Month: Jan 2022

Roller Kite: Joining Rear and Forward Sails

| eathie road studio

I first make a guide by taping a vertical strip of masking tape to the work-table. Using a steel rule I draw a vertical ink line onto it. This guide will allow me to align both sails correctly.

Once the sails have been aligned properly I use Sellotape to stick on a piece of ripstop fabric which is then sewn in place. It’s a simpler method than the sleeved connecting strip.

  • A strip of masking tape is applied down centre of table then an ink line is drawn on top.
  • Sails are then carefully aligned then taped down.
  • Piece of connecting Ripstop Nylon is then taped in place.
  • Joining forward and aft sails. Sew bottom section the same as above.
  • Sewing connecting piece in place. Take care not to sew onto taped areas
  • Connected sails as seen from front of kite.

Roller Kite Details: Aft-Sail Horizontal Spar Pocket

| eathie road studio

Stages in aft-sail horizontal spar pocket sewing. I have since made some slight changes in the way I construct this pocket which I will show later. This is quite a busy area with lots of overlapping stitching, so it’s finding the balance between making a durable pocket without too many stitching holes.

  • Reinforcement stitching lines
  • Reinforcement stitching bars complete.
  • Pocket folded over then finally stitched in place. The pocket is positioned 15mm from the tip of the sail. The 15mm section is folded over and glued down.
  • Front view of aft-sail showing glued and folded over 15mm tip of sail.
  • Marking and cutting for brass grommet. I do not use hole punch – I make a cross-cut and push eyelet through. This makes the eyelet more secure. I have since started adding a leather grommet which I will detail later.
  • Eyelet part is pushed through cross-cut.
  • Pocket with eyelet complete.
  • Pocket with eyelet complete – front of kite.