special guest craft project: tepee

{By Charity Ferreria}

One day last week my four-year old mentioned something about a tepee. Since he is an only child (and he’s going to stay that way), whenever he expresses even the vaguest passing interest in something, my husband and I practically knock each other over in our rush to satisfy his whim. A tepee you say? On it! 

 

The little kid tepees and play tents I found online were kind of disappointing. I knew I could make something I’d like better and cheaper than it would be to order one. Plus a tepee just seems like one of those things you’re supposed to make yourself.

 

First, I bought myself a sewing machine. I usually stick to stuff I can sew by hand, but I figured the seams of the majestic canvas structure I had in mind would be better sewn mechanically. One click! Free 2-day shipping! $99 seemed a small price to pay considering that for the rest of my son’s childhood I won’t have to pull a week’s worth of all nighters to sew his Halloween costumes.

I found some cute fabric by designer Etsuko Furuya. I fell in love with the “Grassy Plains” print that was all wrong for my project, not wide enough, and there were only 2 yards left in the store (I needed at least 8 yards). But once I’d seen it, nothing else would do, so I supplemented with 4 yards of an oatmeal-colored organic cotton and 2 yards of a teal blue cotton that matched the Etsuko Furuya fabric I loved so much. I washed the fabric that night, and was alarmed at the change in the finish—after washing, it stayed a little wrinkly no matter how assiduously I ironed it. But then I realized that slightly rumpled and weathered was a good look for a tepee. I sketched a rough design and bought four 6-foot wooden poles at Home Depot, and by that time my sewing machine had arrived. 

 

I drilled holes in the poles, ten inches from the top, and tied them together with thick cotton string. Then I set up the frame and kind of just winged it with the pattern for the cover, drawing right on the fabric with chalk. I got everything cut and pinned together, but when it came time to sew, of course I couldn’t figure out how to work the machine, so I called my mom to come over and get the bobbin on and the needle threaded. Once she got things started, it took about 2 hours to sew it up. Total cost for the project was about $100 (not counting the sewing machine, of course!). 

 

Now that it’s done, I’m fantasizing about putting a little camping lantern in there and maybe a cute campfire pillow. I’d love to find a miniature camp trunk, it’s actually pretty roomy inside. I also think little fox could use a hedgehog friend.

Thanks Charity for sharing such a cute craft project! Charity is pretty amazing, not only can she whip up tepee's an other cool crafts, she's also quite the chef and has written some wonderful books. Her most recent is "Eat Well" and you can find it at Williams Sonoma.

Comments

[nancy]

that is awesome! what a great mom. and the cover of her ice cream book is making me SO hungry!

[Tara @ Feels like home]

OH. MY. Goodness. This is an amazing little project! You did a great job, and I bet your son is going to enjoy it for years. Maybe I can con my husband into helping me make one for our daughter. :)