Tepees make great clubhouses. I bet you're wondering how I know this. I came upon this information quickly the day my young sons asked me to help them build a fort.
You see, my husband and I have an unspoken agreement: As long as he will cook, I will take care of these "creative" projects. Artist and decorator that I am, I was afraid my sons' expectations of what I could do with a tool belt and lumber might not only cost an arm and a leg but take weeks to accomplish.I was definitely on the spot. But then while overhearing a Saturday morning cowboys-and-Indians cartoon, I had a brainstorm: Why not a tepee? Would my sons go for it? They make great private forts, I told them, and you can "renovate" the outside easily when you get tired of it. (I didn't mention their perks for parents: They're washable, appeal equally to boys and girls and don't take a kazillion years - or dollars! - to build.)
For a tepee to call your own, you'll need an old full-size sheet or similarly proportioned piece of prewashed canvas. You'll also need fabric paints from the craft store. I like working with craft paint pens since they don't involve a brush.
Also, head down to the garden supply store for some bamboo poles (six is a good number, but you could get by with as few as three). Alternatively, you can use closet poles, which you can have cut to size at a lumber store. Based on a full-size sheet, they should be about 5 feet tall. For larger pieces of cloth, increase the size of the poles accordingly.
Since the tepee covering is going to conform to the contours of the poles, you basically want to create a "cone" out of cloth. To get started, lay out your cloth. Tie a pushpin to one end of a string and a pencil to the other. Tack the pushpin at the center of the cloth on the long side. Then, with the string taut, run the pencil in the largest possible arc over the cloth and cut out the resulting semicircle.
Now make a smaller arc to accommodate the tepee poles: Starting from the same place, draw a semicircle (but this time using only a few inches of string) and cut it out, too.
Now you can have some fun decorating the cloth. You might feel more comfortable tracing the design in pencil before you begin.
The nature theme I've painted is a good beginner's choice because it relies on simple forms; a beehive, the sun and simple rounded flowers. But that's just one of many possibilities. Considering the season, a pumpkin theme would be fun. Or how about an abstract geometric design, like on an Indian rug? Stencils would also lend themselves to this project. Let your masterpiece dry.
Tie all the poles together, about 6 inches from the top, using rope or twine. Begin pulling them out to form a tepee shape. This can be a bit tricky, but stick with it until you have it standing. If you're after a semi-permanent structure, you might want to stake your support poles into the ground (in this case, sharpening the ends is helpful). You could also provide additional support for the tepee cover itself by sewing on string loops to the ends. In this way, the cover can be held in place using tent stakes.
Once you have your poles assembled, wrap your painted cloth around the structure. Secure with clothespins or safety pins, and be sure to leave a flap about two-thirds down to act as the entryway. Add a cozy rug or a groundcloth, and the tepee is complete.
When winter arrives, the tepee can come into your playroom. Just try that with a tree fort.