A good indoor/outdoor play tent can easily keep toddlers and early elementary-age kids busy for hours. While store-bought tents are usually made of flimsy nylon, which will eventually disintegrate after hours of exposure to the sun, this teepee is made from durable, easy-to-clean cotton canvas, has enough heft that a stiff breeze can’t send it into the hedge, and is supported by a cheap and easy-to-replace frame; there is nothing sadder than a broken-backed pop-up playhouse slumped forlornly in the back yard.
There are two secrets to fast-and-dirty sewing: folding and pressing. Properly folded material can be cut quickly, without measuring and re-measuring in a fruitless attempt to keep pieces matching and symmetrical. Pressing each piece with a clothes iron prior to sewing will make the stitching go much faster and save you a lot of time (and pain) pinning, since most neatly ironed pieces can be easily held together by hand while you stitch.
sharp, hearty scissors (Paper scissors from your desk drawer probably won’t do it; go with a decent pair of fabric scissors or, ideally, the heavy-duty trauma shears carried by paramedics and EMTs.)
a sewing machine or needle and thread
a clothes iron (If your iron doesn’t have steam, then you will also need a small spray bottle of water.)
an electric drill with a 1/4″ bit
straight pins
(optional) a saw[2] (Most hardware stores will cut your PVC to the lengths you need.)
[2] If you cut the PVC yourself, always wear goggles and be aware that the friction from a saw can heat PVC sufficiently to cause it to release phosgene, a chemical cousin of chlorine gas, best known as a WWI-era chemical weapon. Go slow and work in a well-ventilated space. For more on PVC safety, flip to Chapter 11, the Electro-Didgeridoo.