What child doesn’t like playhuts and hiding places? This easy–to-make tent offers hours of fun, inside or out.
The added bonus is that it can be quickly dismantled, rolled up and put away for another day.
Equipment
4 x pre-cut 1.2m-long pine battens (40mm wide x 18mm deep)
3 x precut 1.2m-long dowels (20mm diameter)
Drill and 20mm-diameter drill bit
Tape measure, pencil
3m x 1.2m-wide fabric (offcuts will make the tent ties)
Sewing machine
Thread, handsewing needle
Process
1 On each of the 4 battens, make a centrally positioned pencil mark 12cm from one end and 3cm from the other. Drill through each point using a 20mm-diameter drill bit.
Note: The four holes furthest from the end will be at the top of your tent; the others will be at the base.
2 Measure and cut a 260cm length of your fabric.
3 Fold in and sew down the sides (selvedge edges) to make them nice and tidy. Your fabric should now be about 110cm wide.
4 Fold fabric in half (wrong sides together) along centre fold line shown in diagram above. Sew together across the width 6cm down from the folded edge to create a casing for the top dowel to thread through. Do the same on both ends of your fabric, folding the fabric over approximately 6cm onto the underside and sewing right across.
5 Make 8 ties by cutting 8 lengths of 6cm x 30cm from leftover fabric. Fold the long edges in to meet in the middle, then fold in half again. The frayed edges will be tucked away nicely. Sew around all the edges to hold in place. Don’t worry if a few threads poke out – it just adds to the tent’s rustic charm!
6 Thread the 3 dowels into the fabric casings.
7 Criss-cross your battens at the top to make an ‘A’ frame, positioning them so the holes meet, and secure by slotting the top dowel into the holes. Slot the base dowels into the holes at the bottom of the battens.
8 Lastly, handstitch your ties onto the front and back of the tent, near the top and bottom, and tie in a bow around the battens to keep the fabric of your tent more taut.
9 Throw in a fluffy rug or blanket, cushions, toys and books, because it’s time to play!
Tip: To stop the tent sliding on a smooth surface, such as a wooden floor, attach adhesive rubber feet (available from hardware stores and craft suppliers) to the base of each batten.
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