DIY No Sew Kids Tent

A long time ago, I saw this wonderful idea on Pinterest. It was a circus-like tent for kids. As I pursued the pins, I found several "How to Make a Tent" options. Some of them looked amazing, but when I looked into how to make them, they were either extremely complicated for a beginning-level sewer, or they ended up being ones that were for sale. I wanted to make one for my son for his third birthday.....the key word in that sentence is "make", but I also couldn't spend a fortune on supplies and with a 3 month old and a toddler at home, time was a consideration as well.

Since none of the pins on Pinterest were helpful to me and my situation, I decided to walk through Target with some ideas in mind, to see what I could find. I hit the jackpot! I found just what I needed, and all of it was on clearance. I went to JoAnn's Fabrics for the fleece. Then we headed to Dollar Tree for the remaining supplies. I was so lucky that I was able to find such wonderful items, at an inexpensive price, that helped to create a wonderful surprise for my little man.

Here are the supplies I used:

- One Hula Hoop (Dollar Tree)
- One Cloth Shower Curtain (Target)
- One Set of Shower Rings (Target, but I'm sure could be found at Dollar Tree)
- 2 Yards of Black Fleece (JoAnn's Fabrics)
- Twine
- Super Glue
- Tape Measure
- Scissors

Steps to Creating Your Own Inexpensive Tent for Kids:

1. Measure the Hula Hoop and check the measurements of the shower curtain and make any needed adjustments to the Hula Hoop. I needed to make mine smaller so that the shower curtain would go all the way around.
- If you need to do this too, find the seem that already exists on the Hula Hoop, pull it apart, then cut using the seem as one end. Once you have cut to your desired size, super glue the stopper back into the Hula Hoop and hold for a minute or two to make sure that it sets.

2.Measure the height of the ceiling you plan to hang the tent from, check the length of the curtain, then measure and cut three pieces of twine (for the hanger) to the desired length. Tie the twine to the Hula Hoop, and then together on the opposite end to create a loop for the hook.

3. Place the Hula Hoop on the fleece and trace it. Cut a small hole in the middle of the fleece circle. Drape over the Hula Hoop (this works best if it is hanging up straight, so that you can be sure to cut accurately). Then cut the fabric to cover the top of the Hula Hoop.
* I ended up layering two pieces to give the tent more of the pirate-feel that I was looking for.

4. Attach the shower curtain to the Hula Hoop using the shower rings. Make sure to space them out evenly between the twine, this way the Hula Hoop will hang level easily.

5. Hang the tent from a hook that has been secured into the ceiling.

6. Enjoy!

It may not be as fancy as some of the pictures I have found on Pinterest, but Liam loves his new tent! He plays pirates, reads, and asks to take his naps in it everyday. I love it, because it took me two hours to make (it would go a lot faster now that I know what I'm doing), and it only cost $17.84 for the supplies! I do plan to make/buy a round pillow to put inside, which I think this will help to give it the true tent shape, but for now, we're happy with Liam's new hang out!

The finished Product!