Tipi

We have made our own tipi as part of our study on Native Americans. I loosely based the design on one from Sew, Mama, Sew. However I used bamboo poles which are already attached together in a tipi shape, available from Bunnings DIY store. We just cut out a section of pole to form the door. In order to keep the poles splayed out I attached them to a hula-hoop with elastic bands.

Canes attached to a hoop with elastics

The fabric was cut in a semi-circle, sewn together at the top and part way down to the door way. It's attached to the poles by cords at the top.

Native Americans use decorations on their tipi to represent their families. We decided to use our hand prints. I drew around the children's hands onto the paper side of some Bondaweb and then roughly cut the hand shapes out.

First draw around hands onto the paper (smooth) side of some Bondaweb



First draw around hands onto the paper (smooth) side of some Bondaweb



Cut the bondaweb hands out roughly

Next iron the hand shape onto fabric scraps. You should use some baking paper between your ironing board and the fabric and between the iron and the Bondaweb - but if you have already ruined your iron (like me) why bother!!! Then cut the hand out.


Iron the hands onto the fabric (fabric right side down, Bondaweb paper side up), then cut out



Lots of Bondaweb backed hands ready to go

Peel off the backing paper from the hands

Iron the hands onto the tipi fabric

R irons a hand onto the tipi

You too can create a mess like this

The children made their headdresses during their culture class at their home education group. Every family in the group is making their own tipis. At the end of term we will set up a tipi camp and celebrate Native American culture. Head back soon to see it.