He's still tied to your apron strings, of course, but your little helper will feel so proud when he slips on his very own apron at the start of each kitchen task. And the design is as clever as can be: the towel-to-apron transformation is accomplished in just minutes with a few simple stitches. Hang the apron on a low hook so your child can reach it himself.

Materials

• Cotton, terry, or linen dish towel, washed and dried
• Iron
• Needle and embroidery thread

• Scissors
• 2 yards of 1/2- to 3/4-inch-wide ribbon
• Chopstick or pencil

Instructions

1. Fold over the top corners of the towel and press the creases flat with a hot iron.

2. Create sleeves for the ribbon by sewing a line of thread across each corner flap, parallel to the folded edge and about 1 inch from it.

3. Thread the ribbon up through one sleeve (use a chopstick or pencil to poke it through), then down through the other. Leave a loop at the top for your child's head and long strings hanging from both sides. Knot the ends of the ribbon so they won't pull through.

4. To shorten the apron -- and to add a useful pocket -- fold up the bottom of the dish towel to the desired length, then iron it flat. Sew the edges in place and, if you like, sew 2 lines down the front to create compartments.

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