A simple traditional teepee (also called "tipi") is a spacious and durable structure, large enough to comfortably accommodate a campfire and several people. It is liveable both in the hot and cold seasons and, once you have obtained all the material necessary to build it, it is not too complicated to assemble, disassemble and move to another point; for all these reasons a teepee is an ideal shelter for a nomadic lifestyle. If you want to build one for fun, to create something new or because you have decided to live in an alternative structure, then keep reading this tutorial.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Getting the Materials You Need
Step 1. Get some canvas
Traditionally teepees are made of buffalo or deer tanned leather, as it is waterproof and soft. Since buffalo leather is not an easily available material these days, canvas such as jute is preferred. It is difficult to manage a bonfire inside the smaller tents, so if you want to light one, consider mounting a teepee of a significant size.
For a comfortable tent, you should get a 4.5m x 4m piece of burlap
Step 2. Prepare some pine poles
The two fundamental elements for a teepee are a cover (the canvas) and the supporting poles, which must be about 90 cm longer than the width of the jute. To build a solid structure, you need to use at least a dozen of them. The smoother the surface of the posts, the better, and they must be several centimeters in diameter and made of pine wood.
- The easiest way to get hold of the bearing posts is to buy them. Felling a tree is an alternative, but you need to be sure to procure the timber legally, which could prove complicated. In order not to be mistaken, it is best to turn to a wood merchant who can assure you that the poles are sturdy and made legally.
- To prepare the posts, smooth them with a small knife or sandpaper to remove any rough areas. Then treat the surface with an equal parts mixture of turpentine and linseed oil. This way the wood will last for many years and will withstand the elements.
Step 3. From the canvas cut out the shape of a teepee
If you have not purchased pre-shaped jute, you need to cut it. The best thing to do is to draw the cutting lines on the fabric, but the basic idea is a semicircle with a diameter equal to the length of the jute and half as wide, with notches cut out at the flat end and flaps in the center of the same. which will act as "entry doors" and "vents" to let the smoke out.
Step 4. Also get 13.7m of manila hemp or straw rope
Synthetic ropes are not a good idea for teepees, as they don't cling well around natural wood poles and may slip.
Also, it's worth getting 12-15 pegs to lock the edge of the canvas to the ground, as well as the materials needed for the bonfire. If you want a real teepee, get some porcupine quills or other long pins to secure the open part of the canvas as you mount it
Part 2 of 3: Erecting the Structure
Step 1. Set up a tripod
To start making a teepee, you need to make a simple tripod with three poles. Place two of them on the ground, one next to the other, and then place another diagonally, so as to create an acute angle on the top (about 30 °). The two poles that are close to each other will be the corner supports, while the diagonal one will be the "entry" one.
If you want to get accurate measurements, first lay the sheet on the ground and then assemble the poles on top of it. The top of the two base poles must be in the center of the jute and must point towards the center of the flat part of the semicircle. The third stick must be placed so that its end is on the curved side of the semicircle about 1/3 from the edge. This should make an angle that is about 30 degrees wide
Step 2. Tie the structure with a spoken knot
Use about 1.8m of rope and secure the posts with this type of tie. Eventually you should end up with about 1.5m of rope in the shorter "tail" of the knot and about 12m in the longest one. Do not cut the rope, wrap the sticks several times with the shorter end and then secure it with another spoken knot; the rest of the rope will serve you in the next few steps. Keep it wrapped in a place where it doesn't get in the way for now.
Step 3. Lift the frame
Bring the poles to the place designated for the installation of the teepee and lift them from the tied end by pulling the rope. Get someone to help you to block the lower end of the poles with your feet, thus avoiding dragging them, rather than lifting them.
- At this point you should have a two-legged structure. When the posts are perfectly vertical, separate the two corner posts that are close together until they are approximately 2.7m apart. These two elements are the "rear" corners of the teepee, while the transverse one represents the "entrance pole". Obviously, the structure does not have to be perfectly symmetrical, but you must still try to obtain a triangle that is as isosceles as possible. The corner posts act as a support for the entrance one and the distance that separates them from it should be about 30 cm more than the distance between the corner supports.
- Make sure the tripod corner posts are solid by pulling on the rope while standing in the center of the structure, exactly below the junction point.
Step 4. Stock up on more sticks
Set aside the stoutest one, as it will be the "load-bearing" one. Add the others by moving counterclockwise around the tripod starting directly to the right of the entry post. The space between each corner pole and the entrance pole must be filled with at least 5 poles, while between the two corner supports there should be 4, in addition to the load bearing one.
- Leave space for the load-bearing prop in the center of the rear tent area. In this area you should have 4 poles with a space in the center just for the sturdiest one. It will be used later to put the canvas.
- Block each pole at the base with one foot and gently rest the upper end in the "V" that has formed between the corner poles and the entrance pole, following an arched movement.
- The poles must be equidistant from each other at about 90 cm.
Step 5. Wrap the poles
Use the longer end of the rope to wrap it around the connecting end 4 times. Let the extended length hang down near an angle pole.
Part 3 of 3: Put on the Cover
Step 1. Rest the bearing pole in the center of the canvas
This must be flat on the ground and the supporting pole must be on top of it, with the tip towards the center of the flat side of the semicircle. If you have purchased a pre-shaped jute, there should be a "specific flap" just to attach the post to.
It is essential to tie the canvas tightly to the pole. If the flap slips even 5 cm, the cover will crease, remain soft on the structure and the teepee will take on an irregular shape, thus losing most of its temperature-regulating characteristics. To make sure the fabric doesn't slip, secure the knot and jute flap with a 2.5cm nail
Step 2. Roll up the canvas
When it is still on the ground and fixed to the supporting pole, you must roll the edges towards the pole. Work in small sections at a time, as if you were folding a flag, so the jute will unroll easily once it is lifted with the pole.
Lift the entire block upwards and insert it into the space you left in the rear area of the tent
Step 3. Unroll the jute
Once the support post is in place, unfold the fabric by distributing it around the structure from the back towards the entry post. Make sure that the smoke vents are open to the outside and fix them together. The teepee should now look almost complete.
Step 4. Pin the flaps together
Most commercial teepees have holes made inside the flaps but, if you have cut out the jute yourself, you will need to use the pins you got yourself to make holes in the fabric and fasten the open flaps of the tent.
Porcupine quills are excellent for this purpose and are used in traditional teepees; however, wooden pins are more durable and readily available. You can buy them almost everywhere, even in the shop where you got the pine poles
Step 5. Stake the fabric
It is always advisable to lock the tent to the ground using normal metal pegs, so strong winds will not turn it into a parachute. When you are ready to enter, fix the flap that acts as a door to the outside and you can live in "camping".
- If you want to light a fire inside, you must open the air vents for the smoke, otherwise you will overheat the tent with the risk of fire. Attach stakes to the entrance side of the teepee to block the ropes when you open the vents and to prevent the flaps from closing while the fire is on.
- Be very careful about lighting a bonfire in cold weather. It is an excellent source of heat and your tent will become a comfortable place in a short time, but make sure it is exactly in the center, under the vents, and constantly monitor the flames.
