How to Build a Portable Fort for Children

Buy fabric for the fort based upon a theme. For example, you can choose western, outer space, animal, jungle, popular movie characters, castles, princesses, flowers, or race car fabric. Whatever you choose, keep the personality of the child in mind. The fabric should be fairly heavy weight and sturdy so that it can hold up to the activities of children.

Wash and dry the fabric so that it will shrink. Iron the fabric to make it easier to work with.

Cut out the fort pieces in preparation of sewing them together. Follow these guidelines when cutting the fabric. Cut a 27 x 33 inch piece of fabric for the top of the table. Cut two 33 x 20 pieces of fabric for the front and back. Cut two 27 x 20 inch pieces of fabric for the sides. Cut a 16 x 15 inch door out of the door fabric. Cut curtain pieces out of the curtain color at 8 x 8 inches.

Lay the front piece on a solid surface. Cut out the door hole in the center. The hole should be the same size as the door, 16 x 15 inches.

Lay the side pieces on a solid surface. Cut out the windows in the center of each piece to approximately 8 x 8 inches.

Cover all of the raw-edged openings of the doors and windows with the double-fold bias tape using a sewing machine.

Sew one side of a velcro strip along the right side of the door opening so the door can be closed. Sew one side of a velcro strip along the top side of each window so you can hang the curtains.

Finish off the door piece by hemming it all the way around or covering the raw edges with bias tape. Attach one side of a velcro strip on the right side of the door opening.

Finish off the raw edges of the curtains in the same way as you did the door. Attach one side of velcro to the top edge of the curtains.

Sew the door to the door opening on the front piece, on the left side. This will serve as a door hinge. The velcro on the door will attach to the other side of the opening so the fort door can be closed.

Sew the fort sides and top together. With right sides together, pin the four sides together, making sure the front is in front and the back is in back and the windows are not upside down. Sew along the edges with a ¾-inch seam allowance. With right sides together sew the top of the fort to the four sides. Double stitch all seams for stability. Hem the bottom of the fort or finish it off with bias tape.