How to Make a Teepee
Introduction
You have probably seen teepees in movies, museums, and perhaps on Indian reservations. The form and function of these traditional Native American tents are fascinating. These cone-shaped homes remain steady during fierce winds, yet can be easily transported from one location to another. Also, unlike traditional tents, you can build a fire in teepees (Learn how to make a fireball), without worrying about it burning down! Constructing a terrific tepee may be easier than you imagined.
Required Materials
22 square yards of material
100 feet of clothesline
String
12 poles
12 pegs
Instructions
Tiny or towering? For practical purposes, 10-feet is the minimum height that you should consider when building a teepee. A smaller teepee is less expensive, simpler to create, and easier to maintain. On the other hand, a bigger teepee is easier to keep smoke-free and can accommodate more people inside.
It’s All Material. You can use various types of material to construct your teepee. This can include 22 square yards of cotton flannel, duck, or heavy unbleached muslin. Cotton flannel is a thick, sturdy fabric that only contains a top layer of short threads, called nap, on one side. Duck is a heavy, sturdy linen or cotton fabric that is woven tightly. Finally, muslin is a strong cotton fabric comprised of a basic weave.
Waterpoof Your Teepee. Long or heavy rains can cause water to drip down the poles or enter the smoke-vent. To prevent this problem, create a canvas storm cap. It should contain a flexible rod in the hem edge to maintain its round shape. The storm cap sits atop a loose teepee pole. If necessary, cords can be used to further secure the cap.
Pole Power. You will need 12 poles for your teepee. They should be about 13-14 feet in length, and roughly one inch thick at the top. It is important that they are as rigid and smooth as possible. The two poles that are used for the smoke vent can be narrower than the other poles.
Wood that Works. When building a fire in a tepee, select the wood that is best and driest. The result will be a “clear” fire. However, remember that there will always be roughly 7-8 feet of smoke rising upwards. Nonetheless, this amount is not usually a problem, and will actually prevent mosquitoes from flying into the teepee.
Up in Smoke. Perhaps the greatest advantage of the tepee is its ability to sustain a fire inside it without excessive smoke. The challenge however, is to manage this smoke that can build up in the tepee without proper design and construction.. The smoke-vent should swing down wind, or a quarter down. There are other steps that you can take too. You can keep the door slightly open. And you can lift the teepee cover’s bottom a little bit, along the windward side. However, these actions could create too much unwanted wind current (draft) on your back. If that happens, extend a portion of canvas between 2-3 poles in the teepee’s interior. This should reach the ground, and be made in front of the gap created. The draft will then move up behind this area.