How to Make a Teepee

How to make a teepee without sewing – a quick and easy diy teepee tutorial!

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Ani’s birthday is just a week after Christmas, which makes gift-giving nearly impossible for her. We are fortunate to have a home full of toys, books, games and clothes. Still, I want her birthday to feel special, regardless of the date.

I thought about what I loved as a child and remembered a {Popples} tent that was securely placed on my bed for months on end. It was almost magical as a child to read books and play with my dolls in there. My love for licensed merchandise ended with my youth and I wanted to create something beautiful that she could leave up – a fixture in her room, like Adalyn’s play table.

I decided to make her a teepee tent!

After researching them, I was taken aback by the cost and  couldn’t find the “perfect” kids teepee to fit the color palette and style of her room. That’s how most of my DIY projects begin – with a “need” to fill and no source to fill it.

You guessed it, today I’m sharing how to make a teepee! This simple do-it-yourself project is a true no sew teepee you can create in less than an hour for $60.

Don’t let the instructions intimidate you…it’s like washing your hair: lather, rinse, repeat.

Teepee Supplies:

4 1¾’x6′ poplar dowels {link it to slightly thicker dowels}

3/8″ sisal rope

6×9′ canvas drop cloth

3 screws

3 washers

Additional Supplies:

scissors

lighter

drill

How to Make a Teepee:

1. Cut a large length of rope & burn the end.
2. Drill hole in first pole at 5″.
3. String rope through the hole & tie a knot where it meets the pole. 
    
4. Create a faux teepee with your poles to see how they need to lay to be stable. Using 4 poles, it’s best to have the front wider & the back of the teepee more narrow. See how pole #2 lies to meet pole #1 & drill a hole at that distance.  
   
5. Feed the rope through pole #2, then wrap it around a couple times in various directions to stabilize it. 
   
6. Add pole #3, testing where to place it, drill hole, feed rope & wrap.
7. Repeat for pole #4. Wrap the rope over & under, then around the teepee several times. 
   
   
   
8. Open your drop cloth horizontally & find the middle. Start draping it from the back of the teepee & secure at the top of your teepee {where the poles meet} with one screw. Drill a hole through the pole first, add a washer to your screw & insert screw through both fabric & pole. 
   
9. Continue draping your fabric around the sides as it falls naturally, tucking excess at the floor under, trying to keep it tight & uniform where your poles meet. Adjust your poles slightly if needed, then use a screw on each side {same method} to secure the fabric. 
   
10. Optional: roll or cut the excess fabric in the interior. We chose to roll.

Time: 30-45 minutes.

Before starting this project, I was a bit overwhelmed and worried it wouldn’t work. All of the methods I found demonstrated how to create no sew teepees with stitch witchery or by weaving fabric. We wanted to create a teepee that would stand the test of time and show durability for our 3 toddlers.

The teepee tent can easily fold up and be stowed away or be taken outdoors for an evening of fun. It is also the perfect size for a bedroom – 3 girls easily fit in it and have spent hours reading, playing with Ani’s new lantern and playing dolls. I’m so thankful we took the leap and made a teepee for Ani. I hope they share the same fond memories I did as a child.

Because our girls are little, I decided not to do ties. The heavy canvas folds back beautifully and stays without effort.

The heavy canvas drop cloth is durable, making it a great long-term teepee that’s stable as well. I added battery operated lights through the top of the teepee to make it even more enchanting!

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