Using one of my teacher's patterns, I sewed three layers of color ripstop nylon together in a sandwich--black on the bottom, red patches in the middle, and white on top. (The red patches were my own additions to the original pattern.)
I sewed along the lines of the pattern. Then with a pair of sharp scissors, I cut along the sewing lines and cut away parts of the layers in order to reveal my design.
Posted by natetrue 2 years ago ( 01-Mar-2007 10:12:15 )
It's beautiful, Robin. Is Rokkaku an Asian style?
Posted by brenda 2 years ago ( 01-Mar-2007 13:46:44 )
That kite is really awesome. I want to make a kite now!
Posted by robin 2 years ago ( 04-Mar-2007 17:18:56 )
According to my kite book (The Magnificent Book of Kites by Maxwell Eden), this style of kite is called a Sanjo Rokkaku. It's a Japanese fighting kite used in a 250-year old, kite-fighting festival every June, in the farming community of Shirone, 150 miles from Tokyo.
People build as many as 1,500 kites for the week-long festival. There are two styles used: the 22-foot-tall, rectangular o-dako, and the 8-foot-tall, hexagon rokkaku. Rokkakus fight rokkadus, o-dakos fight o-dakus. Teams of kite fighters gather on the west and east banks of the Nakanokuchi river and launch their kites. The objective is to ensnare the opponent team's kite. Lines entangle, and a massive tug of war develops. The fighting kites mangle and twist each other as teams fight to haul in as much of their opponent's lines as possible. The team whose line breaks first is the loser. But the kite fighting teams launch more kites and the battle wages on.
Wouldn't that be a spectacular event to witness!
My other kite book (Kites by David Pelham) says "The face of the hexagonal Sanjo Rokkaku traditionally bears magnificent portraits of Japan's warrior heroes, though modern versions oftern cary advertising slogans."
Posted by jesse 2 years ago ( 19-Apr-2007 12:13:44 )
How do I get to see an event like this? I think it would be fun to participate too! You start with the middle of your tug of war rope unattached, it makes itself in the sky then you add more! 1500 kites all destroyed tons of string and all of the people and yelling and laughing and movement would be so exhilarating!
Posted by leetheagent 2 years ago ( 09-Jul-2007 00:41:26 )
That's a really great idea! It sounds so fun... I wonder what fighting techniques there are...
Posted by robin 2 years ago ( 03-Aug-2007 22:04:04 )
There will be a Rokkaku Kite Battle at the Orting Kite Festival in Orting, Washington. It's put on by the Pierce County Kitefliers Association, and will be held at the Orting Lions Club Field. The Festival is on Saturday, Aug. 4th from 10:00 to 5:00, and on Sunday, Aug. 5th from 10:00 to 4:00. The Rokkaku Battle will be from noon to 1:00 each day. There will also be Fun Flies, Sport Kite Demos and Lessons, Kite-making for Kids, a Teddy Bear Launch and Candy Cannon, and Running of the Bols (really huge kites), and Hot Kite Tricks.
Download source video
Wikio
Posted by natetrue 2 years ago ( 01-Mar-2007 10:12:15 )
Posted by brenda 2 years ago ( 01-Mar-2007 13:46:44 )
Posted by robin 2 years ago ( 04-Mar-2007 17:18:56 )
Posted by jesse 2 years ago ( 19-Apr-2007 12:13:44 )
Posted by leetheagent 2 years ago ( 09-Jul-2007 00:41:26 )
Posted by robin 2 years ago ( 03-Aug-2007 22:04:04 )