Pythagorean theorem and lots of super-wide-calico

Woodland Play Tent by Matching Pegs

6 months ago I was posting cryptic statements on Facebook about how I was working on a large project that required lots of super-wide-calico, (2.4m or 95″wide) and a fair bit of calculations involving Pythagorean theorem.  Now I can finally reveal the result, Ta-Da!  This is my project that is published in the current “Australian Homespun – The Kids Issue” (No.113; Vol.13 No.10) as “My Treehouse Adventures”.  The third project that I have had published in Homespun, (all in the annual Kids Issue) this one was by far the most challenging.

Woodland Play Tent by Matching Pegs, with a closed tree-window

I made 3 different scale-card-models, and then kept sewing and unpicking a prototype made of old sheets, until I got the structure right.  I designed the appliques in Illustrator, and kept printing them out and pinning the paper versions onto the prototype until the scale and placement were pleasing.  Eventually I felt ready to sew up the real thing.

Woodland Play Tent by Matching Pegs with the tree-window open.

I am particularly proud of the “Tree-Window” on the tent which has a rather nifty construction.  I took these photos on a grey old day in May, after rearranging our Lounge room, and co-opting Amelia to be the “kid” in the photo, as no one else was home.  The instructions I sent to the magazine ran to 11 solid pages of text, and 24 diagrams.  Thank goodness they have a good technical editor, who was able to cut them down somewhat, (and was also reportedly impressed with my instructions and diagrams :-)).

Woodland Play Tent by Matching Pegs, a rear view of the tent

I am really proud of this project, and would be thrilled to see any versions of it made using my instructions.  My kids loved playing inside it before it was sent interstate (for photography), and can’t wait for it to come home.  So go forth and buy this year’s “Kids Issue” of Australian Homespun, and don’t forget to email me a finished picture or two.

 

 

10 thoughts on “Pythagorean theorem and lots of super-wide-calico

  1. Hi Claire. Well, you’ve certainly been busy and quite the dark horse too. The tree house looks amazing and as for putting together instructions;? I take my hat off to you. My only regret is that my children are too old for such things now. Maybe the next time ’round. Barb xx

  2. I love your teepee. I really like the annual kids’ issue of Homespun magazine, this one is a good one, there are a bunch of projects I am wanting to make. I have a project in there for the first time myself this year, and I am really happy that you have one too.

    • Thanks Carmel. Your snakes and ladders ‘board’ looks great!
      My eldest, Amelia, is just tracing off the pattern to make one of the mice from “On Toadstool Lane”. There is a lot to like in this issue. We are both in good company :-).

  3. I am curious how you used the Pythagorean theorem to figure out material use. Can you send me an example of your calcuations? I am trying to learn this method of measuring and am one of those see, read ,do kind of learners then when I have mastered it I would like to apply it ideas of my own, Thanks Mary

  4. Wanting to learn how to apply pythogoren theorem to estimating fabric needs. Could you send me a calculation example of how you applied it to measuring out material needs for teepee?

Leave a Reply to Claire Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*
To prove you're a person (not a spam script), type the security word shown in the picture. Click on the picture to hear an audio file of the word.
Anti-spam image