Scrap Fabric Teepee-Part Two

So here is our finished teepee…made entirely out of recycled bedsheets and cedar poles.

I will try to explain the process below, but it was really a trial and error art experiment.

The end result was so very worth it, as it's now the most beautiful thing in my yard!!

So…you will need your basic teepee structure 

 instructions found HERE in part one.

In addition you will need

a staple gun and LOTS of staples

about 12 sheets…I paid about $10 in total at various second hand stores.

(flat sheets are best)

So…take about 4 of your sheets and start ripping them into strips…

I used the most colourful sheets for this part.

To rip make a cut at one end, and just tear down…

they don't need to be perfect, (this is an art project after all)

                  Then start by stapling the end of one of your strips to the bottom of the pole…

start wrapping around and around…gradually covering the pole…

when you get to the end of your strip, staple it again in place.

It will start to shape up like this...

Then switch your fabrics to make a patchwork…keep wrapping and switching...

This is what it should start to look like…keep wrapping until you get near the top…

Now…to attach your sheet panels you will start on one end…start by taking one end of the sheet and

from the bottom up, staple it all the way up.  Be generous with your staples here.

Then go to the other side and pull it tight…you will be able to feel your poles underneath the sheet and 

you will staple there. 

I went the lazy route here and just trimmed the sheets after they were stapled in place 

with pinking shears.

I tried to match the lengths of my panels, by folding them over at the top and again stapling them into place.

Then I took some more strips of fabric and weaved them in and out of the poles at the very top…

stapling them into place all along the way.

(my teepee probably has about 500 or so staples in it)!!

And the doorway was just cut with pinking shears into one of the panels…I just did an upside down U.

But…here is the end result…it may only last a season or two, but the structure itself is solid…

I consider it a giant art project really…

there are so many different ways you can put it together if you choose!

This is a horrible night shot of it, but we strung solar lights on the top, so it would light up at nighttime.

The kids were SO delighted with this!!

We enjoy this structure every single day…

we even added a log table and a sheet for the floor.

Picnics, tea parties, imagination games abound!!

Wishing you many adventures in creativity!!