HOW TO MAKE TENTS

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 10, 1879

HOW TO MAKE TENTS.

We have received numerous requests to give in the REVIEW some instructions for making tents, and in compliance with these requests Bro. W. C. Gage has prepared the following diagram, with explanations. It has been used by him in making several tents, and proves very simple and practical. Save this paper for reference, so as not to be obliged to ask for its republication whenever you get ready to make your own tent.

First, Decide on the size you wish. If it is to be made of yard-wide cloth, both the length and breadth should be some multiple of three feet,— as 9, 12, 15, 18, etc. This will greatly simplify the work of making.

Secondly, Draw a diagram of the end of the tent, on the scale of an inch to the foot, as follows:—

We will suppose the tent is to be twelve feet wide, with walls four feet high. First, draw two horizontal lines, A, A, and B, B, twelve inches long and four inches apart. In the center of the line A, A, erect a perpendicular, C, D, ten inches long. Then draw lines from C to B and from B to A on either side. This gives you the design of the ends, the most difficult part of the work, on a scale of one inch to the foot. The line B, B, is of course only imaginary on the tent, being used simply in making the plan. The illustration is on a scale of ¼ inch to the foot.

Measuring the outside of this diagram, on a line A, B, C, B, A, we have twenty-five inches, showing that the strips for the roof and walls must be twenty-five feet long; but, allowing for two-inch hems at A, A, and two-inch tucks at B, B, the cloth must be cut in strips 26 feet long, one strip being required for every three feet of length to your tent. These should be sewed together, with two seams, lapping about half an inch. Take a two-inch hem at each end, and four feet from the ends make a two-inch tuck, through which a strong rope should be run, and eyelet holes worked, inside the rope, at each seam; if greater security is desired, the eyelet holes may be doubled in number.

To cut the ends: The line C, D, is ten inches long; the tent will therefore be ten feet high. The breadth of cloth represented by C, D, E, F, will therefore be ten feet long on one side and seven on the other. Measure off ten feet from

your web of cloth, (adding two and a half inches for the bottom hem and top seam) and on the other edge measure three feet less; then draw a line from the two points diagonally, by which to cut, which gives you the necessary angle. The strip A, B, F, E, should then be measured off by placing the shorter side of the piece already cut by the longer side of the whole piece, which is now “cut on the bias,” and cutting it square across. You will then have two patterns from which to cut the rest, requiring four of each kind, and by turning the cloth it can be cut absolutely without waste. The center seam should be sewed down four feet from the top and strongly stayed at G, where a strip six feet long and half a yard wide, G, H, I, D, should be sewed on from G to D, and from G to H, to lap for a door. The putting together is now simple, and by following the above directions a tent of any dimensions may be made.

A fly may be made by sewing together as many strips as are in the roof, and eighteen feet long. Some add another strip, to drop over at each end.

A tent made as above, 12x15, requires 97 yards of yard-wide cloth.