While exploring the internet I came across an interesting kite gallery page containing strange tails that seemed to have been twisted up like the lollies you get at the local shop. Thanks for sharing your plan with us, Mark. - Anthony. Instructions Cut out 2 sets of pieces 1 through 8, these make the ends of the tube shrinking the twists into a more normal tube openings. I use 180 pieces for a 30 ft tube.
Grain makes no difference here at all.
Nor should anyone waste time hot cutting, as no air passes by the edges. I use an exacto knife and run it over a sharpener stone every once in a while. To one of these sets of 8, cutout and sew 8 of of those pieces that look like a teacup with a hat, to the flat, un-slanted ends. Double hem the teacup hat to reinforce what will become a flower-head like opening for the tube. For the other set cut and sew the 8 triangular pieces to form a tapering pointy tail.