Last week it was our school’s Summer Fête and, as well as many edible goodies, I made a play tent for the PTFA to raffle off for their funds.
All week I had been making jam, marmalade, fudge….
….Elderflower Cordial….
…….and scones.
The day before the fair, Mr H-L had a delivery of some new shirts for work and decided to have a wardrobe clear out resulting in the eviction of nine of his ‘old’ ones.
Some of the shirts had never actually been worn and even those that had were still in great condition so, when he asked me to take them to the charity shop, and idea sprung to mind.
Why not upcycle them and make a patchwork play tent to raffle off for the school funds?
This ended up making far more money than they would have achieved in a charity shop, and the money was still going to a good cause, so off to my studio I went to formulate a plan.
I made a similar tent for The Boys last year which I never got around to blogging about, so I based it on that.
YOU WILL NEED: –
Nine men’s cotton shirts
1 x dowelling (2000mm x 25mm)
4 x planed timber (1800mm x 44mm x 18mm)
4 x eyelets
2m elastic cord
Drill a hole 15cm in from one end of each of the bits of planed timber using a spade bit the same size as your dowelling.
You now need to create one single piece of fabric that measures 1.60m x 3.20m.
The first job was to cut up the shirts into as many usable sections as possible using my rotary cutter for speed.
I started by removing the button flaps, cuffs and collars.
Look at all the buttons I rescued!
I wasn’t at all precise in my cutting as I intended to fit each piece as I went – very liberating and totally the opposite of normal patchwork!
I laid all the bits out on the floor and arranged them in a pleasing order, being sure to space out evenly the more brightly coloured yellow and pink.
This would not have quite the same impact with the more conservative blue or white work shirts, but you could always appliqué onto the patches for added interest.
I didn’t need to – Mr H-L likes a shirt that stands out:)
As you can see from the picture below, I sewed the pieces of fabric VERY roughly together into strips. The edges were then trimmed into a neat line before stitching the strips of patchwork together along their long sides.
As both sides of the tent were going to be visible, I used Flat Fell seams throughout.
This type of seam leaves a smart finish and adds strength to the seam.
Here’s a line drawing to show the construction: –
In photographs, here’s what I did: –
Stitch a staggered seam where the lower fabric (pink) sticks out 1cm more than the top fabric.
Open the two fabrics flat with the raw edges of the seam uppermost.
Fold the seam to the left and tuck the (pink) overhang over the raw edge of the other (striped) fabric, enclosing all raw edges in the process.
Stitch close to the folded edge.
As I said, a very neat finish which I used as the outside of the tent.
Keep going until you have one piece of fabric measuring 1.60m x 3.20m.
Hem all around the outer edges.
In each of the four corners of the tent, fix an eyelet through which you need to attach a 50cm length of elastic cording as shown below.
Tie the ends of the cord in a knot to form a loop through which the tent poles will pass.
Align the holes in the tent poles….
….and insert the length of dowelling.
Lay the tent over the central dowel and pass the poles through the elastic cords at the bottom edge.
I also added a tie half way up each side of the tent – but, in my haste, forgot to document it. Basically, four 50cm long ties were made using scarps of leftover shirt fabric and sewn to the seam. These hold the tent more tautly to the frame.
We also decided to saw a shallow groove on the outer edge of the pole where the elastic cord sits – this helps stop the cord from riding up the pole.
With the addition of some bunting, a blanket and some cushions, it makes a lovely spot for young children to play.
Or the perfect place for No.1 Son to shade his cider from the afternoon sun!
We sold raffle tickets for the tent and raised almost seventy pounds for the school funds!
The lucky winner was thrilled to bits to win it for her little girls and, as it was such a success, I think I’m going to be asked to make one for next year’s fête.
Watch out Mr. H-L, I’ve got my eye on your shirts…..
June 24, 2015 at 12:12 pm
you are truly amazing!! (and your jam is exquisite) x
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June 24, 2015 at 12:36 pm
Thanks gal – your raspberry vodka isn’t too shabby either:)
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June 24, 2015 at 12:39 pm
Your tent is fantastic. Lots of little details such as the cord and grooves to finish it off. I am sure there are two very happy little girls. What a great way of raising money. x
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June 24, 2015 at 1:08 pm
I made a pocket for the dowelling to go through too, but hadn’t photographed that step!
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June 24, 2015 at 2:17 pm
You sewed he tend in a day????
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June 24, 2015 at 2:18 pm
Yes, about eight hours from start to finish:)
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June 24, 2015 at 2:20 pm
Ok,I’ve decided: leave everything and everybody for a month or two here and come to England and have some sewing lessons at yours! Is this ok for you?
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June 24, 2015 at 2:21 pm
You’d be more than welcome, we’ve got plenty of space!
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June 24, 2015 at 2:25 pm
Thank you!
