For my Nephew's third birthday I made him a fabric wigwam with a floor quilt. I wanted it to be big enough for him and his little brother to play in for years so I made it reasonably big. It took me a while to work out the pattern and how I could make it look cute, safe and secure. The hardest choice was what fabric, in the end I went for a stone and navy check canvas I bought from my local curtain fabric store. For the ribbon threaded thru the eyelets and used for tie backs I used Jane Means lovely Vintage denim blue stripe ribbon. If you are going to make this yourself I would advise going for a canvas or heavy weight woven cotton and remember due to the way the fabric pattern pieces are cut the pattern will be sideways so ideally it is best to go for a pattern that looks good in any direction. Due to the way the pattern is cut, there is no need to hem the base of the wigwam as it uses the selvedge edge.
Here's how I made it...
Fabric Wigwam Tools and Materials
- 315cm Fabric, woven (Width 137cm (54") wide)
- Bias binding, width 20mm/10mm once folded, 10cm length
- 75mm wide binding or curtain tape x7metres
- Ribbon 15mm wide 2.5 metres
- 11mm metal eyelets and washers x11
- Iron on interfacing
- Sewing Cotton
- Sewing Machine
- Scissors
- Iron and ironing board
- Quick unpick
- Bamboo canes 1.8 metres long x4
Fabric Wigwam, How-to step by step
Start by cutting out all the pattern pieces, using the pattern template above.
Place the two half triangles right side together, starting at the top of the triangles, stitch together using a 1.5cm seam allowance on tight tension for 30cm, reverse stitch to secure then continue stitching seam allowance on a loose tension to the end. (this will enable you to unpick the opening later)
Press seam open
Starting 30cm down from top of triangle, top stitch each side of the seam with a 1cm seam allowance. Secure top of what will become the opening with a line of stitching
Iron a rectangle of interfacing to the inside of your front piece where you will apply the eyelets. Following the manufactures guidelines, apply eyelets to the front piece.
Thread eyelets with ribbon
Place front piece and side piece right sides together, pin a 50cm length of ribbon between pieces so 25cm of ribbon is on the inside and 25cm is on the outside about 50cm up from hem. Stitch together using a 1cm seam allowance.
Press seam open
Place front piece and side piece right sides together, pin a 50cm length of ribbon between pieces so 25cm of ribbon is on the inside and 25cm is on the outside about 50cm up from hem. Stitch together using a 1cm seam allowance.Press seam open.
Place side piece and back piece right sides together, stitch together using a 1cm seam allowance.
Press seam open.
Iron a rectangle of interfacing to the inside of your side and back pieces where you will apply the eyelets.
With the right sides of the wigwam facing you. Following the manufactures guidelines, apply one eyelet 3cm up from hem in centre of each side piece and back piece. (this will allow you to tie the floor quilt to the wigwam)
Bind the top of the wigwam with 10mm binding, for added security.
Fold the wide binding in half, and place over the side seam, so the seam allowance of the side pieces is incased between the binding. Edge stitch the binding in place. Stitch the opening at the bottom of the bias binding closed. (this is where you will insert your bamboo poles later).
Fold the wide binding in half, and place over the side seam, so the seam allowance of the side pieces is incased between the binding. Edge stitch the binding in place. Stitch the opening at the bottom of the bias binding closed. (this is where you will insert your bamboo pole later). Using a quick unpick, make a small insert in the side of the binding and pull the ribbon end through.
Fold the wide binding in half, and place over the side seam, so the seam allowance of the side pieces is incased between the binding. Edge stitch the binding in place. Stitch the opening at the bottom of the bias binding closed. (this is where you will insert your bamboo pole later). Using a quick unpick, make a small insert in the side of the binding and pull the ribbon end through.
Your wigwam should now look like the above illustration
Place the open side piece and open back piece right sides together, stitch together using a 1cm seam allowance.
Fold the wide binding in half, and place over the side seam, so the seam allowance of the side pieces is incased between the binding. Edge stitch the binding in place. Stitch the opening at the bottom of the bias binding closed. (this is where you will insert your bamboo pole later).
Insert you bamboo poles.
Using a quick unpick, unpick the front seam up to the straight stitch, Tie back the front opening curtains using the ribbon inserted into the side seams.
I will be back soon, with a tutorial on how to make the floor quilt!
Have a sweet day!
