At the beginning of every summer, when my daughter was small, we would set up a very simple play tent on the lawn. It was usually a vintage quilt top, purchased unfinished on Etsy, tossed over a very rickety old blanket rack turned on its side. By midday, I would inevitably find at least two pets along with my toddler daughter sitting inside, having brought in with them pillows, snacks, water, and whatever else they could carry. The way the afternoon light filtered through the fabric made the inside feel like a kaleidoscope. It was pure magic.

This particular play tent is made using this pattern from and is just as wonderful on a lawn as it is in a bedroom or playroom. Finding the poles can be a little tricky. I got lucky on Amazon, but if you have a good hardware store in town, I’d recommend starting there—they typically carry long dowels and can probably cut the exact length you need. 

This project took us a few hours to complete, mostly because Maggie used a little extra time to match the fabrics perfectly. Personally, I wouldn’t bother, but we love the results.

There are lots of great play tents on Etsy, but this one is by far our favorite. I think it’s a great project for beginners, but really, it works for all levels. And if you’re more advanced—or just looking for a little extra challenge—you can’t go wrong adding a few windows and pockets here and there.