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A collapsible A-frame kids' tent from six pine boards, bolts, and two tab-top curtain panels. No sawing joints — just drill, bolt, and thread curtains.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tent legs | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 72" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Roof ridge | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 72" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Floor rails Have the 1x3x6 cut in half at the store. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 36" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1x2 pine, 6 ft (select) Four legs, one roof ridge. | 5 each | ☐ |
| 1x3 pine, 6 ft (select) Cut in half into two 3-ft floor rails. | 1 each | ☐ |
| Hex bolts, 8mm x 50mm, with nuts Frame pivots. | 2 each | ☐ |
| Hex bolts, 8mm x 60mm, with nuts Floor-rail corners. | 4 each | ☐ |
| Hex nuts, 8mm | 6 each | ☐ |
| Tab-top curtain panels, 84 in | 2 each | ☐ |
| Felt strip To cover staples. | 1 each | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Tape Measure. Materials: 1x2 pine, 6 ft (select)
Line up four of the 1x2 legs and wrap painter's tape around them to hold the boards flush. At the non-taped end, measure a straight line across all four boards about 8" from the top. Marking all four at once guarantees the holes line up.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Drill Bit Set. Materials: 1x2 pine, 6 ft (select)
Using your straight line as a reference, mark the center of each 1x2 as the drill point, and drill all four legs at those marks.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Hex bolts, 8mm x 50mm, with nuts
Use one 50mm bolt and nut to attach two legs together at the drilled holes, finger-tight so the frame can still pivot. Repeat with the other two legs. You now have two X-frames.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Drill Bit Set. Materials: 1x3 pine, 6 ft (select), Hex bolts, 8mm x 60mm, with nuts
Place a 1x3x3 floor rail about 1/4" off the ground and mark a drill spot 1/2" from its edge, and a matching spot 1/2" from the edge of the 1x2 leg. Drill both boards, then use one 60mm bolt per corner to attach the floor rails to the opposite outside legs.
Materials: 1x2 pine, 6 ft (select), Tab-top curtain panels, 84 in
Use the last 1x2 as the roof ridge. Thread it through alternating curtain tabs from two separate panels, with the right side of the curtains facing out, so the fabric hangs down both sides of the tent.
Tools: Staple Gun.
Lay the tent down for access to the underside of the floor rails. Pull the fabric tight, down and around each 1x3 rail, and staple all the way across, keeping it taut. Cover the staples with a felt strip so little fingers don't find them.
Stand the tent up where you want it, tighten all the nuts with a wrench, and optionally anchor the back legs to a wall for a permanent spot. Load in pillows, lights, and books.