A few of my favorite home tours of friends in Springfield (one blogged here) included hand-built, standing garment racks for their daughter's vintage dresses. They were both quite different and charming and I've wanted to make one for Ruby ever since! Seeing as I just fixed up my own closet space down in our basement I decided Ruby could use a smaller (less-expensive) garment rack of her own.
I decided on something that was tall enough to facilitate dresses as she grows and that could easily fold up to be moved, stored, or adjusted to a variety of width needs. As someone later pointed out, throw a vintage sheet over it and you've got yourself a fort. Or rather, when your pup tent has been outgrown or the kids aren't using it, turn it into a garment rack. Versatile is good. Great pup tent DIY here.
My supply list is slightly different than the image shares but here's what you'll need to make this garment rack.
SUPPLIES: 4 - 1" x 3" x 6' poplar boards, 3 - 1/2" x 48" poplar dowel rods, drill with 1/2" and 1/8" bits, 2 - screw eye hooks, 2' of chain, wire cutters, plyers, hand saw (or miter saw), pencil, tape measure, protective eye wear, gloves, cardboard, 80 grade sand paper, primer and paint (optional). One: Measure 4.5" up and mark across all four boards. Then measure back down 2.5" from your line and mark a dot in the center of each board. Repeat at the opposite end of each board. Two: Saw across your lines (very carefully and with protective gear). Three: Carefully drill a hole at each end of each board where you made a mark. Sand your boards making sure to sand down around the holes and the saw cuts. Wipe with damp paper towel. Four: Insert rods as shown in image to make sure they fit. The rods should fit snugly in the wood but still be able to adjust with pressure. If you'd like a fixed rack I suggest covering the ends of the rods with wood glue before inserting them through the boards. Five: You'll want to take the rods out and pre-drill a hole with a 1/8" bit about 12" up from the bottom of two boards. Screw in your screw eye hooks. Put rack back together. Six: Use wire cutters to cut your chain to desired width and plyers to attach one end to each screw eye hook. This will keep your rack from sliding too wide if it's loose or if your toddler wants to hang from it like a monkey.
Seven: If you'd like to paint your rack, I suggest one layer of white primer in either a spray paint or acrylic paint. Remove screw eye hooks. Let it dry according to manufacturer's directions. Follow with two coats of your color of choice. I used a black satin spray paint because i had it on hand. Eight: Once dry, reattach your screw eye hooks and enjoy.
As I was shooting the styled photos Ruby came bursting in to her room and, after deciding to remove her favorite boots from the scene, started pulling dresses and admiring them before putting them back. She does not need to be told twice how fun dresses can be and fully appreciates the spin factor.
I'm not sure if she loves dresses because she's been wearing them regularly since she was born or if she would've discovered her affinity for them on her own but it makes me so happy that she's into it. I'm pretty sure when I was a bit older than she is I would only wear leggings with shirts so I'm going to enjoy this phase while I can!
If you have the space I think this would make a great dress-up rack for super hero suits, capes, cowboy vests and hats, and all kinds of princess dresses. Plus, there's that fort option.
I'd love to see how you utilize your own DIY garment rack if you happen to use this tutorial. Thanks for linking back to this DIY if you repost.
-Rachel
Oh my goodness. this is seriously the cutest thing i have ever seen. I LOVE IT. Jennybodell.blogspot.com
Posted by: Jenny Stokes | 04/08/2012 at 09:35 PM
That is very creative and super cute!
I don't have children but I would SO do this for my shirts XD
Posted by: Victoria (Batzy) | 04/08/2012 at 09:42 PM
Such an amazing DIY, I love it! the idea of using it as a dress up rack is so cute.
Zoe
http://gypsiesister.blogspot.co.uk
Posted by: Zoe | 04/09/2012 at 12:14 AM
Love the spin action. Every dress should inspire a girl to spin!
Posted by: Carla's Inspirations | 04/09/2012 at 02:57 AM
Ruby is so sweet & obviously a super smart cookie... it is ALL about the spin factor & she has already figured that out! The best part of this tutorial is that in the end the children can reach their own things... I would think that would make them very happy little campers.
Posted by: Danielle | 04/09/2012 at 04:44 AM
ooooh I love this so much Rachel!!! I have the materials needed and I am going to do one for dress-up clothes!
Posted by: Account Deleted | 04/09/2012 at 07:32 AM
Thanks, everyone!
Posted by: Rachel Denbow | 04/09/2012 at 07:41 AM
Love that Ruby is checking out all her pretty dresses! Great tutorial, and it just looks darling with the little dresses. Hope your Easter was wonderful!
Posted by: ruthie | 04/09/2012 at 08:21 AM
omg she is so adorable! i would have loved this as a kid too.
Posted by: brittanyp | 04/09/2012 at 08:35 AM
Adorable!!!
Katie x
www.katiescreative.blogspot.com
Posted by: Katie | 04/09/2012 at 08:47 AM
A little fashionista in the making! Such a great idea to make something her size :)
Posted by: Hannah B. | 04/09/2012 at 09:11 AM
Thank you gor posting this Rachel! And you are completely right- it's a fabulous solution to storing costumes!!! I'm tired of having them under the bed in a storage box, all jumbled up.
Posted by: beetree | 04/09/2012 at 10:27 AM
So cute!
Posted by: Kristin | 04/09/2012 at 11:24 AM
Her dress collection is so adorable! Nicely done!
Posted by: Emma Erickson | 04/09/2012 at 12:10 PM
What a fun idea, it looks great!
Posted by: Kira | 04/09/2012 at 12:36 PM
This is such a cute idea. And miss Ruby is adorable spinning around in her dress. (I seriously wish I had her wardrobe!)
xo
cortnie
Posted by: tinyparticlesoflight | 04/09/2012 at 02:25 PM
Wow this turned out amazing! And I love the multi-use aspect. I wish I had kiddos to do this for! :)
Posted by: Trude | 04/09/2012 at 02:39 PM
Great DIY Ruby is the cutest!
Posted by: Misha Lulu | 04/09/2012 at 07:44 PM
this is super cute!
I just saw your "big girl" pipe on on A Beautiful Mess and had a question (I asked on there, but wasn't sure if you could respond!)...
I actually looked at making a rack like that a while ago but found that the pipe was actually quite expensive, do you mind me asking how much it cost to make yours? and where you got your pipes?
Posted by: Josie | 04/09/2012 at 07:47 PM
We have been struggling with a too small closet for our daughter's growing wardrobe so we may have to give this DIY a try...I love the idea of making one for her dress up clothes!
Posted by: Martha | 04/10/2012 at 06:50 AM
such a great idea. lula has one low rack in her closet that i've moved her "school-approved" clothes to so she can choose. she loves it!
Posted by: sarah jane | 04/10/2012 at 08:31 AM
I HAVE TO MAKE ONE FOR MY GIRLS!!!
Posted by: april | 04/10/2012 at 05:44 PM
this is super cute!
Posted by: amandaapparel | 04/11/2012 at 01:36 AM
Someone else with the old school little people tent trailer!! : )
Posted by: Jen | 04/11/2012 at 07:09 PM
Great idea. Wish I could make it sturdier for holding full size garments for shows. Love the portability.
Vintagehoneybee.blogspot.com
Posted by: Rachel | 04/12/2012 at 03:17 PM
This is so cute! It is such an awesome way to teach them to be a bit organized(:!
Posted by: alex | 04/14/2012 at 11:36 AM
Love this!! I'm a teacher and if I ever have a younger class I will definitely make this for dress ups!
xo Beck
P.S Ruby is the cutest!!
Posted by: Beck | 04/15/2012 at 02:36 PM