How to Build an Easy Woven Stick Fort
Go to the general area you want your fort., Look around for big boulders, thick fallen trees, a stream, and/or open space., Mark out the space you want your fort., Gather long sticks that are 6 to 12 inches taller than as tall as you want your fort...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Go to the general area you want your fort.
This can be your backyard, a forested area, or really any place you want it. , These will be useful in building your fort., It can be as big as you want.
Start clearing away debris like leaves, grass, and sticks., They don't have to be huge, in fact, skinny branches about as wide as as a half dollar coin work very well., Do this about every 6 inches.
These will be the walls, so keep in mind that the boulders and fallen trees can act as walls for your fort, too.
Use those when you can., Keep a space clear for the door.,, These should be a minimum length of 15 inches., Place a 3 foot long stick with a similar width to the upright ones.
Weave it in and out of the upright sticks.
Do this the whole length of your fort.
In, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, making sure you alternate.
Most sticks will only go in and out of two sticks, so don't force them, or they will break.
Try to keep from having two consecutive layers of sticks both facing in or out. , It should resemble a bird's nest., Now, you want your insulation., Stuff it very tightly.
Remember that these will eventually dry out and become thinner, so keep a little extra on hand., This will stop anyone from peeking inside, stop extreme temperatures from getting in, and also provides a more professional look to the overall finish., Fill it halfway with water (this is why it is handy to have a stream nearby).
Fill the rest with dirt and a few torn up leaves.
The mix should be the consistency of sludge.
Then, using anything from your hands to a spoon, plop a bunch of the mixture onto the walls.
Keep mixing this until you have all the weak spots covered.
You can do the entire wall if you want.
Let it dry., Secure it by lashing twine, rubber bands or parachute cord to the rest of the fort so that it makes a door frame., Tie that to the top stick., This can be done with black walnut stains or paint., Gather more (yes, more) sticks if your fort is small.
If it is larger, consider a tarp or tin roof.,, The result should leave little shafts of light pouring into the fort., If you often get snow in your area, try not to make the roof too heavy- It could collapse., -
Step 2: Look around for big boulders
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Step 3: thick fallen trees
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Step 4: a stream
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Step 5: and/or open space.
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Step 6: Mark out the space you want your fort.
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Step 7: Gather long sticks that are 6 to 12 inches taller than as tall as you want your fort to be.
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Step 8: Make a hole in the ground as wide as your sticks and 5 to 12 inches deep around the edge of where you want your fort.
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Step 9: Insert the sticks into the holes and make sure they stay upright on their own.
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Step 10: If the sticks do not stay upright
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Step 11: dig the holes deeper and make sure the thicker end is at the bottom.
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Step 12: Gather more sticks of any width.
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Step 13: Start the bottom of the upright sticks by the door.
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Step 14: Keep layering your sticks until you have created a solid wall all the way up.
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Step 15: Ok. You have your walls and frame.
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Step 16: Gather leaves
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Step 17: or any plant that you can stuff into the frame.
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Step 18: Once you have your basic leaves and moss and grass shoved into the frame
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Step 19: consider covering weak parts of your insulation with mud.
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Step 20: If you do decide on mud
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Step 21: get a bucket like the kind you use to make sand castles at the beach or wash your car with.
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Step 22: Find a stick that spans across the door.
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Step 23: Find an old towel or something similar.
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Step 24: Dye the door to make it look more natural
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Step 25: if wished.
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Step 26: Every fort needs a roof.
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Step 27: If you choose to continue
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Step 28: crisscross the sticks across the fort.
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Step 29: Then do the same with smaller sticks to the bigger ones.
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Step 30: Layer leaves
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Step 31: grass and moss on top of the sticks and continue with mud
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Step 32: as for the insulation.
Detailed Guide
This can be your backyard, a forested area, or really any place you want it. , These will be useful in building your fort., It can be as big as you want.
Start clearing away debris like leaves, grass, and sticks., They don't have to be huge, in fact, skinny branches about as wide as as a half dollar coin work very well., Do this about every 6 inches.
These will be the walls, so keep in mind that the boulders and fallen trees can act as walls for your fort, too.
Use those when you can., Keep a space clear for the door.,, These should be a minimum length of 15 inches., Place a 3 foot long stick with a similar width to the upright ones.
Weave it in and out of the upright sticks.
Do this the whole length of your fort.
In, out, in, out, in, out, in, out, making sure you alternate.
Most sticks will only go in and out of two sticks, so don't force them, or they will break.
Try to keep from having two consecutive layers of sticks both facing in or out. , It should resemble a bird's nest., Now, you want your insulation., Stuff it very tightly.
Remember that these will eventually dry out and become thinner, so keep a little extra on hand., This will stop anyone from peeking inside, stop extreme temperatures from getting in, and also provides a more professional look to the overall finish., Fill it halfway with water (this is why it is handy to have a stream nearby).
Fill the rest with dirt and a few torn up leaves.
The mix should be the consistency of sludge.
Then, using anything from your hands to a spoon, plop a bunch of the mixture onto the walls.
Keep mixing this until you have all the weak spots covered.
You can do the entire wall if you want.
Let it dry., Secure it by lashing twine, rubber bands or parachute cord to the rest of the fort so that it makes a door frame., Tie that to the top stick., This can be done with black walnut stains or paint., Gather more (yes, more) sticks if your fort is small.
If it is larger, consider a tarp or tin roof.,, The result should leave little shafts of light pouring into the fort., If you often get snow in your area, try not to make the roof too heavy- It could collapse.,
About the Author
Linda Jordan
A passionate writer with expertise in organization topics. Loves sharing practical knowledge.
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