How to Make a Teepee Tent

Carla Sacca — October 2020

Kids' teepee tents are a cute and stylish addition to a bedroom or play area. They're cosy and exciting, and they give children a space they can use in several genuinely useful ways — somewhere to read, make art, or simply retreat from the world for a bit. They also encourage independence and imagination, since most children will end up playing house in there, alone or with siblings and friends.

Store-bought teepees are lovely but they aren't cheap, and you may not find one that suits the room or the colours your child likes. So why not make your own? It's more achievable than it looks. Here's how.

What You'll Need

For the frame

• 5 wooden round poles (dowels), long enough to give the height you want
• Rope, roughly 6mm thick
• A drill with a 6.35mm bit
• Scissors

For the cover

• Fabric — enough for 5 panels, with one wider panel for the door
• Fabric chalk for marking your pattern
• Bias tape for finishing the opening
• Matching thread and pins
• A measuring tape
• A sewing machine (helpful, but see the note below)

Set aside roughly five to six hours for the whole project. If you don't have a sewing machine, you can still follow the frame steps and simply drape the fabric around the finished frame — it won't be as neat, but it works.

How to Make a Teepee Tent

Step 1: Drill the holes

Drill the rope holes in your round poles. Choose a drill bit equal to or slightly larger than the width of your rope — a 6.35mm bit suits 6mm rope.

Step 2: Thread your rope

Lay the poles flat and side by side, then thread the rope through them and tie a secure knot at the end. Stand the threaded poles up and arrange them into a teepee shape.

Wrap the remaining rope around the poles — a loop around each pole individually, then around all of them together. Secure with a knot and trim any excess.

Step 3: Measure and make your pattern

With the frame standing, take your measurements and outline the pattern onto your fabric using fabric chalk. Remember to add seam allowances so you have enough material to sew.

To work out your seam allowance: width measurement + 2 × [(pole width × 2) + 3.048cm]

You'll need as many panels as you have poles — five. Keep in mind the door panel will be wider than the others, and you'll cut a slit in it later.

Step 4: Sew your panels together

Pin the panels together, right side out, along your width allowance line, using a 1.27cm seam. Once all the panels are sewn they should form a circle. The seams will stick out at this stage — that gets dealt with shortly.

Step 5: Hem the edges

Using a 1.27cm seam width, hem the top and bottom of the covering. Fold the hem back on the opposite side of the fabric — the lighter or white side.

Step 6: Create the pole slits

Sew five slits, one for each pole. Take the circumference of your poles and double it, then sew each slit roughly 3.81cm from the seam. This gives the poles enough room to slide in and out easily.

Make sure the fabric is facing the correct way when you sew the slits — the side you want visible should be facing out. This step also tidies up those exposed seams from earlier.

Step 7: Decorate the opening (optional)

Cut the slit that forms the entrance. You can finish it with a fun trim or bias tape, or simply hem each side. Adding closure loops or buttons lets you tie the door fabric back.

Step 8: Assemble

Turn the frame on its side so the poles collapse together like an umbrella — that's meant to happen. Thread the poles through the slits, then stand the teepee upright and space the poles out into a teepee shape. Done.

A Note on Making Your Own

The best part of building a teepee from scratch is that you get to customise it. Get your child involved — let them choose the fabric and decide how to decorate the inside. Being part of the build gives them a real sense of ownership and accomplishment when it's finished.

If you'd rather buy one ready-made, have a look at our Highton Extra Large Kids Teepee, which includes safety balls so the frame won't collapse inwards. You might also like our cubby houses for outdoor hideaways.