While we were at the Rainbow Gathering recently I fell in love with Tipis. Well, I have actually had Tipi lust for years. There is something so simple yet so beautiful about these structures.

After talking to one guy who had made his own Tipi I was inspired to try making one.

My first attempt is to make a kids play Tipi, based on full-sized Tipi plans, so I can see if I think I'd be able to make a large one.

So I have started making one for the kids as a Christmas present.

The first run is the most difficult, actually has all the real work in; the smoke flaps, lifting straps, the button holes for the lacing pins.

I have done most the sewing now but got a bit stuck on how to do button holes. I haven't hand sewed button holes since my Nanna taught me how to do them when I was 15! I thought I might be able to do them on the sewing machine but this proved too tricky. So back to hand sewing them...

I started on the flap that goes underneath so you won't be able to see  my first couple of attempts. I started to get a bit neater after the sixth one!!! Only 24 more to go!

I finally finished this little skirt that has been sitting down the bottom of my crochet bag for about a month, and have started another pair of women's crocheted pants in purple.

So it looks like I will be busy for awhile...and then I've got a whole list of Christmas pressies to make!