DIY Christmas gift: a tea towel monoprint

Step 1

Ask your little artist to think about who they’re making their tea towel for, and what kind of pattern they might like.

(Remember, whatever you paint will be printed in reverse. So if you’re including words, you may need to help with backwards writing.)

Step 2

Paint a cheery picture onto the plastic sheet. (If you want to make a tiled design, go right up to the edges.) You can also scrape some paint away with a dry brush to make more intricate patterns.

Step 3

Carefully lay the tea towel onto the print, and be extra careful not to let it slide around—otherwise you’ll blur your masterpiece.

Step 4

Put a piece of fabric over the top. With firm-ish pressure, use the wooden spoon to rub little circles over the print. If you want multiple images or a tiled effect, repeat the process to fill your towel.

Step 5

One for the grownups. When the print is complete, place a sheet of baking paper over the image and iron it on a medium-cool setting. Now it’s machine washable!

Step 6

Ta-da! A Christmas dishcloth of distinction. And don’t forget, you can use this technique on any fabric: t-shirts, handkerchiefs, curtains. Okay, not curtains.