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Make Quilts and Accessories for Dolls
Dolls
& Costumes Website
Susan Kramer
susan@susankramer.com
Dolls sitemap with
many patterns
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1. How to Make a Quilted Doll Blanket |
5. Rectangular Appliqued Doll Blanket |
Sewing a doll blanket is a fun beginning project before trying the intricacies of
making doll clothes and costumes. An older child could try this project.
It is a good way to use scraps of fabric from different sewing projects and can
be a welcome present that only costs the thread to sew it!
If you use centimeters, the conversion is 1 = 2.5cm.
The finished size of this blanket is 21 by 24 and is made with just 2
alternating colors.
Each finished square is 3 by 3 with 7 rows across and 8 rows down.
- Cut each square 3.5 by 3.5 to allow one quarter inch seam allowance on all
sides of the square.
- Youll need 28 squares of plain fabric and 28 squares of print fabric. I use
cotton so it shrinks evenly when washed. It is lightweight enough to go in the
home washer with towels of similar color.
- Lay out your pattern in 7 strips of 8 squares each.
- Sew squares together in each strip, end to end.
- Last of all, sew all strips together to finish the
quilt.
- For the lining, lay your finished quilt, right sides facing on your backing
material, pin down and cut out backing along outside edges of quilt. With Ό
seam allowance sew all around border except for a 6 gap for turning right side
out. Clip corners, turn, press, blind stitch opening closed.
- Did you think I forgot to tell you about the stuffing? No. A doll
blanket needs to be flexible and just the quilt topping and backing make it
thick enough!
- Now, by hand or machine, top stitch ½ in from the edges to hold the blanket
shape. A finishing touch I like is to embroider the initials of the child it is
for in one corner of the top. If youd like, hand or machine stitch across the
blanket in the middle, left to right, and top to bottom.
Article and photo credit Susan Kramer
Are you pressed for time but would still like to make a doll blanket?
They easiest way I've found is to use a patterned pillowcase and stitch across
the open end.
If you have an hour or more for your project, use your sewing machine to make a
quilt block like I show here in the photo.
Directions to make the quilt block are above in the previous quilt, number 1.
Carefully center it on the pillowcase, baste it in place and finally sew
through the layers.
Notice that I did not use any inner batting or stuffing for this doll blanket. That
is intentional. A doll blanket needs to be thin to easily wrap around a doll.
Some Tips
- Preshrink cotton pillowcases and all quilt pieces.
- Use contrasting colors for background and foreground.
- If 2 pillowcases come in the pack make similar doll blankets with each.
Now you have some ideas to make original and special doll blankets!
Article and photo credit Susan Kramer
This flying feather quilt pattern for doll blankets is my design inspired by
early American and native American quilts.
It is made of 20 4-inch squares. Each square is made with half white and half
patterned material. See the close-up view below.
When assembling the squares for stitching together, the feather pattern is made
by turning the patterned sides of the squares together and then stitching to
make a rectangle.
Next make 2 horizontal lines of the finished rectangles lined up vertically.
Stitch longer, vertical sides together, then stitch
the 2 horizontal sections together.
I appliqued the completed 20-square block to a pillow case and top-stitched
around the edges of the pillow case and around each square to finish it.
No need to use an inner layer on doll quilts. They need to be flexible enough
to wrap around dolls!
But, if you really want a little thickness I recommend a thin layer of
polyester fiberfill.
Article and photo credits Susan Kramer
Here are instructions to make a 22 inch by 30 inch doll blanket featuring 2
appliqued squares.
Details of how to make the edging stitch are here.
If you use centimeters, the conversion is 1 inch = 2.5cm.
You may share this pattern with others using your own creative changes.
Supplies
- 1 yard (1 meter) of the main color (green floral in the photo).
- One third yard (one third meter) of the largest appliqued square which is the
contrasting color (pink in the photo).
- A 6 inch by 6 inch swatch for the smallest square (green floral in the
photo).
- Embroidery floss for the outline decorative trim.
- Heavy duty thread for the applique work. I use quilting thread.
- A thin layer of polyester batting for the middle layer.
Note: I use cotton fabric so it all pieces of fabric shrink evenly when
washed. Also, cotton is lightweight enough to go in the home washer with towels
of similar color. I recommend pre-washing fabric.
