How to Make a Fabric Wigwam

A wigwam can bring the great outdoors into the tiniest backyard. It is great for sparking off imaginative games.

What You Need:

• 5 feet strong green vinyl fabric - 54 inches wide
• 5 feet strong orange vinyl fabric – 54 inches wide
• Extra fabric strips or matching braid for ties
• 4 bamboo cnes, 6 feet long and ¼ inch in diameter
• Strong machine thread
• Adhesive
• Felt tip pin for marking
• Ruler

Planning the Fabric

Spread the green fabric out flat, wrong side up.

Measure and mark the center point of the 5 foot side and draw a line between them (A to B in Figure 1). Measure and mark the center point of the top edge (C in Figure 1).  You will find that you can mark well on plastic fabric with a felt tip pen.

Now copy the diagram in Figure 1 onto the fabric and number each piece before cutting. Cut from A to B, from D to C and from C to E.

Follow these same steps with the orange fabric.

Figure 1

Machining the Sections

Experiment with tension and stitch size on a scrap of your vinyl fabric to make sure that it does not pucker.

You will probably need a longer stitch than you would use machining ordinary cloth.

In the following steps and diagrams G stands for Green Fabric & O stands for Orange Fabric.

Take sections G5 and O2 and, with right sides together, seam as shown in the plan in Figure 2.

Use a ½ inch seam allowance.

Repeat on the opposite section, joining O5 to G2.

The next section to deal with is the bottom one in Figure 2.

Seam G4 to O6 and then O1 to G3.

Then join these two pieces together across the center as shown.

The top section in the plan will be the front of the wigwam where the opening is.

Join G6 to O3, making sure that the front opening edge is straight and join O4 to G1 in the same way.

You will now have all your sections machined and will be able to imagine how the finished wigwam will look.

The next step is to join the panels and here you must stitch the fabric with wrong sides together.

Machine panel 1 to panel 2, using a ¼ inch seam allowance and making sure the center seams are matching.

Join panel 2 to 3, then 3 to 4 and 4 to 5.

Turn the wigwam to the wrong side and stitch 1 inch wide French seams on all four joins (Figure 3).

Start at the bottom and leave 1½ inches unstitched at the top of each. These seams will be the casings for the bamboo poles.

Cut two equal lengths of braid or fabric to make ties to close the front entrance. Stitch these firmly, they will get a lot of wear, to either side of the opening at the center seam line.

Depending on the kind of fabric you have used, you may want to strengthen and neaten the unfinished opening edges of the wigwam with machine stitching or adhesive tape.

Pitching the Tent

Slot the bamboo canes carefully through the casings and stand the wigwam up. Tuck the pointed tops of the fabric neatly back inside the wigwam.

Take another length of the fabric used for the ties and wind firmly around the bamboo canes at the point where they emerge from the tent.

Fix and tidy ends with adhesive.

Sit back and relax knowing your kids are having a great time in this wonderful wigwam, made by your hands!

Thanks for stopping by and until next time,

Happy Crafting!