Monday, June 18, 2012

Toddler Towel Wrap

My thoughtful and loving husband gave me a hot pink towel Snuggie last year as a gift and it has remained in the packaging on the shelf ever since. Don't get me wrong, I love me some hot pink, but head to toe with long sleeves seemed a little excessive. So, in my compulsion to find a use for all the things we have around the house, I decided to make J a towel wrap for the pool. She's always trying to wrap our big towels around herself like I do but, being that she is quite a bit smaller than me, she doesn't make it very far.

What you Need
*Lightweight towel fabric
*Matching thread
*Velcro
*1 1/2 in thick elastic

(Keep in mind that the dimensions will depend on the size of your child so make sure to do your measurements and alter as necessary!)

First I measured J's chest which was 19 inches around. 
I cut my fabric to 33 x 26 inches with one side and the bottom already hemmed (so add an inch to each if you are starting with a completely unfinished fabric.)
Then hem the top with a two inch sleeve for your elastic. Pull your elastic through and sew in place along the already hemmed side. I sewed a box with a cross through it to hold the elastic. 
 Bunch up the elastic to the desired amount and sew the other end of the elastic in place.
 Then hem your unfinished length. (You can also add a colorful ribbon if you don't want your towel to be so plain.) My length and width turned out to be about 24 inches unstretched. 
Add your velcro once you are finished all of the other steps. And if you want straps, add them last. My straps unhemmed(right) were 12 x 3 inches.

J looks happy here but she actually didn't like the towel wrap at all the start with. She kept saying "Not pretty, Mommy." Lol! But, I'm happy to report, that after 2 or 3 weeks... she's getting used to it! I may need to add a Barbie patch or something! =)