How To Build A Diamond Kite

Step-by-Step Instructions For The MBK Simple Diamond

Learn how to build a Diamond kite with these easy-to-follow instructions. Fully illustrated with photographs, every step of the way. Don't worry about how long this page looks. The steps are easy, hence this simple Diamond kite comes together very quickly!

Just in case you have actually made and flown this kite at least once already... Why not move up to the big Dowel Diamond? It takes a bit longer to make, but is much more impressive! It's easy, working from my fully illustrated step-by-step eBook.

1. How To Build A Diamond Kite - Measuring The Sail

If you haven't read How To Build Kites at this point, you need to read it now... (for one thing, it has a very short list of materials needed!)

• Place your plastic bag flat on the floor, with the closed end at the top.
• Starting from just below the top-left corner of the bag, measure and mark 3 dots on the plastic. I've high-lighted the dots in yellow, in the photo. Judge the horizontal direction by eye. If you're careful, there's no need for a T-square.

2. How To Build A Diamond Kite - Cutting The Sail

• Take your ruler and connect the dots with the black marker pen, as shown in the photo. (OK, the lines appear a bit faint in the photo!)
• Flip the plastic over and trace over all the black lines.

• Cut along the top and right side of the bag, and open it out to show the complete sail outline, as in the left photo above.
• Take your scissors and cut along all the black lines. As in the right photo above, your Diamond kite sail is nearly complete!

3. How To Build A Diamond Kite - Adding The Spars

• Lay a length of your 5mm (3/16") dowel down the center-line of the sail, line it up with the top sail corner and saw it off at the bottom corner. See the left photo, above, where the dowel has not yet been cut.
• Cut off a 5 cm (2 inch) length of insulation tape, and stick down the dowel to the plastic. See the right photo, above.
• Do the bottom end of the dowel the same way.
• Do the other dowel similarly, so the kite looks like the photo on the right.

4. How To Build A Diamond Kite - Attach The Flying Line

• Poke a hole in the plastic sail, right over where the dowels cross each other.
• Thread the free end of your flying line through the hole, and tie it firmly around the crossing-point, as in the photo. Ignore the loop in the photo, unless you want to make a simple bridle like I did...

5. How To Build A Diamond Kite - Attach The Tail

• From spare scraps of sail plastic, make up a long narrow strip no shorter than 5 times the length of the kite itself. The strip should be about 5 cm (2 inches) wide.
• Thread one end of the tail around the bottom of the vertical spar, as you can see in the photo. Tie the tail to the dowel with a simple knot.

FLYING!

That's it, you're ready to fly. Take the kite out whenever you can see leaves moving in the trees or bushes. If it won't stay up, try letting out plenty of line and then towing it up at jogging pace. It might find enough wind higher up!

Avoid flying in very windy weather.

Hope you enjoyed learning how to make a Diamond kite!

Last updated: 21 May 2010