Seriously, I’m always amazed by your projects. Every single thing you make speaks about your skill and creativity. I’m always so very inspired. Thanks so much for sharing your work ❤ ❤ ❤
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June 24, 2015 at 2:19 pm
…’the tend’….. my ‘special effect’ qestions never turn out good with this mistakes caused by speed…..
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June 24, 2015 at 2:20 pm
Ha ha! I usually know what you are trying to say though!
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June 24, 2015 at 2:20 pm
It’s a ‘tent’ – no ‘d’ 🙂
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June 24, 2015 at 2:23 pm
Oh… God…. no…. not …. again….
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June 24, 2015 at 4:30 pm
This is a great tutorial and a fabulous way to raise funds for the children! Congratulations of such hard work. 8. hours. Phew!
(Your presentation of all those yummies is so inviting I wanted to snatch that scone & cream for my elevenses here.) 😘
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June 25, 2015 at 11:59 am
Thank you, it was very satisfying and well worth it – all my makes made over £130 in total!
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June 25, 2015 at 3:21 pm
Congratulations! Know your efforts are much appreciated there! Many (most?) American schools have similar efforts.
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June 24, 2015 at 4:45 pm
What a great idea! You have lots of creative projects floating around in that curly head of yours!!Nothing gets thrown away in your house. LOL How is Amber doing? (The hen with the hurt leg.)
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June 25, 2015 at 12:02 pm
I try not to throw anything away unless I absolutely have to! Amber is still limping badly so we keep her indoors with us. She does miss the company of other hens but, when we let her out, they all run over and start pecking her viciously. We leave the door ajar so she can at least see and ‘talk’ to them:)
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June 24, 2015 at 5:21 pm
AmaZing!!!! I never knew of this type of seam. I will look into it so that I may use it in different projects.
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June 25, 2015 at 12:03 pm
It’s such a useful seam and so neat because all the raw edges are tucked away, not just overlocked. I do use it an awful lot:)
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June 24, 2015 at 6:51 pm
Adorable! my parents made one of these for my sister and I when we were younger, only they used large bed sheets. I love the old shirt idea, it’s really resourceful!
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June 25, 2015 at 12:03 pm
Lucky you! We had to make do with a sheet over the washing line:)
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June 24, 2015 at 6:56 pm
A truly wonderful project, so simple and yet it will give little ones hours/years of fun too -Great Job ! 😀
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June 25, 2015 at 12:05 pm
All kids love a good den, don’t they? Although half the fun is in making your own under the dining table:)
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June 25, 2015 at 10:03 pm
That is true…but, to have such a deluxe ready made one..even better 😉
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June 24, 2015 at 7:25 pm
Love this! What a great use for all those old shirts. I bet the winner was delighted 🙂
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June 25, 2015 at 12:06 pm
The winner was, indeed, delighted – she said it was the one thing she really wanted to win!
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June 24, 2015 at 7:54 pm
Fantastic! Thank you for telling us how you did it.
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June 25, 2015 at 12:06 pm
Glad you like it – if you make one, be sure to share it on my FB page:)
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June 24, 2015 at 8:15 pm
Very clever and creative – and all the beautifully presented food items too. You must be much sought after for fairs and fetes I’m thinking!
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June 25, 2015 at 12:08 pm
Hmmm, word is getting around – I find I’m asked to do more and more! As long as I’ve got the time and continue to enjoy it, I don’t mind though:)
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June 25, 2015 at 12:36 am
I am in love with this! Never mind the kids, I want one 😀 This is such a great creation and a fab idea for the school fete 🙂
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June 25, 2015 at 12:09 pm
You big kid! Actually, it would make a great portable shade for adult picnics too, especially as this one isn’t obviously for children:)
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June 26, 2015 at 11:45 am
Gosh! You’re one busy lady!! Love all the things you’ve made for the fair, and your tutorial is truly inspirational! Would be great at cricket for those with little ones to get some shade. 😀
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June 26, 2015 at 1:30 pm
I just love the idea of upcycling and love this idea. I too have kept my husbands striped business shirts. I couldn’t part with all my son’s baby clothes so decided to keep ones with stripes – plan was to make bunting with them. Then I thought I would use the shirts as the backing to the bunting. I love the idea of combining both their clothes and creating something that can be in his room for a long time without it being too childish in his teenage years. It’s on the list anyway.
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June 26, 2015 at 1:44 pm
Great idea! My reasons were ‘green’ rather than emotional, but to combine the two is best of both worlds:)
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June 26, 2015 at 5:56 pm
Wow! You really have been busy. How on earth do you fit all that making in? Great tutorial and well done on raising so much money.
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June 28, 2015 at 9:22 pm
I don’t have a ‘day job’ so I can spend all day doing what I love to do – make things:)
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June 28, 2015 at 9:52 pm
It still seems like a lot to me, ‘day job’ or no ‘day job’.
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July 8, 2015 at 11:35 am
I’ve said it before, but have to say it again: there’s no end to your fantastic creativity! What a fun-fun-fun project – thanks for sharing! Marianne xx
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