Ok, so the reason I have been so busy this week… (or one of the reasons… I also was at work all week… and on call on monday… and something else but more on that later) is because when we got back from our weekend away on Monday, I got straight on with making a little something that I had spotted in Issue 03 of Crafty Magazine, and knew would be just the thing for a couple of little people I knew! (and that I would be going to see this weekend)

A Tipi! Or Wigwam. Whichever you prefer.

I used some of my incredible stash of fabric that I had been given by Z’s mother in order to make it, but some of the fabrics are quite thin, and I wanted to make it more robust so that it could be used outside and stand up to lots of play by some little energetic types! So, I used some cheap honeycomb material to double layer each piece, and a couple of modifications to the pattern.

Mr Linux made sure I measured all the pieces correctly.

He has a keen eye for detail.

Anyhow, you had to cut five pole covers, four triangular side panels, and a top piece and two door pieces for the front. I drew out templates on paper first, cut the honeycomb fabric, then pinned these to my main fabric to cut each piece.

In order to sew them together, instead of hemming the pieces, I sewed the honeycomb and main fabric right sides together at the bottom and top, turned it right side out, topstitched the bottom and top, and then overlocked the edges. The main assembly, instead of sewing through all layers at each edge, I sewed a pole cover to each right side, the sewed each piece to the other side of another. The pole tubes were then formed by turning the edges into the tubes and sewing the main pieces together along the seams. (if that makes sense?) In the end I was left with the edges being on the inside the pole covers, and a smooth inside to the structure, with extra rigidity because of the extra stitching. I finished it off with some simple twill tape on the doors so that it can be tied shut. The poles are 1.8m plastic coated bamboo canes. Tipi done!

Indoor!

Outdoor!

When we took it outside however, we quickly realised that when the wind blew… it fell over. Some modifications were made.

Thankfully my trusty Bernie (Bernina) was on hand, along with some more twill tape, and I constructed some loops to attach to the base at each corner, so that it could be pegged down.

Problem? We solved it. It’s great, and the kids loved it.

It turns out that Mr M had one when he was little that Nanny W made him for his 3rd birthday:

What a cutie huh?

My main reason for taking Bernie was that Z had asked me if I could use an old skirt that she loved the fabric of, but had never really worn to make her an apron. I did. It’s the fanciest apron in all the land as it’s a two tone orange and yellow silk!

I forgot to get a picture of the lady in it, but N did so I will ask her to send me it. I brought the leftover fabric home with me, as Z would like some matching aprons for the little ones. One of the next jobs on the list Z! I promise!