Growth Chart Pattern

© Kristen Lejnieks 1

“So Big!” Growth Chart by: Kristen Lejnieks

This beautiful, modern growth chart will allow you to keep track of your little ones’ growth in style. By upholstering a board with an easy pieced patchwork panel, you will create a lasting memento of how quickly your children are growing.

Materials: • 12” x 5’ board • 16” x 5’4” piece of low loft batting • Wonder-under or Steam-a-seam 2 • Picture Hanger Bracket • Staple Gun • 2 yards primary fabric (you can probably use less, but

you will have to piece the larger pattern pieces together)

• ½ yard linen fabric • Various cotton quilting fabrics in coordinating colors

(approximately 3 fat quarters) • ¼ yard white vinyl or pleather • 4’ 2” piece of measuring tape fabric or ribbon (such as

http://www.papiervalise.com/Provisions/Fabric/AP517%20Yellow%20Tape%20Measure.html or http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/Item--i-M-21081-15 or this http://www.jkmribbon.com/bobbin/vintage/90051267.html )

For my primary fabric, I used Amy Butler’s Coriander fabric in Clay. For my coordinating fabrics, I used two green prints from Joelle Hoverson’s Cake Rock Beach collection, as well as various green and orange prints from my stash. I used the Wee Play by American Jane ruler fabric, but I think it may have been easier to use a ruler ribbon. I purchased the white vinyl at the remnants table of a large chain fabric store. Step 1: Cut Your Fabrics

• Top: o 2 – 10.5” strips of

measuring tape

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o 1 – 14.5” by 10.5” piece of primary fabric o 1 – 12.5” by 10.5” piece of coordinating fabric

• Main Panel: o 4 – 9.5” by 10.5” pieces of linen o 4 – 9.5” by 2.5” pieces of your coordinating cotton print fabrics, including

one piece from primary fabric o 1 – 4’ 2” piece of measuring tape fabric or ribbon o 1 - 4’ 2” by 9.5” piece of vinyl o 1 – 4’2” by 8.5” piece of primary fabric

• Bottom: o 1 – 2.5” by 12” piece of coordinating fabric o 1 – 2.5” by 16” piece of coordinating fabric o 1 – 8.5” by 28.5” piece of primary fabric

Step 2: Assemble the Fabric Panel

• Assemble top and bottom according to diagram using ¼” seams.

• For main panel: o First sew one 2.5” strip to each

piece of linen. Check to be sure that each new unit measures 12.5” by 9.5”.

o Sew the four linen units together, alternating the green and orange prints.

o Using templates, wonder-under, and coordinating cotton fabrics, appliqué numbers to linen panel. (For an excellent machine appliqué tutorial, see Oh Fransson’s tutorial on sewmamsew.com http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=518).

o Next, sew the ruler fabric strip or ribbon along the right side of the panel.

o Sew the vinyl piece along the right side of the ruler.

o Sew the large primary fabric piece to the left side of the linen panel

• Sew top and bottom panels to the main panel.

Step 3: Upholster

• On a large flat surface, lay down the fully assembled fabric panel.

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• Center batting over the fabric panel. • Center board over batting and fabric panel. • Starting on the long edges, stretch fabric panel around board and secure with

staple gun. Make sure to stretch the fabric taut as you go, eliminating any wrinkles. While stapling, fold raw edges under.

Step 4:

• Nail picture hanger to the back. • Hang and enjoy! Use a permanent marker to mark your child’s height on the

white vinyl strip.

© Kristen Lejnieks 4