By Liesl Clark
My 6 year old went to sewing camp this summer and she’s been creating adorable spaces for her toy animals ever since. This project is a perfect one for small hands and a great sewing project for 2, using up fabric scraps and old trousers, too!
Tipi Play, Photo © Liesl Clark
Step 1: Trace a perfect circle onto a stiff fabric like felt, fleece, or corduroy (we used some old corduroy pants of mine). The circle will determine how tall your tent will be. We cut ours about 6″ wide.
CutCircle.jpg Photo © Liesl Clark
Step 2: Cut that circle in half and then trace it onto a pretty fabric of your choice which will be the outer fabric of your tent.
Trace Half Circle, Photo © Liesl Clark
Step 3: Cut the half circle out of your pretty fabric.
Cut Circle 2, Photo © Liesl Clark
Step 4: Pin the rounded edges of the half circles together, stiff fabric facing in on one side and nice fabric facing in on other.
Pin Half Circle, Photo © Liesl Clark
Step 5: Sew the pinned rounded edge of the 2 half circles together.
Hand Sew Curved Edge, Photo © Liesl Clark
Step 6: Turn the half circle right-side-out so the sewn edge is hidden. Fold it in half and then sew the remaining straight edges together as shown in the photo.
Sew Straight Edge, Photo © Liesl Clark
Step 7: Turn this right side out and you have a cute closed tipi/tent for little animals or people to live in (or a pointed hat for a doll!)
Tipi Hat, Photo © Liesl Clark
Step 8: A variation on this tent/tipi is to add a door: Simply leave a couple of inches of “flap” left open on the last straight edge and sew the flaps back about 2-3 cm so you have a tipi opening opening.
Door Variation, Photo © Liesl Clark
Looking for more ideas to use up your fabric scraps? Please visit our Trash Backwards app that has reuses for everything in your home!
Click Through for Fabric Scrap Reuses at Trash Backwards.
What kid crafts do you have up your soon-to-be-upcycled sleeves? Let us know if you have a DIY fabric scrap project that we can share with others on our app.
How cute. I just introduced the grand children to sewing by giving them yarn and yarn needle with plastic canvas. Since they will be 4 this month it may be a bit before I can introduce this, but what a great way to use up left-over fabrics. Thanks for sharing.