How to Make a Kite

This article was reviewed by Amy Guerrero. Amy Guerrero is an Arts and Crafts Specialist and the Owner of Sunshine Craft Co., a crafting studio based in Phoenix, Arizona. Amy specializes in macrame, DIY crafting, and teaching fiber arts. She offers monthly in-person and online workshops along with having developed a range of DIY craft kits for at-home projects. Amy holds a BS in Industrial Design from Philadelphia University. She worked as a graphic designer before starting her own business. Sunshine Craft Co. is a creative hub that offers a wide range of workshops, tools, and resources for any craft project to inspire creativity and community engagement.

This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.

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There is nothing quite like flying a kite outdoors on a sunny, breezy day. What’s even better? Flying a kite you made yourself! Making a simple diamond kite is an easy project you can complete in one afternoon. We’ll walk you through the process step-by-step and show you how to build the frame, fashion the sail, and put it all together. Then, you can enjoy watching your very own custom kite soar across the sky.

Making the Frame

• If you want to make a larger kite, use longer sticks. Just make sure the horizontal stick is at least 4 inches (10 cm) shorter than the vertical stick.

• Make sure the sticks form a right angle to each other when they’re attached. The horizontal stick should be positioned straight across the vertical stick.

• If you’re using very thin sticks and string, you can poke holes into the ends of the sticks instead of making notches.

• Double-check that the string is taut but not too tight to prevent the sticks from bending or warping.
• The string will help the frame retain its shape as your kite soars through the air.

Measuring and Cutting the Sail

• Fabric can also work for the sail in a pinch, though it should be thick and sturdy so the sail is strong.

Lay the frame on the sail. Spread the material you’re using for the sail flat on the ground. Then, place the frame in the center of the sail.

• When you’re finished, you should have a diamond shape on the sail, with the frame in the middle of the diamond.

• You should now have a nice, clean diamond sail that can fit snugly over the frame.

Assembling the Kite

• Check that the sail sits tightly over the frame—you don’t want it to come loose in the air!

• You can then add string to the flying line to make it longer based on your arm length and height. Sometimes, adding more string to the flying line can also help the kite to fly straighter.

• Pick a string or cloth color that matches the color of your sail so your kite looks pretty in the air.

Attach pieces of cloth or ribbon to the tail at 1 foot (0.30 m) intervals. Use pieces that are 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) long. Tie them onto the tail with a small knot, allowing them to dangle down off the string. The cloth or ribbon pieces will help the tail stay balanced and ensure the kite flies straight.

• You could write your name on the kite so you can see your name flying in the air.

Try out the kite in a spot with no trees or power lines. Look for an area close to a body of water like a lake or the ocean, as it will have good winds for kite flying. Hold tight to the kite string and run in the direction of the wind. Then, release the kite as you are running, pushing it upward into the wind. Use the flying line to keep the kite in the air. [8] X Research source

Community Q&A

Yes. You can even use tissue paper or a plastic bag to make a kite. Keep in mind that the lighter the material you use is, the better the kite will fly.

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Construction paper, string, pipe cleaners/sticks, scissors, colored pencils/markers (optional), tape (optional), and a ruler.

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There are many other types of kites you can make once you master the simple diamond kite, such as a delta, shed, and eddy kite. If you enjoy making this kite, look up these other kites so you can try to make a few different ones!

Old bed sheets strip down easily, at different widths, to make the tail. They can be shortened easily to adjust them, and strips can be knotted together to extend them. Wrap them around the lower bottom of the stick, between the strings, and tie. They're great for higher winds.

Tips from our Readers

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• You can use super glue or hot glue to attach the strings to the dowels instead of making the notches. Or, try using tape instead (it's less sturdy, but is lighter than glue).
• The Dollar Tree or other cheap stores have wooden skewers that are 32 inches long and work perfectly for kites!

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1. ↑https://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/take-flight-with-a-diy-kite
2. ↑https://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/take-flight-with-a-diy-kite
3. ↑https://www.kite.org/about-kites/kite-plans/
4. ↑https://www.kite.org/about-kites/kite-plans/
5. ↑https://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/take-flight-with-a-diy-kite
6. ↑https://www.kite.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/simple-kite-plans-1.pdf
7. ↑https://www.kite.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/simple-kite-plans-1.pdf
8. ↑https://www.kite.org/about-kites/how-to-fly-a-kite/

About This Article

This article was reviewed by Amy Guerrero. Amy Guerrero is an Arts and Crafts Specialist and the Owner of Sunshine Craft Co., a crafting studio based in Phoenix, Arizona. Amy specializes in macrame, DIY crafting, and teaching fiber arts. She offers monthly in-person and online workshops along with having developed a range of DIY craft kits for at-home projects. Amy holds a BS in Industrial Design from Philadelphia University. She worked as a graphic designer before starting her own business. Sunshine Craft Co. is a creative hub that offers a wide range of workshops, tools, and resources for any craft project to inspire creativity and community engagement. This article has been viewed 1,885,523 times.

To make a kite, first you'll need 2 wooden dowels that are less than 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter and about 40 inches (100 cm) long. Cut one of the dowels so it's about 6 inches (15 cm) shorter than the other one. Then, lay the longer dowel down on a flat surface, and place the shorter dowel on top of it about 4 inches (12.5 cm) above the midpoint so they're perpindicular. Wrap string around the point where the 2 dowels meet, and use hot glue to cover the string and seal the 2 dowels together. Wait a few minutes for the hot glue to dry. Next, cut a notch in the end of each dowel using a small knife. Run a long length of string around the ends of the dowels to connect the 4 ends. Use the notches you cut to keep the string in place. Pull the string tight so it's taut, then tie the 2 ends into a knot. Cut off the excess string with scissors. Now, lay your frame on top of a garbage bag or sheet of thin plastic, and outline the frame with a marker. Set the frame aside, and cut around the outline you drew, adding 2 inches (5 cm) to each side as you cut. Then, lay the frame on top of the sheet you’ve cut, and line the inside of each dowel with hot glue. Fold the excess plastic over the dowel and press it into the hot glue. Next, tie a piece of string to the end of one of the dowels. Run the other end of the string to the opposite end of the dowel and tie it there. Repeat this process with the other dowel and a second piece of string. Finally, tie the 2 lengths of string to a third piece of string at the junction where the 2 strings meet to make your brindle and line. For help making a sturdy frame that'll withstand high winds, read on!