Because Everything is Better in A Homemade Play Tent

I promised to show you how to make this tent, and I’m sorry to leave you hanging.  I scheduled this to post and for some reason it never went out.:

Shopping List:

• 3 1/2 yd – 45″ wide cotton fabric (tent sides)
• 2 pkgs – 2″ satin blanket binding, 4.75 yds/pkg   (You will need 7.25 yds of binding for this project)
• 4 – 6 ft long X 1in diameter poles (I used garden stakes, but PVC pipe or wooden dowels would also be a good option)
• Thread

Cut list:

• With fabric folded selvedge to selvedge, cut into two 60″ lengths.
• Then cut the 60″ lengths on the diagonal  so that you have 2 large triangles and 4 smaller triangles. (these will be the tent sides)
• from the leftover fabric cut 1 (more if you want ties to close the door) strip 1.5″ wide X 45″ long.  (This will become a tie at the peak of the tent)
• Cut Satin Binding into four 64″ lengths.  (tent pole sleeves)

1. Sew panels & door

Sew two of the smaller triangles along the 60″ side using a 1/2″ seam allowance.

Using the remaining 2 smaller triangles, sew a seam from the peak to 1/3 of the way down the panel (~ 20″). This will become the door panel.

To finish the door, press the seam open and then fold raw edges under to the center of the seam so that no raw edges are exposed.  Continue with a 1/4″ double fold hem down the full length of the door.

For extra reinforcement, sew 1″ X 1″ square of fabric into this them where the panel seam ends and the door begins.

To make the ties for the peak and doors, press raw edges of 1 1/2″ strip to center then fold in half so that the right side of the fabric is facing out and there is no exposed raw edges.  Sew 1/8″ from edge of strip on both edges.

2. Assemble tent sides and pole sleeves

Sew a 1/4″ double fold hem (same as on the doors) across the bottom of each tent panel.

With right sides together, sew across one end of each piece of satin binding.  This will create the bottom of the tent sleeve.

To join the panels together and begin assembling the tent, place right sides of panels together, pin and sew (1/2″ seam allowance) a sandwich of the door side, satin binding, and a solid side.  The binding should come prefolded in the package.  You want sew the open (non-folded) side of the satin binding into the seam allowance so that when you turn the tent right side out, the pole sleeve will be on the outside of the tent.  Make sure the seam in the binding is at the bottom of the tent

Sew remaining two panels and tent sleeve together in same way.  I sewed mine so that the solid panels and the stitched together panels alternate.

Now the tent is 2 pieces. You have sewn the 4 tent sides together you you have 2 panels.  Pin the 2 panels together, again creating a sandwich with the satin binding sewn into the seam. Also sew a tie into the peak of the seam so that the tails will be hanging above the tent when you turn it right side out.

3. Turn tent right side out, slide poles into the sleeves and play!

ADDITIONAL NOTES AND MODIFICATIONS:

An alternative to the Satin blanket binding would be to cut your own strips of binding following these instructions for assembling a binding strip.  Your binding needs to be 4″ wide.  You will need 1 yd (4″ strips) of contrasting fabric.

If you want to use this as a beach tent, add a D ring to the bottom of each tent pole sleeve and get some tent stakes.  Using the stakes/D-ring you can anchor the tent to the beach and keep it from blowing away if the wind picks up.

You may need about 1 yd of rope (or the leftover satin binding) to tie around the poles at the peak to get them to stay together.  You could also drill holes in your tent poles and thread the tie at the peak through the holes to hold the tent up and keep the poles all together.

If you have questions, leave a comment and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Tagged as: Baby Gear, Motherhood