First we cut out four lengths of 5 yards and 26 inches each.  The strips were basted together, lapping the edges 1 inch and making a piece 17 feet 2 inches long by 9 feet 9 inches wide.  Mother sewed the breadths together on the machine, using a double seam, as in sail making; that is, two parallel rows of stitching were sewed in; one along each overlapping edge, as shown in Fig. 38.  A 1 inch hem was then turned and sewed at the ends of the goods, so that the piece measured exactly 17 feet long.  It served for the roof and side walls of the tent.  Our next operation was to cut three strips 11 feet long, and sew them together with a double seam as before.  This piece was now slit along the center line m, Fig. 39, making two lengths 3 feet 8 inches wide.  The strips were then cut along the diagonal lines a a, forming the end walls or doors, so to speak, of the tent.  In sewing on the door flaps we started first at the bottom of the side c, sewing it to the side edge of the main piece, as shown in Fig. 40, and running the seam up for a distance of exactly 3 feet 6 inches.  After all the door strips had been sewed along their c edges the sewing was continued up the diagonal or a edges.  In cutting out the door pieces we had allowed 1 inch on each side for hems and seams, so that the door pieces met without lapping at the exact center of the main or body piece, that is, at the peak of the tent.

Our next step was to fasten the necessary ropes and loops.  Ten 8-foot lengths of light rope were procured.  These were fastened at the top of the side walls, that is, 3 feet 6 inches from the ends of the main or body piece, one at each corner and one on each seam.  The cloth was strengthened at these points with patches sewed on the inside.  At the bottom of the side walls we sewed on loops of heavy tape.  These were spaced about 15 inches apart.  Along the b edges of the door pieces tie strings of tape were fastened.  A rope 15 feet long was attached to the peak at the front and at the rear of the tent.  The front and rear posts of the tent were made from scantlings measuring 2 by 4 inches, which were procured from Mr. Schreiner’s lumber yard.  They were planed smooth and sawed off to a length of 7 feet 6 inches.  A slot was cut in the end of each stick to a depth of 6 inches and measuring slightly over an inch in width.  For the ridge pole a strip 1 inch thick, 2-1/2 inches wide and 10 feet long was secured.  This was fitted into the slotted ends of these posts, where it was fastened by wooden pegs slipped into holes drilled through the ends of the posts and the ridge pole.  A number of these peg holes were provided, so that if the canvas stretched the ridge pole could be raised or lowered to prevent the walls from dragging on the ground.  We set up the tent in our back yard to see if it was properly constructed.  Twelve stakes were required, ten for the sides and one for the ridge stays at the front and rear.  The side stakes were driven into the ground at a distance of about 8 feet from the center of the tent.  First we tied the guy ropes to the stakes, but later we found it much easier to secure them with tie blocks.