Hanging Play Tent

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  Step 1

  Tent top
  To calculate the size of the tent top, measure the diameter of the hoop and add a 1.5cm ( 5⁄8 in)
  seam allowance.

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  Step 2

  Making the tent top

  Fold the fabric in half selvedge to selvedge, right sides together. Add a 1.5cm
  ( 5⁄8 in) seam allowance to the diameter of the hoop. Draw a line this length from the folded edge towards the selvedges. Draw a second line the same length along the folded edge from one end of the rst line.

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  Step 3

  Use a pencil tied to a piece of string the length of the line. Pin the string to the point where the lines meet. Hold the pencil upright and draw an arc from the end of one line
  to the end of the other. Keep the string taut. It may help to tape the fabric to the work surface with masking tape to stop it slipping.

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  Step 4

  Measure and mark a 1.5cm ( 5⁄8 in) seam allowance along the rst line. Cut through both layers of fabric to cut
  out the tent top.

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  Step 5

  Open out the semicircular tent top, right side up. Cut
  a 50cm (20in) length of ribbon and fold it in half. Place the raw edges of the ribbon at the centre point, as shown. Pin in place.

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  Step 6

  Fold the tent top right sides together with the ribbon tucked inside. Pin along the open straight edge. Sew along the edge, starting at the ribbon, stitching over it, and backstitching a few times at the start to ensure the ribbon is stitched rmly in place. Press the seam open.

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  Step 7

  Making the tent body

  Cut the remaining fabric into three equal full-width pieces for the tent body. Place two pieces selvedge to selvedge and right sides together. Pin and stitch with a 1.5cm ( 5⁄8 in) seam allowance. Press the seam open. Attach
  the third piece to the other two in the same way. You now have three joined pieces with a selvedge on both long edges.

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  Step 8

  With the fabric face down, turn over a 1.5cm double hem along the two selvedges. Pin, then machine in place as close to the edge as possible. Press to set the stitches. These edges form the tent opening.

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  Step 9

  With the fabric face down,

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  Step 10

  turn over a 3cm (11⁄4 in) double hem all the way along the bottom of the three pieces.

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  Step 11

  ...

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  Step 12

  At each end, mitre the corner by folding it diagonally. Pin and stitch in place. Press to set the stitches.

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  Step 13

  Set the stitch length to its maximum length and machine two rows of gather stitches along the top of each panel, stopping and starting at each seam. Stitch the rst row 1.5cm ( 5⁄8 in) from the top and the second 2.5cm (1in) from the top. Backstitch at the
  beginning of each row but not at the end.

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  Step 14

  Now you will need to gather the fabric. To do this, hold the pair of loose threads at the end of the row in one hand. With
  the other hand, push the fabric away from you.

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  Step 15

  Gather the top of each panel so that the fabric ts around the hoop to give an overlap at the front of the tent. Start by multiplying the diameter of the hoop by π (3.14) to give the circumference. Add 10cm (4in) to this measurement, then divide this by three (the number of
  panels). You can round up or round down slightly if required. Following the instructions in Step 5, gather the top of each panel evenly until it ts this measurement.

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  Step 16

  Secure the ends of the gather stitches on each panel by wrapping them around a pin in a figure of eight.

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  Step 17

  Cut a length of looped Velcro tape to match the hoop’s circumference. Place
  the gathered fabric under the machine foot, right side up. Lay the Velcro tape on top, aligning its top edge with the upper row of gather stitches,
  as shown here. Stitch the Velcro tape in place along its top edge, ensuring that the gathers remain even and keeping them at a right angle to your stitches. Stitch along the bottom edge
  of the Velcro tape, starting
  from the same end as before.

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  Step 18

  Cut five lengths of ribbon 30cm (12in) long and mark the middle of each. Lay the gathered tent body face down. Space the ribbons out evenly along the gathered edge and pin in place through the middle of each ribbon. Hand or machine stitch in place.

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  Step 19

  Joining top and bottom

  Stay stitch around the bottom edge of the tent top. With wrong sides together, lay the tent top at with the seam to one side. Mark the side opposite the seam with a pin. This is the centre front of the tent.

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  Step 20

  With right sides together, pin the body of the tent to the top. Starting at the centre front of the top, pin the body so it overlaps the centre front by 5cm (2in).

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  Step 21

  Pin all around until you reach the beginning. The
  front edges of the body will overlap each other.

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  Step 22

  Machine the body to the top, holding the ribbons out of the way of the needle.

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  Step 23

  Making the bunting

  Cut two strips of bunting fabric, each 30cm (12in) deep and long enough to t the circumference of the hoop. If necessary, make each strip from two pieces joined right side to right side
  along the short edge. Place the two long strips right sides together. Draw a line 1cm ( 3⁄8 in) from the bottom edge and a second line 5cm (2in) from the top edge.

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  Step 24

  An ideal width for what will be the top of a flag is 20cm (8in). Calculate how many times this will t around your hoop. Adjust the width until it divides into the circumference of the hoop evenly. Mark the width of the first flag along the line. Mark the same amount for the next flag and so on until you reach the end.

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  Step 25

  Mark the points of the flags on the bottom line. Starting at the bottom left-hand edge, mark 10cm (4in) along the line, then a further 20cm (8in), followed by 20cm (8in) each time until you reach the end.

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  Step 26

  To mark the outlines of the flags, start at the left-hand edge and join the end of the top line with the first mark on the bottom line. Continue joining marks diagonally. Then join them in the other direction.

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  Step 27

  Measure and mark a 1.5cm ( 5⁄8 in) seam allowance along the outer edges of each flag, as shown.

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  Step 28

  Pin or tack both layers together. Cut out through both layers around the seam allowances, removing the excess fabric as you go.

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  Step 29

  Sew along the seam allowance lines in one continuous seam, pivoting at the corners.

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  Step 30

  Snip between the flags close to the seam allowance but make sure you do not cut through your stitches.

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  Step 31

  Trim off the seam allowance around the points of the ags as close as possible to the stitching.

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  Step 32

  Turn the flags to the right side one by one, pushing 11Lay the bunting at on the table, finger-pressing the seams
  the points of the flags out using a pointed but blunt tool such as a pencil.

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  Step 33

  Lay the bunting at on the table, finger-pressing the seams to the sides. Check that the joins between the flags lie flat, clipping into the seam allowances a little more if necessary. Press the bunting.

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  Step 34

  Fold over 1cm ( 3⁄8 in) at the top of the band.

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  Step 35

  Lay a length of hooked Velcro tape, right side up, on the folded band. Pin then stitch the Velcro tape along its top edge, then along the bottom edge, starting from the same end as before.

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  Step 36

  Tie the hoop inside the tent using the ribbons around the body. Attach the bunting to the outside using the Velcro tape. Hang the tent up from a ceiling hook.

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