How to Make a Teepee

A teepee is the most well known movable home. It provides ample room and doesn't get blown away by strong winds. The greatest part about a teepee is that you can burn a fire inside of it because it is self-ventilating. If you follow these steps you can learn how to make a 10-foot teepee.

Instructions

1. Trim the canvas of the teepee in the shape of a half circle, twice as long as it is wide. A recommended size is 15-by-30 feet. Cut two smoke flaps in the center of the canvas.

2. Cut a half circle door opening into each end of the canvas so that when the edges are brought together it makes a circular door opening. Make a door using an extra circular piece of canvas. Hem a pocket into it and insert a heavy stick that will hold the door closed. Hem it to the teepee canvas.

3. Construct little pockets of three cornered pieces of canvas. Sew them to the tip of the smoke flaps. Use extra canvas to reinforce areas of the smoke flaps where there will be large amounts of strain.

4. Hem a rope around the circular base at the bottom of the canvas. Equally space rope loops around it to peg down the teepee. Attach a rope at the top to lash the cover to the poles when the teepee is erected.

5. Get at least 12 poles that are 3 feet longer than the teepee cover is wide. If the cover is 15 feet wide then the poles should be 18 feet long. These need to be straight and smooth.

6. Make three of the strongest poles into a tripod. Tie them together a little higher than the cover using rope. Rest the remainder of the poles against the tripod to form a cone shape.

7. Pull the cover around the frame and fasten at the top with wooden pegs. Peg the bottom of the cover to the ground and spread the poles to stretch the cover. Insert two light poles into the pockets of the smoke flaps. This acts as a chimney, creating a draught.