Notes on Making Our Own Single Pole,

Pyramid Style, Tipi Tent

We found the shape and proportions of our single pole, pyramid style, tipi tent to work very well, offering a comfortable shelter in all weathers. The following are some notes on our particular tipi, which was designed with durability and longevity in mind. A lighter fabric and different construction techniques would offer a more lightweight solution.

It was designed to accommodate two people, a stove and plenty of gear comfortably. One ofus is taller than average at 6’3”, so it was designed for someone at this height to both stand and kneel comfortably. It was also fine on camping trips with four or five people inside.

Height of tipi: 2.4mFloorplan: 4m x 3.2m

Weight of tipi + pole 9.4kg Pegs (approx) 1kg

Fabric: Australian polycotton tent fabric, with UV protection guaranteed for 25 years of Australian sun.

Key Features

Designed as a pyramid on an elliptical octagon base, 4m by 3.2m, the front and rear panels are slightly longer. Two zipper doors on the major axis allow more space for comfort and storage.

Both doors, front and back, open fully so that tipi can be entered from either side, and to improve ventilation:

Integral zippered mosquito mesh front and back, which can be tied off inside:

Pre-tied storm cords in case of heavier winds, with triangle tabs cut on bias:

Can be rolled up at bottom and opened at both ends to increase ventilation throughout the tipi, and with two way YKK zips fitted, can also be part opened to create ‘window’:

Cord round the top and halfway allows for hanging items/drying:

Flap can be opened for ventilation or to use with stove pipe - secured in place with velcro:

Silicone, gold thread & rockwool insulation collar attached into place on outside of tent. Glass fibre fabric velcro’d into place on inside.

Collapsible, 2m long stainless steel shim stove pipe:

Made from stainless steel shim. Wraps round two steel rings to create overlapping tube and secured in place with steel rope loops. Spark catcher secured to top. Loops can be adjusted in diameter to facilitate taking on and off. Heat from the stove removes crinkles and creates a good stove flue. Roll the other way to collapse and store – use rings to secure. (31cm wide):

Adjustable aluminium pole which breaks down into 3 sections:

Extra reinforcing panels at top to evenly spread load down the tent – resulting in four layers of fabric at the peak, then three, then two and finally just the main layer of fabric:

Reinforcement edge for better wear resistance and secure pegging points round the bottom edge of the tent. Fabric hem rolled over two times, creating 3 layers of fabric, with different grain directions, for strength:

Double storm cords, don’t have to be used, but provide extra pegging points in strong winds,and pull out inside to create a little more volume:

Seams reinforced with tubular cotton tape on underside:

Reinforced stitching throughout:

Quick and easy to put up and put away:

Packs down and fits into its own bag (approx 650x500mm) - could be packed in other ways:

Drawings

Determining the location of storm cord pull-outs on tent seams (to account for differing angles of pyramid):

Tipi Net

Used to make scale cardboard model

Cutting Plan

Cut from 1.5m fabric, with pieces arranged so that when constructed each edge of the pyramid will include one panel with fabric cut on the long grain for strength.

Pieces 1 & 5

Pieces 2& 6

Pieces 3 & 7

Pieces 4 & 8

Elliptical hole to cut into tent for

stove pipe / ventilation:

Pattern and development for stove pipe

insulating collar:

Construction Notes

Pattern pieces made up with newsprint first (blank newsprint provided by local newspaper offices).

Mosquito net uses same pattern pieces at main tent body – just trimmed down to finish at doors.

Marked out with a new, clean builder’s chalk line – tailors chalk used in place of indelible chalk.

Stitched on old Singer straight stitch industrial machine, without walking foot – but a walkingfoot would have been useful.