Flashback: DIY Stilts

With the weather getting nicer every day, it’s time to get out the toys, and a perfect time to revisit a great project from back in CRAFT Volume 08: DIY Stilts! Written by veteran stilters Molly Graber and Chris Merrick, this project shows you how to use a pair of your own shoes, along with some wood, hardware, recycled mountain bike tires, strapping material, ABS pipe, foam padding, and a few other items to make your very own custom pair of stilts. I love the intro to this piece:

Have you ever dreamed of being really tall? Walking on stilts is a fun and adventurous sport. But where are you going to get a decent-priced pair of stilts to try for your first time? With these instructions, you can add as much height as you want and not hurt your wallet in the meantime. All you need is the know-how to use some simple tools — or a friend who can help!

Building your own pair of stilts ensures that they’re made just for your body, and when you’re done you’ve learned another crafty skill. Then all you need is someone to help you walk tall — and also how to fall. It’s a blast and we highly recommend it. Stilt walking can be as easy as it looks.

You can start by making a shorter pair to get accustomed to walking on stilts and then graduate yourself up to a taller pair. Then, as a bonus, you can get crafty sewing yourself pants for the new super-tall you!
Check out the article in our Digital Edition to get started with your build. And if you don’t already have Volume 08, pick it up in the Maker Shed, and also learn how to bonsai anything, make stained glass windows, make custom popsicle molds, make your own loom, weave, and then some.