Tape-Art-Kite

The 2-hours-DIY-project „Tape-Art-Kite“ is created especially for children between the age of 4 and 10. The kite consists of a light frame covered with fabric provided with a stabilizing tail, and designed to be flown in the air at the end of a long string. 

After this instruction you are going to hold a ready-to-use kite in the hands that offers leisure-activity for old and young. 

If you want to rebuild this decorative kite you need the following materials:

• Fabric (e.g. colored or with a pattern) in DIN A2 size (alternatively, you can also sew several A3 or A4 sheets together)
• 1 round wooden or aluminium stick 40 cm long and approx. 5 mm in diameter
• 1 round wooden or aluminium stick 50 cm long and approx. 5 mm in diameter
• tear-resistant cord (e.g. kitchen twine or bricklayer's twine)
• Sticky tape for colored bows on the kite's tail and the decoration
• scissors
• Sewing machine
• Sewing threat
• Sewing needle
• A ruler
• A pencil 
• A Stanley-knife

The first step is to connect the two sticks to form a cross. The middle of the crossbar should be fixed at about 3/4 to 4/5 of the length of the longitudinal bar. The easiest way to do this is with wire, which you wrap tightly around the cross.

As a second step you knot the string around the four ends of the wooden sticks. You can slightly notch the wood so that the cord does not slip away.

This cord gives the kite its typical shape.

If your cross is still a little crooked, you can correct this with the string: Wrap it around the sticks at the corners a few times and pull them tight enough to give the kite the desired shape. When the cord is tight all over, tie the two ends together.

Now place the finished framework on your fabric. It may be easier for smaller children if the fabric has been painted or pasted beforehand, but it still works when the kite is finished.

Cut away excess fabric, leaving a border of about 3 cm all around. Cut the fabric at the corners so that the wooden sticks fit through. Now fold the fabric around the string on the four sides and sew them together.

The last step is to tie the tail of the dragon to the lower end of your decorative dragon.

You can design the kite according to your own ideas. There are no limits to your creativity!

Your decorative and individual decorative kite is ready!

Edit: If you want to build a kite that can fly, it should be larger than this kite for good flight characteristics and be precisely manufactured.

Since a kite is exposed to quite a bit of stress in the wind, you should use other material. Instead of the fabric, you can use special kite paper, for example.