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.
How to Make a Teepee
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.
How to Get Started
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 three 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 and playing.
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!
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
Tools:
- scissors
- lighter
- drill
How to Make a Teepee
Time: 30-45 minutes.
- Cut a large length of rope & burn the end.
- Drill hole in first pole at 5″.
- String rope through the hole & tie a knot where it meets the pole.
- 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.
- Feed the rope through pole #2, then wrap it around a couple times in various directions to stabilize it.
- Add pole #3, testing where to place it, drill hole, feed rope & wrap.
- Repeat for pole #4. Wrap the rope over & under, then around the teepee several times.
- 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.
- 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. Optional: roll or cut the excess fabric in the interior. We chose to roll.
I am so happy! Im a kid and wanna do this
I decided I wanted one of these. I used 5 pvc pipes, 3/4″, 12′; 12′ x 16′ tarp; 2″ screw-in hooks, 6′ of rope and a bungee cord – don’t know size, just had it laying around. Put screw hooks in each pole, threaded rope through all the grommets, gathered everything together. I set the poles together with the hooks facing outward, wrapped the canvas around and hung the canvas on the hooks by the grommets.I wrapped the rope tightly around the top to make sure everything stayed in place. Long ends were tucked under the edges and cut about an inch longer than the rest, and stapled to the bottom edge. The bungee cord keeps it rolled up when not in use. It is about 7′ diameter inside, the tarp drapes so that there is a 6′ high opening for a door. I am thinking about putting a 6′ x 8′ piece over the opening to make a rain fly/porch/door closure/privacy screen. I have figured out how to stabilize it in wind, thinking of using it for camping. right now it is in my back yard, used for getting fresh air, when it’s cooled down in evening.
This is so cute!
What a great tutorial! My daughter would love to have something like this for her reading corner!
Thanks, Beth! Enjoy!
Great idea to make with kids!