Tepee for two: a colorful play structure you can make with no sewing

Sunset, June, 1997 by Lauren Bonar Swezey

A cheerful red tepee erected on the back lawn inspires hours of outdoor fun and imaginative play. And this ripstop nylon tepee isn't difficult to make. The red shell, cut from 60-inch-wide fabric, is decorated with yellow cotton-fabric forms attached with iron-on adhesive. Shoe-laces threaded through grommets secure the tepee to bamboo poles.

How to make the tepee

CUT OUT THE FABRIC

1. When you purchase fabric, it's folded in half lengthwise. Unfold the nylon and refold it in half crosswise (cut ends together) to create a 60-inch square. To make a 60-inch-radius half-circle for the tepee shell, mark a quarter-circle on the folded fabric using a pencil and measuring tape: Lay the measuring tape down between two diagonal corners and draw a 60-inch-long line measured from the folded corner (this is the radius). Then, starting from the adjacent folded corner, draw a quarter-circle, arcing around the end of the line and ending at the opposite corner [ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURE A OMITTED]. It may help to mark the curve of the quarter-circle with string secured by pushpins. Cut out the quarter-circle and unfold the fabric.

2. To mark where the poles will go, draw five more 60-inch radii: mark the first one 15 inches from one straight edge of the fabric and the second one 15 inches from the other straight edge, then mark off the space between into five equal sections [ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURE H OMITTED].

3. Cut a half-circle (with a 5-inch radius) at the center of the straight edge of the fabric, where the radii meet. If desired, zigzag or hand-stitch (with a blanket stitch) the curved edges of the tepee.

MAKE THE YELLOW DECORATIONS

1. Following the package instructions, apply the iron-on adhesive to the back side of the yellow cotton. At one edge of the fabric, draw two 12- by 3-inch zigzag shapes on the backing of the adhesive [ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURE E OMITTED]. Cut out the shapes, saving the triangles (shaded on the pattern) to line the tepee's top edge. Remove the paper backing from the zigzags.

2. Place a zigzag along the top of each opening edge of the tepee as shown in the photo on page 126 and bond with an iron. Next, bond the small triangles (saved from zigzags) along the tepee's top edge: For the first row, lay seven triangles point to point and bond. Apply the second row of triangles (six) in alternate spaces over the first row's touching points [ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURE F OMITTED].

3. Cut out two 1 1/2-inch-diameter and two 8-inch-diameter yellow-cotton circles [ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURES B and C OMITTED]; they're easier to cut if you fold the fabric into quarters. Remove the paper backing. Bond the 1 1/2-inch circles onto opposite sides of the tepee opening, 22 inches up from the bottom and 11 inches in from the opening edges (on radius marks). Bond the 8-inch circles 10 1/2 inches (on center) away from the little circles as shown.

4. Cut out twelve 3-inch-tall yellow triangles [ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURE D OMITTED]. Cut one triangle in half lengthwise and apply the halves to the two opening edges at the bottom of the tepee; bond. Apply the 11 remaining triangles to the bottom edge of the tepee at the six radius marks and halfway between each pair of marks.

ATTACH THE GROMMETS AND TIES

1. Attach five grommets on each zigzag at the tepee opening: set the first one 1/2 inch down from the top and 3/4 inch in from the edge; set the remaining grommets every 2 3/4 inches. Place a grommet in the center of each small yellow circle. Thread a black shoelace through each circle to use as ties for the "door."

2. Using a hole punch, punch two holes in each full triangle at the tepee bottom, 1/2 inch up from the bottom and 1/2 inch in from each side. Cut six black shoelaces in half (to secure the tepee to poles and tent pegs); knot cut ends. Thread a shoelace end through each of the 11 sets of holes (so ends are inside the tepee).

3. At the top of the tent, punch 15 holes 1 inch apart through the yellow triangles, starting 1 1/2 inches from each opening edge. Weave one full-length black shoelace through the holes to tie the tent to the poles.

INSTALL THE POLES

1. Align poles so the thick ends are down. Trim poles to equal lengths. Drill a hole in each pole 62 inches from the bottom. Hammer a steel rod inside the base of each pole, leaving about 4 inches protruding.

2. To make installation easier (otherwise you need two people), make a paper guide for installing the poles [ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURE G OMITTED]: With masking tape, piece together two 30- by 60-inch sheets of heavy paper so you can cut a 60-inch-diameter circle. Mark the edge of the circle into six even arcs.

3. Thread the red-and-black bootlace through the holes in the poles, then cross poles on top of one another to make a fan (see photo). Tie the bootlace tightly around the tops of the poles.

ERECT THE TENT

1. Lay the paper guide on the ground and push the poles' metal ends into the ground at the marks on the paper.

2. Wrap the tepee shell around the poles and secure ties around the tops and bottoms of the poles.