Construction
1. If you are using 44-45 inch wide material, use the width folded in
half and cut the length at 30.5 inches allowing for a half inch hem.
2. After hemming the long edge, lay in the thin layer of polyester batting.
Then fold in the end one half inch and blind stitch seam.
3. Temporarily baste in a crisscross pattern over the doll blanket to hold the
batting in place. Later the applique work will hold the batting in place.
4. Cut the larger square 12.5 inches square and turn in the edges one quarter
inch and iron to crease.
5. Cut the smaller square 6.5 inches square in turn in the edges one quarter inch
and iron to crease.
6. Using the photo as an example applique the smaller square onto the larger
square.
7. Applique the larger square (with the smaller square already attached) onto
the large batted rectangle. Go through all layers of fabric when appliqueing
the large square on so that the batting is held in place.
8. If you like, use the decorative edging stitch all around the outside edge to
finish the doll blanket nicely. (The link for this stitch is above.) Enjoy
this little doll blanket!
Article and photo credit Susan Kramer
Here are instructions to make a 21 by 24 appliqued doll blanket. Details of
how to make the edging stitch are here.
If you use centimeters, the conversion is 1 = 2.5cm.
You may freely share this pattern with your friends.
Youll need Ύ yard of the main color (pink in the photo) and ½ yard of the
contrasting color (blue). I use cotton so it shrinks evenly when washed. It is
lightweight enough to go in the home washer with towels of similar color.
- Out of the main color cut a strip 24.5 by 42.5 going across fabric and fold
right sides together. Stitch using Ό seam allowance along free edges leaving
6 open.
- Clip corners, turn right side out and blind stitch opening closed.
- Now you have a finished rectangle 21 by 24.
- The blue rectangle is constructed next by cutting out a piece of material
17.5 by 20.5. Turn under Ό seam allowance all around and press.
- Lay over top of the main color and measure all around to be sure you have 2
of the main color showing as in photo. Pin in place and top stitch through all
layers of quilt.
- The small pink square is the last addition. Cut a 6.5 diameter square from the
main color. Turn under Ό seam allowance all around, press material, center
square so points are midway between corners of the blue rectangle and evenly
centered. Top stitch close to edge all around and through all
layers.
- To finish doll quilt, either top stitch ½ in from outer edge of quilt all
around, or use decorative
edging stitch as in photo.
This appliqued doll quilt is thick enough so you dont need to add in any more stuffing.
On the back side of the quilt the top stitching makes a nice geometric pattern;
so the quilt is really reversible!
Tips
- I use quilting thread for top stitching for its strength; single strand is
enough.
- Contrasting fabric works nicely as it creates an active pattern.
Article and photo credit Susan Kramer
Doll blankets are such fun to make because, unlike those for babies, kids or
adults they can be completed relatively quickly! The finished diameter is 20
inches (50cm). If you use centimeters, the conversion is 1 inch equals 2.5cm.
This round doll blanket is offset with just one circle applique. And, the way
it is set up, the shapes and colors bounce off each other. I purposely used
blue in both circles to tie the design together.
If you have some lengths of fabric stashed away, lay two at a time next to each
other to see how the colors and patterns work together.
When you are all done sewing, choose the color embroidery floss for the
decorative edging stitch that compliments the colors. Details of how to make
the edging stitch are on page 5.
Supplies
- Two thirds yard of 44 to 45 inch cotton fabric for background and lining.
- One half yard of contrasting fabric for the 14 inch (35cm) inner circle.
- Contrasting 6 strand embroidery floss for the decorative edging.
- Either matching or contrasting quilting thread.
Construction
1. Large circle: Fold material in half length
wise, right sides together. Using a large bowl trace a big circle and cut out.
2. Sew pieces together all around the outside edge leaving enough space to turn
right side out.
3. Turn in remaining opening and blind stitch closed.
4. Iron circle. You now have made the lining and front. This doll blanket does
not need polyester fiberfill - it folds easier around your smaller dolls
without it.
5. Repeat the procedure making a smaller circle.
6. Lay the smaller circle in the center of the right side of the larger circle.
First pin in place, then baste in place.
7. Using small quilting stitches sew the small circle on the larger circle.
8. Sew the decorative edging stitch all around the outer edge of the larger
circle. Directions of how to do the stitch are above.
