Kids Crafts: How to Make a Play Tent

CREATIVE / THE STRAWBRIDGES

Kids Crafts: How to Make a Play Tent

Come rain or shine, there’s always fun to be had under canvas! Whether it’s a traditional tent in the garden or a cosy den indoors, children love escaping into a world of fantasy and imagination in their own private hideaway. This play tent is made using a simple structure and styled with everything they need to be comfortable and cosy.

What you'll need:

hand saw or mitre saw
sandpaper
tape measure and pencil
5 x 2.4m lengths of 29mm x 42mm timber
2.2m of wooden dowling, 3cm in diameter
wood screws
wood glue
4.2m of fabric (we use Le Cirque du Chateau)
matching thread
6m of cotton ribbon for the tie pins, scissors, sewing machine

Step 1.

Start by making the A frames that go at either end of the tent. Cut down 4 lengths of timber to the desired length (we cut to 210cm long).

Step 2.

Sand the edges down to prevent splinters.

Step 3.

Lay down two of the 4 cut lengths and spread the timbers apart by 120cm. Check the height is 200cm from the bottom to the top where the timbers cross each other. Then mark with a pencil the point that the timbers cross each other.

Step 4.

Match up the points and then mark where to screw the timbers in place. Use two screws at each point to stop them sliding. You can also use wood glue in between the timber as well as screws to ensure its sturdy and secure.

Step 5.

Using a spirit level, draw a line across the bottom of the two timbers, matching the outer corners. Cut the excess off so that the structure will stand flat on the floor. Repeat these steps for the 3rd and 4th cut length to make the second A frame.

Step 6.

Stand your first A frame up and screw a cross timber to the bottom outer facing side using two screws and wood glue. Then connect it to the bottom of the second A frame. Do the same on the other side of the two A frames.

Step 7.

Once your A frames are connected at the bottom with the cross timbers, place the dowling timber across the top resting on the cross point of the A frames. Mark where you want the screw hole to go through the dowling and into the A frame behind.

Step 8.

Fold the fabric in half and cut down the fold line creating two pieces. Match up the fabric so that the print runs down each side of the tent structure the right way up. Then stitch along the top of the two pieces of fabric joining them together.

Step 9.

Fold over the two long sides of the fabric so that the tent has finished edges. Drape the fabric over the dowling at the top of the structure. Measure and mark with pins where you want the ribbon ties to go. Use a pin to hold the fabric close to the frame and then a pin horizontally for where the ribbon will be attached. Space out the ribbon ties 38cm apart. Remove the fabric from the frame ready to pin and stitch the ribbons on. Cut the ties to 30cm lengths.

Step 10.

Fold the ribbon ties in half and pin them down to the pin mark. Use a straight stitch on the sewing machine to attach the inside of the fabric edge with the loose ends hanging away from the fabric.

Step 11.

Fold the bottom of the fabric up to the pin line tucking in the edge ready to stitch down in place. Repeat this on the other end of the fabric to create the channelled hems. Leave the side open as this is the channel the bottom timber will slide through.

Step 12.

Unscrew the bottom cross timber on one end and slide it through the fabric channel until the timber comes through the other end. Screw the crossbar timber back to the frame and repeat on the other side of the tent. Once the fabric is on, tie the ribbons to the A frames on both sides at the front and back. Your tent is then ready to style with paper cloud decorations, lots of blankets, cushions and rugs, and whatever the children need to make their space extra cosy!