Kids’ Teepee
They’re right on trend, kids love them, they’re a beautiful decorative feature, and they offer more possibilities than you might imagine. We’ll show you how to make a teepee!
Project preview
This video is for members
Join Lulu Ferris to watch the complete class and sew along at your own pace.
What you’ll make
Create a fabric teepee with five wooden poles, a split doorway and ties that hold the entrance open.
The featured size makes a small reading or play space for a child. The construction can be scaled for a larger indoor or garden teepee, or reduced for a pet.
What you’ll learn in this class
- Cut and join the main wall panels.
- Match a directional print where desired.
- Finish fraying canvas edges.
- Construct the split doorway and insert its ties.
- Level and hem the top and lower edges.
- Sew channels with enough room for the poles.
- Insert, spread and tie the five poles.
Fabric and materials
The sample uses canvas for its body and durability, although another suitable fabric may be substituted. You will also need five wooden poles, bias tape and cord.
Canvas can fray noticeably, so the class finishes its raw edges before hemming. Test one completed channel with a pole before sewing the rest.
Make it your own
Match a bold print across the panels or simplify cutting with a nondirectional design. Finish the lower edge with the demonstrated turned hem or with bias tape.
Adjust the door opening, tie position and overall scale. When changing the size, draft the panels for the actual pole length and make each channel wide enough for its pole.
Pattern scale
The downloadable pattern is designed for poles approximately 1–1.15 m long. Longer or shorter poles require resized panels and channels suited to the selected poles.
The video class includes a downloadable teepee panel pattern for the demonstrated pole size.
Pattern & materials
Patterns are included with membership
Active members can download every available PDF and materials list.
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