Kite Lines - Vol.1 No. 2 - KiteLife

Kid's CornerThe Dutch KiteBy Margaret GregerDrawings byJoan Slattery NewcombWhen I first show people this all-paperkite, they nudge each other and whisper,"It'll never fly, Wilbur!" But I have mymoment when I demonstrate that it flieswell, is remarkably durable and makesa fine target kite .I was vacationing in Nebraska onesummer and was overcome by a desireto make use of the Midwestern wind . Imade a Dutch kite from a grocery bag,attached a strip of newspaper for a tail,and flew it on my brother-in-law's fishingline . When he suggested trying to shootit down, I agreed to the test .He and my nephews used all theirammunition on it, filled it' with holes,clipped its tail, and finally, with a luckyshot, cut the lower end of the bridlestring . Dutch was still floating at 15 feetwhen they decided to pull it down andpresent it to me . This gallant survivortraveled to classes with me for a numberof years .The Dutch kite flies easily in light tomedium winds and can be towed by abicycle or walked around the park by atwo-year-old . It is a tolerant kite ; thatis, the less-than-perfect model will still fly .Making this kite calls upon manyskills-measuring, folding, cutting,gluing, and taping-and I have come toregard the design as relatively difficultand not one to be attempted by the veryyoung . But a teacher friend introducedit to his first grade class with considerablesuccess . He said, "We make it theproject of the week . The first day we dothe folding . Next day we glue . Then weput the bridles on . By the end of theweek, we're ready to fly." When I visitedthe class, the children were competentkite craftsmen, able to make kites, flykites and repair kites, and brimful ofachievement besides . It was this teacher,Lee Wilbur, who introduced bambooreed as reinforcement, improving ruggedness.MATERIALS for one Dutch Kite• Stiff paper, such as butcher paper orlight construction paper, 12x 16"• Paper scraps for bridle grips• Light string, 24" for bridle• Matchstick bamboo reed, or use anystick 1/16 " diam .• Crepe paper for tail, 1 "x4'• GlueTOOLSPencil, scissors, ruler and paper cutter(optional)INSTRUCTIONS1 . Fold and crease paper in the middlethe long way Fold and crease again3/4" from center fold . Open flat, thefolded section forming a vertical ridgeup the middle . This will be the front sideof the kite.