A large black rollup bag with red zippers and red padding on a work table.
I've got a new #kite bag! The zippers on my last bag started failing after ~8 years, so it was time for something new. Making a bag is quite the project, so I did a bit of a write up about it on my build log:
https://watty.us/build-log/2026/4/1/kite-bag
#sewing #kitemaking #sportkites #kites
An arm emerging from my sewing machine
Pieces of my Frank Sidebottom kite project laid out on the floor
Pieces of my Frank Sidebottom kite on the stool with the face looking at the camera and hands beneath
Still stitching Frank Sidebottom
#kites #kitemaking #Franksidebottom #Fridayflyday
A dual line sport kite that is mostly white, with gold, red, and black panels in the middle. There is a custom embroidered bag folded in front of it. The kite is leaning against a couch in my workshop.
Just finished Tempest Prototype #5: a high wind version of the team kite. I now have two higher wind sails that I can use to compare framing options and to later modify to experiment with venting.
watty.us/build-log/2026/2/15/k142... […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
A close-up picture of a black retrofit t-fitting on a quad line sport kite.
I designed a retrofit quad kite t-fitting so older quad kites with endcaps on the leading edge could be adapted to use t-fittings without the vertical spars sticking out extra far.
watty.us/3d-printing/2026/1/31/re...
#sportkite #kitemaking #3dprinting
Four tempests, two red/black, and two gold/black. These are framed as ultralights, so they use a lighter weight frame, fewer reinforcements, a lighter bridle, and some lighter fabric in places.
Four ultralight Tempests built to fill out a team set to play with this coming summer. Next will be more prototyping on heavy-wind versions.
https://watty.us/build-log
#kites #kitemaking #sportkites #sewing @sport_kites
A photo collage of the 15 kites I built in 2025. Within that are the first Void kites made to order, Void #1 for myself was made at the end of 2024, and I made 7 more for myself and others this year. I've continued prototyping my team dual line kite to work out lower and higher wind versions, and I built a 4-person set of standard Tempests. One vented Essential quad kite, and custom vented Escape fill out my build log for the year.
With the year nearing the end, I like to look back at the kites I built this year.
I managed to build 15 kites over the last 12 months.
Mostly Void and Tempests, my newest dual line designs, but some other stuff thrown in as well.
#kites #kitemaking #sportkites #sewing #newyear #2025 @sport_kites
A brightly colored dual line sport kite standing upright on a beach
Now that I've built a few standard Tempests, I've put it up on my shop and also published the plans so others can make them:
- https://watty.us/shop/tempest
- https://watty.us/kite-plans/2025/7/31/tempest-plan
#kite #sportkite #opensource #kitemaking #sewing
Three dual line sport kites arranged against a wall. Two of the kites are gold and black, while the other is red and black.
Three new Tempest kites finished up, ready for some team action!
K131 - https://watty.us/build-log/2025/11/23/k131-tempest-2
K132 - https://watty.us/build-log/2025/11/23/k132-tempest-3
K133 - https://watty.us/build-log/2025/11/23/k133-tempest-4
#kites #sportkites #kitemaking #sewing #workshop
3 sport kites arranges against a wall. The top one in red and black is in my usual colors. The middle one is a custom order The bottom one's colors are chosen by my wife who, if you ask her, will tell you that she made it intentionally ugly.
3 new Void's built just in time for Lincoln City Fall Festival. One of the three is a custom order, the others go in my bag :)
- K128)
- K129)
- K130)
#kites #kite #kitemaking #sewing #sportkites
A red, gold, and gray dual line sport kite standing upright against a couch.
Another Tempest prototype, this time a heavier wind version.
watty.us/build-log/2025/7/30/k127...
#kite #sportkite #kitemaking
Red and black Tempest sport kite standing against a door
Just finished the first non-prototype Tempest. The standard prototyping went well, next step: ultralights
https://watty.us/build-log/2025/7/4/k126-tempest-1
#kite #sportkite #kitemaking
A new Void, built to order
https://watty.us/build-log/2025/5/28/k125-void-4
#kite #sportkite #kitemaking
Trying out a tetrahedral kite woth my artwork on some transparent yupo 🪁 not sure ill get a windy enough day to fly it, but we will see! #art #kites #kitemaking #watercolor #transparentyupo #rochesternyart
A prototype dual line sport kite with an applique sail in pink, orange, yellow, and florescent yellow standing upright in a workshop
Finished #sewing and framing my next prototype team #kite. Some good little improvements from the last, I think. I need to find some time to go try it out.
More details on my build log: watty.us/build-log/2025/4/25/k124...
#sportkite #kitemaking
A Bernette b77 sewing machine on a table with a large acrylic surface that has been cut to fit around the sewing machine
I made a large extended surface for my #bernette out of a sheet of acrylic from the hardware store and some scrap wood.
#sewing #kitemaking #workshop
A screenshot from http://watty.us showing the 3d printing page with multiple 3d models listed on the page.
Added a few #3dprinting #kite fitting models to my website, and made a few other minor updates on existing models.
https://watty.us/3d-printing
#kitemaking #sportkites #sportkite #kites #fusion360
A wood framed table with a back-lit glass storage and rolls of fabric stored underneath on a shelf
My #kitemaking table has been upgraded with a shelf for fabric storage.
#workshop #fabric #kites #ripstop
A black and rainbow Void sport kite leaning against a table
The tail of a sport kite with black ripstop fabric and shiny lettering saying "Watty.us Feb 2025 | Void #3 | K123
Finished building Void #3. Played with some holographic heat transfer vinyl for the labeling.
https://watty.us/build-log/2025/2/2/k123-void-3
#kitemaking #sportkite #kite #cricut #sewing
An unframed white, gray, green, and Blu vented Escape sport kite laying on a table alongside a custom bag for the kite.
Finished a new vented escape. The person ordering it wanted to frame it themselves, so I only have a picture of an unframed sail so far.
https://watty.us/build-log/2025/1/22/k122-escape-17
#kites #sportkites #kitemaking #opensource
Found a good use of carbon cutoffs from #kitemaking. Made peg board spool holders for my embroidery machine.
#3dprinting #embroidery
I've been working on making a new back-lit table for #kitemaking. It is starting to come together. A lot more #joinery than I've ever done, but I'm figuring it out. #kites #woodworking
#kites ##kiteflying #kitemaking #stuntkite #sportkite #barmouth #kitefestival #wales #cymru summer 2023
Broad Haven kite flyers' rendezvous May 2024, Broad Haven beach, Pembrokeshire, Wales. My pigs & sharks, Martin's whale.
#kites ##kiteflying #kitemaking ##whitehorsekiteflyers #minchmobontour
