Tip - Getting elastic back into children tent poles

Luath’s tent has elasticated poles which were great until the elastic popped out and then it made it almost impossible to erect the tent.  Getting the elastic back in is a bit tricky.  There might be a better way but this is what I found worked best for me.
Tools – a blunt needle (knitting sewing needle), a knitting needle (or similar) with a head that just fits into tube – doesn’t have to be very long , a pencil, a short screwdriver with a decent handle (really it is the handle that is important, something you can put a bit of pressure on if the needle and pencil get jammed).  A second person would make things easier

The first few poles are quite easy as the elastic is loose.  Thread elastic onto sewing needle, drop it down pole using gravity to help it through.  Once the elastic starts getting tighter, pull on the elastic to stretch and then use one hand to keep the tension on.  Place sewing needle into pole (I found you needed to keep a finger on the needle, elastic to keep it in pole).  Use head end of knitting needle to push down on sewing needle.  Keep pushing until knitting needle is all the way in. 
 
Place the pencil into pole and push down.  Sometimes the sewing needle with elastic will come out, other times it gets a bit jammed so you also need to use the screwdriver to push the pencil and knitting needle further down into pole, which then brings the elastic out.  Keep a tight hold of the elastic before you remove anything else.  I lost the proper stopper so used a large button instead.
 
Make sure that you line the poles up so you don’t do what I did and miss a joining section and had to undo some of my work.
(Luath is 29 months)