Rokkaku Kite

Glenn Davison constructs a kite that is based on the traditional Japanese Rokkaku kite, which is great for displaying or for flying outdoors.

All About

Product Ideas

More Product Ideas

Materials and Tools:

20" x 25" sheet of art paper
green decorative handmade paper
blue tissue paper
2 pieces of 1/8" bamboo from a window shade - each 21" long
piece of 1/4" bamboo - 25" long
black permanent marker
kite cardboard template (isosceles trapezoid)
white glue
small cable ties
toothpick
200 feet of 20 lb. or 30 lb. string
20" bridle string
7" loop of string
double-stick tape
small cube weights
scissors

Steps:

1. Fold the art paper in half lengthwise.

Figure A

2. Place the kite template onto the fold of the paper (figure A), trace around it with a permanent marker and cut it out.

Figure B

The resulting cutout will be a hexagon (figure B).

Figure C

3. Glue a 25-inch piece of bamboo (spine) in the fold using wood glue (figure C).

Figure D

Place small weights along the spine until the glue begins to set (figure D).

Figure E

4. Glue the spreaders (the two 21-inch bamboo pieces) horizontally at the top and bottom of the kite. They should fit in the corners so that they extend 1/2 inch beyond the paper (figure E).