Tent 1.0

Couldn't sleep, and I started thinking about my tent. Should have blogged about it long ago, but this is just how it happens.

Here are some kinda crappy photos:





The Halloween festival about which I blogged previously was a really good test run for the tent. Because of that, I know exactly what I need to do to finish it.

1. Install grommets at the points indicated with red arrows in the second photo. In the top crossbeam, install thick (but not too thick to go through the grommets) nails at the point corresponding to the grommets. (If the nails prove too weak, I can remove them later, drill a hole into the beam, and glue in pegs.) This is for the purpose of helping keep the canvas tight across the whole tent, even when the side is being put up and down every day.

2. Create and install a flap with a pocket in the end, to go over the grommeted seam. This serves the dual purpose of having a more complete and autonomous place to put the canopy crosspole, as well as covering more extensively the hole/seam where the grommets and ties are in the side of the tent. As you can see in the top photo, the canopy crosspole was attached by spiraling a rope around it through the grommets. I didn't really like that.

3. Install better ties that go with the grommets. (the "ribbon" I used is weak and frays like crazy, and many of the ties were too short).

4. Install ties on the door flaps.

5. Carve Viking design in the pole heads. Maybe... eventually... whatever.

I'm confident that I could get most of this done the next time I have to use the tent. The first would take only a few minutes to do just before erecting the tent. I would have to create the flap in the second beforehand, but using a fat, sharp needle and strong, thick thread (like crochet thread), it wouldn't take long to sew onto the tent after it was put up. Sewing on the ties in 3 and 4 would take longer, but it's not as urgent as the other steps, so I could just do it on a have-time basis while the tent is set up.

So there you go. Tent 1.0.

We'll probably use this tent for some purpose or other at next year's ren faire, so the above changes won't happen until May or thereabouts. Unless there's some camping SCA event I could go to before that, but given the emptiness of my coffers, that doesn't seem likely.

Ideas that didn't make it:

Hammock: The tent, as conceived, wouldn't be structurally sound enough to support the weight, and I didn't want to make all the necessary changes after having sewn the canvas. However, I guess it's still possible to build separate hammock supports if I really wanted to.

Tent floor/canopy roof: Stupid idea. I bought a tarp for the floor. If I feel like the canopy really needs to be longer, I can do something about that in the future. (Just make a piece of fabric the appropriate size, with ties to attach to the grommeted edge of the tent, and a pocket to put the canopy crosspole in. Not difficult, but not really necessary, and it would complicate putting the side of the tent up and down because I'd have to attach and unattach the extra canopy each time. Not so good if I have to suddenly put it down due to foul weather or something.)

Stuff I'd have to bring to finish the tent:

Hammer, fat nails, grommets, grommet tools, fat needle, fat thread, finished pocket flap, ribbon/cording for ties.

I am also now the owner of two propane lanterns. Yessss. I am hardcore. Just need to make sure I have plenty of mantles on hand because those things always break.