Hanging Play Tents

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• 6 2/3yds white organza
• 4yds each of four different sheer fabrics
• 23" wood quilt hoop
• 1 bottle white acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• 1 pkg white parachute cord
• 6yds white grosgrain ribbon, 5/8" wide
• Quick-drying tacky glue
• Candle & matches
• Clothespins
• T-pins or sturdy straight pins
• Large paper to make pattern or smaller pieces & tape
• Basic sewing supplies
• Sewing machine
• Iron & pressing surface

DIRECTIONS:

1. Because tents will vary in final size & shape due to fabric choices and design choices, specific directions are not included. Instead, general directions and tips for each portion of the project are included, allowing for creativity on the part of the crafter.
2. Paint the hoop's inner and outer rings and allow to dry.
3. Cut the parachute cord from the package in half. Cut one of the halves in half, making two approximately 4' pieces. Carefully melt the ends of the cord with the candle to prevent unraveling.
4. For the hanging structure fold the two cords in half together and tie an overhand knot at the fold to make the hanging loop. Mark the inner ring at four evenly spaced places around the ring. Tie the ends of the parachute cord to the inner ring at the marks allowing about 14" from the ring edge to the bottom of the hanging knot. The ring should hang level, if it doesn't, adjust the knots to level the ring.
5. To make a pattern for the tent top lay the paper down on the work surface and place the ring on top centering the paper under one triangle made of the cord and the ring section. Draw around the triangle. Add about 4" along the curves bottom of the triangle and about 1" along the angled sides. Cut out and save pattern.
6. Cut all the sheer fabrics including organza into 10' lengths and cut off the selvedge edges. Cut the sheer fabrics lengthwise ending up with fourteen 10' lengths of fabric. Put aside for later. Note: where there is an interesting border along one edge that will be used for the top decoration (we'll call it the crown), cut that off before cutting the fabric to the 10' length and reserve for later.
7. For the top of the tent select one of the 2' lengths of sheer fabric leftover and cut four pieces following the triangle pattern. If the fabric is not wide enough for four, cut two half-triangles from the side edges and sew together, this can be used for the back.
8. Since the fabrics are sheer, a second sheer with an interesting design can be layered with the first fabric, making the top triangles doubled. Sew the side seams together using French seams and leave a small opening at the top point. Press.
9. Place the sheer top over the parachute cord hanging structure to be sure it fits well and the excess length goes down over the ring edge. Adjust if needed.
10. Hang the ring with the sheer top over it and glue the sheer fabric to the outside of the ring. Allow to dry, then trim off any excess fabric along the bottom of the ring.
11. To make the sides of the tent measure each sheer panel's narrow width and cut a piece of ribbon to one half that measurement. Sew two rows of basting stitches along one narrow edge of the fabric and gather the fabric to fit the length of the ribbon and sew to the ribbon. Repeat for all 14 panels.
12. Mark the inner ring for a front and back and hang. With the ring hanging, start at the back and glue the ribbon side of the white organza panels to the outside of the hanging ring working from side to side. Use the T-pins and/or clothespins to hold the panels on the ring until the glue is dry. Overlap the panels by about 2". There will be an opening at the front.
13. Measure the ribbon lengths for the decorative sheers and add up the lengths. Calculate how much the panels can overlap if they are lined up along a 76" line. (Note: In the example they overlapped about 3" but the widths of the fabrics will vary from the example so do the calculations.)
14. Start at the back and glue the panels over the organza panels overlapping your calculated distance. Work from side to side and when you get to the front you will find there is a greater overlap, that is expected and part of the design. Again, use the T-pins and/or clothespins to hold the panels on the ring until the glue is dry.
15. To make the “crown", determine which fabric will be used for the design and glue it to the inside of the outer ring to fold down on the outside when dry. The examples show one with a border print that was trimmed for the scallop edge and the other used a strip of the sheer to make a triangular edge. When all the parts are dry, loosen the bolt on the outer ring and slip over the inner ring and tighten.