Welcome to the first post in the DIY Montessori toy series!

Thanks to a few scrap materials, this only cost $8. And that’s only because I splurged on the jacobean mini clothespins. But even if you’re making this from scratch, it would end up costing around $15 with craft store coupons or a trip to the thrift store.

I love this toy for the fine-motor skills and hand-eye coordination practice, as well as how it helps kids value taking care of clothing. Montessori toys are the best!

Toy age range: 3-6 yrs old (but my 20 month old still has fun with it)

Cost: $15 or less

Difficulty level: Medium because of power tools, but easy for a woodworking project

Time: 2-3 hours

This would be perfect to pull out for a “laundry play day.” Think of three stations such as a soap and water station for practicing cleaning washcloths or dirty farm animals, this small world clothesline activity for laundry hanging practice, and finally helping with the washer and dryer i.e. pouring in the soap, adding clothes into the washer, and getting to press the start button. You can even invite a fellow mom and her little one over for some good clean fun!

My original inspiration rings up at $35.

Nafees Creations

Super cute, but… you can DIY something for way cheaper.

DIY Rule: Only DIY if it saves money or is more beautiful.

Well, this definitely saves money. Check. And my cute little clothes have a ton more personality. Double check.

The biggest holdup is access to a few power tools, namely a drill press, chop saw, and sander. Technically you could make this using a handheld drill, hand saw, and sandpaper, but it may not be as precise as you’d like.

So does your father-in-law have these tools, or do any of your friends have a budding woodshop in their garage?

Start asking around–these are people you want to have in your life! And most power tool-owning people I know can be easily persuaded with baked goods. 😉

Also, you do NOT need to be a professional woodworker. I’m a total amateur with a few hand-me-down tools. But I’m proud to say I did this project 100% on my own! So come learn with me on my woodworking adventure, and have fun making a precious DIY Montessori toy for your little ones. Psst, our DIY watermelon lacing toy is coming soon. 🙂

Okay, so on to the project! You’re approximately only two nap times away from your very own unique and educational DIY Montessori mini clothesline activity.

(Some of the links below are affiliate links to products I genuinely recommend. If you make a purchase through these links I may earn a small portion of the profit with no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!)

Materials:

  • One 1/2 inch by 36 inch wooden dowel
  • One 3/16 inch by 12 inch wooden dowel
  • Wood base at least 3/4 inch thick (I used a thrifted cutting board)
  • Hot glue/wood glue
  • Round shoe lace
  • Mini clothespins (1 inch can be too small for little fingers, so I splurged on these adorable 1-7/8 inch clothespins)
  • Clothing–get tutorial here

Tools:

  • Drill press
  • Drill bits or frostner bits in 1/2 inch and 3/16 inch
  • Chop saw
  • Palm sander
  • Medium grit sandpaper
  • Bar clamp
  • Tape measurer
  • Pencil
  • Scissors
  • Protective ear and eyewear

*Technically you could get away with a handheld drill, a hand saw, and plain sandpaper, but these tools will make your life a LOT easier. Especially that drill press.*

How-to:

Wood Base

  1. Cut base to desired size. Mine is 6 1/2 by 10 inches and 3/4 inch deep.
  2. Use tape measure to mark four drill spots near corners for clothesline poles.
  3. Clamp wood base to drill press (or to scrap wood if using handheld drill).
  4. Using 1/2 inch drill bit, slowly drill half way down into wood base. (Don’t drill all the way through like I did with 3 out of 4 of the holes!)
  5. Sand any rough edges, splinters, and corners with palm sander. Roll up a piece of sandpaper the size of the holes to smooth out any remaining splinters.

Wooden Dowels

  1. Cut 1/2 inch dowel into four 7 inch long pieces using chop saw.
  2. Cut 3/16 inch dowel in half to make two 6 inch long pieces using chop saw.
  3. Sand away rough edges.
  4. Place thicker dowels into wooden base and check for uniformity in height. Sand down any that are too tall.
  5. Mark drill spot on thicker dowels 1 inch from the top.
  6. Clamp each thick dowel to drill press (or to scrap wood if using handheld drill).
  7. Using 3/16 drill bit, slowly drill through each dowel.
  8. Use a tightly rolled up piece of sandpaper to smooth any splinters around holes.

Assembly

  1. Using a twisting motion, work one of the thin dowels into a thick one. If it’s too snug, sand the hole with the tightly rolled up sandpaper.
  2. Add large dowel to other end of thin dowel, checking the spacing compared to the holes in the base.
  3. Repeat for remaining dowels.
  4. Once all four dowels align, add wood glue or hot glue to secure. If thick dowels do not fit, sand edges until they do.
  5. After wood is all in place, tie shoelace to thin dowels and secure with a double knot.
  6. Trim excess shoelace and add a dab of hot glue (or fray check or super glue) to edges to prevent fraying.
  7. Hang an item or two of clothing, then leave the rest of the clothes and clothespins on the board or in a small basket for your little ones to explore.

Tips:

Maybe these will be no brainer for you, but I definitely learned a trick or two to make your life easier.

  • Drill and cut slowly for less splintering.
  • Place a piece of scrap wood underneath when drilling for less splinters. (Learned this after I already finished drilling… oh well, yay for sandpaper!)
  • A clamp is totally necessary.
  • Practice your first holes on some scrap wood and scrap dowel to get a feel for each drill bit.
  • If your wood base is thick, don’t use a hole saw or it can get imbedded into your wood. Wow, that was a hot mess with a hammer and pliers.
  • Use a cloth to check for rough spots instead of your hand to avoid slivers.
  • Choose a thick enough shoelace or cord, otherwise the clothespins will not stay upright.
  • Imperfections add beautiful character and are a hallmark of handmade toys!

Overall, 9/10 would make again. It was straightforward, and the end result is both educational and charming. I love a good DIY Montessori toy, and so does my little one!

Please feel free to ask any questions!

Related: DIY Clothes for Montessori Clothesline

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