How to Make a Hanging Princess Canopy Tent

At some point in their life most little girls dream of being a princess. Though they may want to surround themselves with everything princess, every princess must also have a canopy tent. It's possible to create an elegant canopy tent for your little princess at home with just a few sewing supplies.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Shear, floor-to ceiling curtain panels
• Large embroidery hoop
• Fishing line
• Large eye hook
• Stud finder
• Step stool or chair
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Ribbon
• Helper

1. Sew curtains to each other side by side. Do not sew the first curtain to the last curtain, this will an opening in the canopy tent. When choosing curtain panels choose colors that has a princess feel to them. For instance, choose curtains in pink or that have sequins on them.

2. Sew a yard of ribbon to the open edge of the first and last curtain. Sew a ribbon loop onto the middle of the second and second to last curtains. This will allow the princess to tie the doors to the tent shut if she wants privacy and to tie them open at other times.

3. Use a stud finder to locate a ceiling joist in the area where you would like to hang your canopy. If you don't have a stud finder, you can gently tap on the ceiling with your fist. You will tap on some places that sound hollower than the others. The places that don't sound hollow is where your joist is. This method works, but not quite as well as a stud finder.

4. Secure a large eye hook to the ceiling. Make sure to hit a joist so that the eye hook is screwed in securely.

5. Unscrew the screw holding the embroidery hoop together. You should take the screw all the way out so that the hoop has a split in the middle that you'll hang your curtains on. The inside hoop should fall out before the screw is completely removed. Set the screw and the small hoop aside for later use.

6. Slip the curtains over the embroidery ring. Adjust the pleats to your taste. You may need a helper to hold the canopy off the ground for you while you adjust the pleats.

7. Once the pleats are ready, use the screw to begin closing the embroidery hoop. When the hoop is almost closed put the small ring into place and continue tightening until the embroidery hoop is closed securely.

8. Cut four long lengths of fishing line and tie them equal distances apart on the front, back and each side of the canopy. Don't worry about the lines being too long as it's easier to trim from the top than to have to cut a new piece or pieces.

9. Adjust the canopy to the desired height and tie the fishing line to the eye hook. This will require a second set of eyes. The person on the floor will give directions to the person holding the fishing line and canopy to adjust the height. Once the fishing line is tied to the eye hook, trim off any extra fishing line.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can't find a embroidery hoop large enough, you can also use a hula hoop. Use a sharp utility knife to cut the hula hoop to allow the curtains to be hung on it. When all the curtains are on the hula hoop, put it back together with crazy glue and a similar color duct tape. When you pull the curtains over the duct tape it will become less noticeable. Paint small rocks to use as tent "spikes" to keep the tent in the shape you want it in.