First, cut a piece of cotton print fabric to 10 inches wide by 61 inches long.

Print out full size templates using embroidery software. Trim the designs to be easier to work with during this process.

Lay the material flat and right side up. To position the templates evenly from top to bottom, find the center of the fabric.  Measure 30 1/2 inches from either of the ends and also find the center from both sides. Mark the center point on the  fabric.

Also, find the center point of each of the designs.

Poke a hole in the center of the template and mark the fabric. Also mark the horizontal and vertical axis lines.

Remove the template and draw lines connecting the horizontal and vertical lines.  These lines will be used for hooping.

Repeat the centering and marking process for each of the designs.

Cut piece of stabilizer and spray with adhesive before  hooping.  Align the marks on the fabric with the hoop's lines.

Attach the hoop to the machine, load the design, align the needle directly over the center point on the fabric and embroider the design.

After the design is been embroidered, unhoop the fabric and carefully trim away the excess stabilizer leaving about 1/2 inch around the design. 

Repeat the hooping and embroidering process for each of the designs.

To create the marking panel, cut a piece of muslin fabric to 6 1/2 inches wide x 61 inches long.

Lay the embroidered fabric right side up and lay the muslin fabric on top, aligning it with the right side of the embroidered fabric. Pin along the edge.

Sew a 1/2 inch seam along the pinned edge only.

Press the seam open along the back of the panels.

Cut a piece of backing fabric to 15 1/4 wide x 61 inches long. Lay the front panel and the backing fabric right sides together.

Pin together along the sides and bottom, leaving the top unpinned.

Sew a 1/2 inch seam along the sides and bottom.

Turn the fabric right side out and press the seams.   

Fold the top down edge about 1/2 inch and press in place.

Create the pocket for the dowel by the folding the top edge over the back 1 1/2 inch. Pin in place.

Sew the fold in place by sewing along the bottom edge of the fold.

Top stitch the outer and inner seams of the front of the panel. The project pictures show a 12 weight wool thread to add extra texture. Use a 110/18 needle to accommodate the thick thread.

Be careful not to sew over the dowel pocket.

To add the measuring tape use double stick tape on the back side of the tape measure every few inches. Press into place along the right side of the muslin panel.

Sew along each side of the measuring tape using monofilament nylon thread.

Again, be careful not to sew over the dowel pocket. trim off the excess measuring tape at the top of the panel where it meets the bottom of the dowel pocket.

Use a small hand saw to cut the dowel to 16 1/2 inches. Insert the dowel into the pocket.

To create a ribbon hanger, create a loop at the end of the ribbon. Remove the ribbon from the dowel and neatly stitch loop in place.

Allowing some slack, create another loop on the other end of the dowel.

Remove and sew the loop in place. Trim the ribbon off the spool.

Use a fabric pen or fine tip permanent marker when marking the muslin fabric.

Way to grow! Now you can chart the growth of your children from baby to teenager with this soon-to-be family heirloom.