We’ve been making a teepee den here at The Woodland Farm. Now our little one is only 2 but Steve thinks a 2-year-old’s tipi should be big enough to fit both parents in or at least 10 small children. Needless to say Steve made the wooden structure big enough for an eight-year-old and I covered it in assorted teepee fabric to suit.
We’ve now spent a good part of the new year inside the teepee playing, hiding, catching fish (diy magnetic fishing game) and drinking orange squash tea from tiny tea-cups. I’m not complaining – it is very restful lying inside – I just look up at the light seeping through the top and pretend its summer – can’t wait to get it out on the field later this year for a taste of the real thing! Making a TeePee – the fabrication is really straightforward –
Take 5 or 6 straight(ish) spruce poles (seasoned and stripped of bark & rubbed smooth) Tie at the top with a 2 metre line of sisal rope,
Cover the poles with long fabric triangles made to size adding rectangular fleece panels on each of the legs as required (the fleece allows a bit more stretchiness). Sew together and decorate with fish designs and feathers adding curtain-style tie-back doors at the front.
Although a tipi isn’t really just for boys it is kind of nice to have a den for lads thats different from a playhouse and isn’t made out of pink plastic. William loves it and we feel sufficiently inspired that we might make a few up for our shop later in the year. In the meantime its indoor camping again this wet weekend!