National Cherry Blossom Festival

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2020 Blossom Kite Festival
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2020 Blossom Kite Festival
How to Make a Kite

How to Make: A Garbage Bag Kite

This is a fun project to do with kids using simple material you can find around the house!

Step 1: The Materials

Need: a plastic bag, two sticks, string, scissors, and ribbon.

Optional: tape and/or glue

*The sticks can be garden stakes, dowels, straight twigs, or skewers taped together.

Step 2: Cut & Tie the Frame

Cut the cross stick about 4 inches shorter than the main stick. Then take the two sticks and tie them together with a piece of string. The cross stick should be tied about one third of the way down the main stick – making the shape of a lower-case t.

Step 3: Cut the Sail

Trace and cut the garbage bag to fit the frame of the kite.

Step 4: Tie the Sail to the Frame

Tie the ends of the sail to the wood frame. No need to use glue or tape – though it may be helpful. Keep the knots tight!

Step 5: Attach the Flying String

First, tie a piece of string from one side of the cross stick to the other, leaving slack to form a triangle. Then, tie the end of the spool of string to the bottom portion of the main stick, loop under the slack cross string and tie a simple knot at the intersection of the two strings (so it forms a triangular pyramid shape).

*Hint: if you can’t figure out how to tie it with the spool of string attached, you can cut it and then attach the flying string after by tying a knot near the top of the triangular pyramid.

Step 6: Make a Ribbon Balance

Tie ribbons to the end of the kite in order to help balance it. You can even attach a small weight, like a washer, if the ribbons don’t seem hefty enough for your kite.

Step 7: Decorate Your Kite

Optional: color on, add stickers, ribbons, etc. to decorate your kite.

Step 8: Find Wind and Fly!

If you can get an open field and some gusts going, you’ll be in business. Your back should be toward the wind. The best way to launch the kite is to have a friend hold it while you back up slowly into the wind. Have your friend let go of the kite and let the string out.

*Common Misconception: You don’t need to run to get the kite flying…though sometimes holding the kite and running into the wind is more fun!