How to Make a Soft Winged Kite

Ancient Chinese kites can be soft-winged or hard-winged. Soft-winged kites are made of a single bamboo strip that provides the wings with rigid upper rims. The wings of this type of kite are also more flexible, allowing the kite to fly more freely and lightly into the air. While most kites are made with just one pair of wings, you can create multiple soft wings to enhance the design of your kite. Creating a simple soft-winged kite is easier though, and it's a fun activity to do with your kids.

• 1

  Place your rice paper on a flat surface and use your scissors to cut a square with each side measuring 20 inches.

• 2

  Cut four 2-inch triangles of rice paper and paste these on the corners of the square to form pockets on the kite. Leave the paste to dry for at least 20 minutes.

• 3

  Place the square diagonally on a flat surface to form a diamond shape. Insert your bamboo strip in between the opposite corners of the kite to create its spine.

• 4

  Obtain another piece of bamboo strip and cut it to a length that is 2 to 3 inches longer than the distance in between the kite's two other corners.

• 5

  Slip the cut bamboo strip into the kite pockets to form a bow shape. This will create tension on the bow and keep the kite taut while flying. Check to see that the spine and bow of the kite cross a third of the way down your kite.

• 6

  Locate the area where the spine and bow cross and use your pencil to poke a hole in this intersection. Poke another hole about one third of the way from your backbone's opposite end.

• 7

  Tie your string in between the two points from the previous step. Insert the string through both holes and tie the spine of the kite with a few knots.

• 8

  Attach the kite's main string to the string tied in between the backbone's points by tying the two strings together. Make sure the knot is loose enough for you to adjust the position of the kite depending on the condition of the wind.

• 9

  Use a thinner bamboo strip in case the rice paper begins to rip. This will place less stress on your kite corners.