Voila! You have a very interesting doll blanket sure to make any small doll
cozy. This design can also be used as a doll bed coverlet. And didn't I tell
you it wouldn't take very long to make!
Article and photo credit Susan Kramer
This is an easy to sew fabric doll clothes or accessory case.
The finished dimensions of the case in the photo is 11
inches (27.5cm) long and 8 inches (20cm) wide. But you could make any size to
suit the dolls wardrobe needs.
Youll need 2 pieces of material, each 36 inches (90cm) long by 9 inches
(22.5cm) wide. And, an 18 inch (45cm) length of ribbon for
the closure.
To sew
Align your two pieces of material, right sides together and stitch around the
outside border with half inch (1.25cm) seam allowance leaving a space open.
Clip seams at corners, then turn right side out, blind stitch opening and
press.
To form the finished case, fold the length into thirds as in the photos.
Blind stitch together the sides of the back with the
folded over section that will hold the clothes.
The final open section is laid over the top - think how a purse is.
Cut the length of ribbon in half and blind stitch each ribbon to the case as in
photos.
Voila! You have a soft and washable case to keep those precious doll clothes or
accessories safe!
Article and photo credits Susan Kramer
This is an easy project with a big reward. It keeps doll clothes instantly
available hanging in the closet or wardrobe chest right along with your child's
own outfits.
I got the idea from seeing a few large safety pins in the bottom of my sewing
basket - the size I use to pin layers of a comforter together before tufting.
Actually they are probably just the largest multipurpose size available
anywhere safety pins are sold.
I've seen them in craft and fabric stores - even the large grocery stores and
drug stores. Alternately, you could use diaper pins, available wherever baby
products are sold.
Supplies for this very easy project to make one hanging doll clothes bag:
- One pillow case.
- 6 very large safety pins.
- Five feet strong ribbon about one half inch wide; I prefer cross grain ribbon
for this project.
- One sturdy plastic molded hanger (the kind that are usually sold 5 or 10 to a
packet).
To make
1. Take the pillow case and fold the hem of the open end in half toward
the outside. This will be about 2 inches folded over.
2. Using the 6 large safety pins - pin the folded over hem in place all around.
Use 3 safety pins on each side evenly spaced. The pins should be attached so there
is a casing formed near the new fold edge. If the fold over is 2 inches then
place the pins at 1 inch.
3. Looking face on at the pillow, like in the photo, start at the left side of
the center safety pin and run the ribbon through the loose casing you have
formed, and bring the end out on the right side of the center safety pin that
you started threading the ribbon around. This secures your ribbon in position.
4. Tie a knot in the two ends of the ribbon.
5. Pull the ribbon on the knotted ends to gather the opening of the pillow case
slightly.
6. Slip the knotted loop of ribbon over the neck of the hanger part that sits
on the clothes rod.
Voila! Instant doll clothes fabric case - all ready to hang in the closet
alongside blouses or dresses to keep those precious doll clothes handy!
If your daughter or granddaughter has several dolls with lots of clothes you
may want to make a couple or several of these no sew hanging bags. Two would be
easy enough since two pillowcases usually come in one package.
Article and photo credit Susan Kramer
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Ebook and
Paperback Patterns:
Clothes
Patterns for Preemies - Premature Babies
ebook of full size patterns
Boy Doll Clothes 18
Inches and Smaller
ebook of full size patterns
E-pattern by Susan Kramer
E-pattern by Susan Kramer
Raggedy
Andy Doll Clothes Pattern
For 15 to 18 Inch Dolls
E-pattern by Susan Kramer
Charlotte Doll Body and
Dress Full Size Patterns
Inspired by doll of Laura Ingalls Wilder
E-patterns by Susan Kramer
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How to Sew Cloth Dolls and
Costumes |
Medium Doll Clothes with
Full Size Patterns |
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Baby Christening Gown |
Royal Bridesmaid |
Bunny
Doll E-Pattern by Susan Kramer
~ please visit
again soon! ~
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My friend Mieke Blockland, here
in Holland, does beautiful work with machine embroidery. Take a look at what
she can embroider for you: http://www.miekeskreaateljee.nl/
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page updated March 10, 2009, September 21, 2012
Dolls sitemap with
many patterns