How to make a Chinese kite

Content

Steps
Method 1 of 2: Making a Kite Frame
Method 2 of 2: Plating and Decorating a Chinese Kite
Tips
Warnings
What do you need

Discover the history of kite flying by learning how to make Chinese kites. In China, making kites is considered an art form. Many families in this country pass on from generation to generation the ancient secrets and blueprints for making kites. For the construction of kites in China, bamboo and silk fabric are used. As a result, the craftsmen produce delightful products that can be small, no larger than a postage stamp, and huge, several meters long and wide. Chinese kites have played a significant role in the development of modern technology, including in aircraft construction. In the past, kites have been used as elements of military strategy and military equipment. With the help of kites, aerial reconnaissance was carried out for the movement of enemy armies and important messages were sent. In addition, snakes are used for purely peaceful purposes and can serve as a pleasant pastime for people of different social classes. By following the simple instructions in our article, you will master all the intricacies of the ancient art of building kites.The process of making a kite can be divided into three stages: making a template, sheathing and decorating the kite.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Making a Kite Frame

1 Choose a design. The designs of Chinese kites range from flat designs that are easy to make and maneuverable to intricate patterns in the shape of dragons, butterflies or swallows. To begin with, it is worth starting with the simplest design, and as you gain experience, move on to more complex kite models.
2 Select the materials required to make the frame. The frame to which the kite's airfoil is attached creates a rigid base that supports the shape of your product. Bamboo, wooden dowels or fiberglass rods are usually used as the material for the frame.
3 Make the frame of the desired shape from the selected material. Secure the joints of the structure with twine or tight threads.

Method 2 of 2: Plating and Decorating a Chinese Kite

1 Select material for the aerofoil. Silk is used to make traditional Chinese kites, but there are many other suitable materials such as thick long-grain paper, nylon, or heavy plastic trash bags.
2 Draw a drawing on a piece of newspaper to make sure the size and shape of the sheathing matches the frame you made.
3 When you are satisfied that the sheet of paper is the right shape and size, secure it with sewing pins to use as a template for cutting out aerodynamic material.
4 Cut the aerodynamic material to match your frame.
5 Decorate silk or paper with designs, stamps, fabric designs, or iron-on transfers.
6 Sew or glue the material to the snake frame.
7 Attach the threads and bridle. This is the part of the structure that consists of the supporting threads of the kite.

Tips

Choose a day with good wind to launch your kite. If the wind is too weak or too strong, it will be very difficult for you to launch and control the kite. It is optimal to choose a day when the wind speed is from 8 to 40 kilometers per hour.