Prepare patterns and panels

Before sewing, a plan has to become accurate, repeatable parts. The resources below show several ways to prepare patterns, choose materials, transfer shapes and cut spinnaker or mesh.

Methods vary with the builder, available tools and material. Test on scraps before cutting final panels.

Enrico Brodner shows how he prepares patterns.

To compare with complete builds:

• Yves Ganne details full-size plans, tracing and cutting;
• Polo Kites documents workshop methods and template preparation;
• Guardian reports the difficulties met during a first build;
• Punk Sportif connects his Rev 1.5 plan with panel-layout preparation;
• Mini Pulse provides plans and panels for four venting levels;
• Essentials offers several sail plans, panel templates, and notes on geometry;
• Christiaan shows the move from templates to assembled panels in photos, without providing a full-size plan;
• Revomania connects the plan, paper patterns and sail construction.

Mesh deforms easily: support stability and template accuracy matter as much as the cutting tool.

The Vent your kite with Christiaan tutorial also shows the preparation and cutting of mesh pieces used to modify an existing sail.

• Building materials - Ventsnick
• Tools - Ventsnick
• Designing a Revolution sail with a pattern - Cengel Kites, in German
• Usefulness of mesh on the leading edge - Au fil du vent discussion