DIY growth chart for the grandbabies

I love chasing rabbit trails, especially ones that involve internet exploration and research. I recently saw a growth chart on Pinterest, which made me realize I wanted to get one so we could record our grandchildren over the coming years. I thought that it might be a fun activity to do with the grandkids each birthday. I browsed Pinterest and Etsy to get ideas. I wanted something creative, but simple. When I stumbled across a growth chart that looks like a giant measuring tape, I decided that would be perfect! I bought some screen printed fabric from NightGarden Supplies. She also sells yardage through Spoonflower. I thought I’d share it with you since it didn’t take long to put together and I really liked the end result.

Here is the simple tutorial for a DIY growth chart. NightGarden also has instructions on her blog, but I did a few things slightly different.

First, I wanted my growth chart to be pretty sturdy so I decided to back it with some heavy painter’s canvas that I had left over from my painting days. I cut a piece of canvas just a little narrower than the width of my growth chart. I had to use two pieces of canvas, so I joined them by butting the ends and zigzaging them together. Then I took some scraps of Lite Steam-a-Seam II and fused them around the perimeter of the growth chart on the back. I fused the canvas to the growth chart and then ironed the extra fabric to the back.

Because I had cut my canvas a little narrower, I was able to wrap the growth chart slightly to the back so no white fabric would show. I turned under the raw edge and stitched 1/4″ away from the edge. I wanted the top and bottom of my growth chart to look like the metal tabs that are typically on the ends of standard tape measures, so I bought some silver pleather. Unfortunately, it was a little too shiny and “new” looking so I “aged” it a bit with some Tsukineko All-Purpose Ink. I debated sewing the pleather tabs in place but I didn’t like the idea of stitching showing, so I glued the pleather to each end with some Tacky Glue.

I wanted the “metal” tabs to have holes on each end so I could hang the chart on the wall, and I wanted the grommets to be in scale with the giant measuring tape so I got some extra large, silver drapery grommets. The package comes with a template so you can cut the right size hole.

Then you just position the grommets and snap the two pieces together. You have to press them really hard before it snaps. I really like how it looked once it was all assembled. I celebrating by immediately writing all the birth information for Amalya and Hazel.

Now it’s time for the proud Grandma moment. I love Hazel in this beautiful little sundress.

And, if you’ve followed my blog for a while, you know our first grandson, Amalya, inspired DD#2 to create a website called Purposeful Gift. She just recently wrote a blog about the Importance of Heart Valve donations that I found really interesting. Maybe you will too.