MAKE IT YOURSELF: CHEAP AND EASY REPURPOSED KITE

Before this summer I had never flown a kite. Can you believe that? How does a girl get to be 28 years old without having held the anchor end of a flying paper diamond? The good news is that I popped my kite cherry with the skankiest looking kite emblazoned with the image of Barbie and two of her closest pals. As I ran around the park, looking the fool in my flip flops and a maxi dress, I thought I could most definitely make a cuter kite than the pink thing at the end of my line. So I did. If you are in a high flying mood you can follow my directions and make this easy and very effective sled kite. First youll want to gather your materials. I used: 1 vinyl lined tablecloth (does not necessarily need to be lined but make sure it is somewhat sturdy) duct tape (in coordinating colour) 2 24" pieces of 1/8" doweling paint and foam brush (optional) 2 skeins of embroidery floss (or 1 if you are going to use the original thread that came with the kite handle) kite handle Youll want your kite fabric to be somewhat wind resistant. In an earlier attempt I used a light cotton. Didnt work so well. I went with a vinyl table cloth that I had purchased for a few dollars at the grocery store. Its lined with that flannel-ish stuff that sheds easily and that actually helps me out in a later step. First things first you will want to cut out the main kite piece. I used an old handmade kite as a template and I copied down the measurements below: Next you will add a small hole on each of the side corners. After I punched these holes I thought I better reinforce the corners with duct tape and then punch the holes once more. I would definitely recommend reinforcing these corners because youll be tying your strings there. Next you will sew the doweling in place. I decided to paint mine to match the kite because Im fancy like that. I sewed the dowel to the kite in three different place. One at the top, one in the middle and one at the bottom. If youre worried about the dowel tearing off you can sew the entire thing in place. The kite handle did not come with a turquoise string. I unwound the original string and replaced it with a full skein of embroidery floss. This, of course, is totally optional and only slightly neurotic. The last thing you need to to is tie your kite string in place. I dont have much to say on this one except that I wish I were more confidant in my knot tying skills. I quadruple knotted this sucker and crossed my fingers that it would hold in pace. You should probably take note of the Y shape and try to replicate that as close as you can. Once your knots are in place youre off to the races! The kite races that is... Go forth on a windy day and reclaim your long lost (or never realized) childhood bliss!