A Teepee for Ava

One of the best things about being a teacher is school holidays. 

Before Ava came along, I used to look forward to the sleep-ins, days on the couch in front of the telly in my jammies and endless hours of shopping and coffee catch ups. I may not get sleep-ins, but I certainly get to hang about in my jammies, not bother putting on any make-up or do my hair, and the endless hours of TV have been replaced with Giggle and Hoot and Peppa Pig. Holidays certainly aren't what they used to be anymore, but I am so grateful for the extra time that I get to spend with my little Miss, allowing me to feel like a stay-at-home Mummy again. 

Holidays also allow me the opportunity to create! It took me awhile to get in the swing of things, but if I'm organised enough, I can manage to shop for supplies, set up, cut fabric etc while Ava's up to help me, and then do things like sew and assemble when she's asleep! I should really do this more often!

I have been eyeing off teepees for quite awhile now, seen them in boutique kids shops and online, and been desperate to purchase one for Ava, but really couldn't justify the $150 plus for a good quality tent.

I found this tutorial online and if you're keen on making one of your own, I strongly suggest you follow this post because it really works! I've made a few adjustments (as I do) and I'll detail them further down in this post but head over to Strawberry Swing and Other Things if you'd like some more info.

 So here's my finished product! I think it ended up costing about $60, plus the fun in creating such a cool little hang out area for Ava was pretty exciting too! Sure, there were times when it drove me crazy and some elements were trickier than others, but the end result is totally worth it.

As for my embellishments, it was actually my husband Heath's idea to add the fabric and leaves to the ends of the poles. This is great both because it covers up the not-so-pretty PVC pipe, but it also gives it a lovely 'woodsy' feel which I'm really happy with.

In order to achieve this look, 

1.  Cut out strips of contrasting brown fabrics

2. Sew them together to form 1 huge long strip

3. Wind your big long brown strip around the piping nice and tightly. 

This also helped to bind the pipes together and hold the teepee in place. I would strongly suggest doing something along these lines as it becomes really hard to hold the 'sticks' in place and this really reinforces the shape of the teepee.

I also hand stitched some little felt leaves together and attached them to the branches with floral wire.

The other embellishment I added was some extra piping to the base of the teepee. When I was setting up the teepee originally, the shape would continually change and warp depending on what angle I moved each pole into. This drove me bazerk! I ended up sewing up some sheaths for the poles and attaching them to the base of the teepee, and now it stays in shape, even when lugging it up and down the hallway for photoshoots!

Firstly, you need to measure your pipes! I think mine are approximately 85cm long each, but please measure each one individually yourself, then cut each length as carefully as you can!

In order to make these sheaths, 

1. cut strips of fabric that equal the diameter of the pole, plus 1/2 inch seam allowance for sewing. 

2. Stitch the strip together with right sides facing. 

3. Turn the sheath right side out by attaching a safety pin to one end and feeding it through itself.

You could make one long strip the entire outer length of the teepee, or each individual length, but ensure you allow enough of a seam allowance to attach them all together.

4. Slide the PVC pipe (or dowel) through the sheath 

5. Hand-stitched the fabric to the base of the teepee.  

This can be a really fiddly job, but it is worth it, trust me!

 

I think the family enjoy it!!

 

 That's it! I think it took me a few days to complete, but I was working on it on and off during nap times and any chance I could be baby free!! I think if you could dedicate a weekend to making your teepee you'd be right though!

Please feel free to ask me any questions, or if you'd like more detailed instructions I'd be happy to post them for you.


This post is linked up at some of these fabulous linky parties xo