top of it, and cut around it leaving a little under a 1/18 of an inch on all edges. Take the extra space around the edges, and fold them in over your string frame. Tape edges all around the frame, making sure it is tight and secure.

5. 
    
   this is what the back of your kite should look like

   Cut a piece of string around 48 inches in length. Tie one end to the loop at the top of your kite, and one end to the bottom loop of your kite. Now where the sticks cross, tie a loop in the string. This is where your flying line will be attached.

6. Now it's time to attach your tail. Cut a piece of string as long as you would like, and tie it to the bottom loop of your kite. Now attach the extra string that you have, and attach it to the loop in the middle of your kite.

7. Decorate and fly!

Tips & Warnings

• When you tie the string, put a dab of glue under and on top of the knot you made. This will ensure a strong hold.
• This string frame must be taut, but not so tight as to warp the sticks.
• Make your tail unique by tying a small ribbon roughly every 10cm along the length of string.
• Make sure not to cut your paper too close the the string frame. Doing so will result in the wind ripping your sail away from your stick frame!

[StreetBloggers]

on 12/14/2008 thanks now my 8 year old just gave me something to do today..lol

great article and how to especially for moms and dads to do with the kids. Kites are neat.