How to Make a Doll Quilt

Children love to be mommy or daddy to their dolls. Encourage them to nurture their “babies” by making a simple, handmade doll quilt for them.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• 5 fat quarters in coordinating patterned fabrics (found in the quilter’s section of your local fabric store)
• Cotton batting
• Thread
• Needle
• Pins
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Self-healing cutting mat
• Rotary cutter
• Ruler
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Embroidery hoop

1. Wash and dry the fabric to preshrink it, making sure to place the fabric in lingerie bags to minimize fraying during the wash cycle.
2. Determine which patterned fabric will be used for each of the following sections: quilt backing, large squares, quilt trim pieces and the short and long rectangle pieces (you can alternate two patterned fabrics with the rectangle pieces if you’d like).
3. Use the rotary cutter, self-healing cutting mat and ruler to cut out six of each of the following pieces: 4-by-4 inch large squares, 2-by-4 inch rectangles and 2-by-6 inch rectangles.
4. Take one of each sized piece and arrange them into 6-by-6 inch squares. You will have six of these square quilt blocks once you’ve arranged all the pieces.
5. Arrange the six quilt blocks into a 12-by-18 inch rectangle.
6. Review the quilt layout and make any final changes.
7. Sew the pieces together one quilt block at a time. Begin by pinning then stitching the square and short rectangle together then pin and attach the long rectangle (right sides together). There may be a bit of extra fabric hanging over on one corner of the long rectangle after you’ve sewn it to the other pieces; use your rotary cutter to trim it off.
8. Press open each seam with the hot iron.
9. Repeat Steps 7 and 8 with each quilt block.
10. Pin pairs of quilt blocks right sides together, stitch them together with a ¼-inch seam then press open the seams with a hot iron.
11. Pin the final three pieces together with the right sides facing each other then stitch them together with a ¼-inch seam. Press open the seams with a hot iron.
12. Cut a piece of batting to fit the quilt you just made then baste it to the wrong side of the quilt.
13. Use the rotary cutter, cutting mat and ruler to cut four 2-inch wide rectangles down the length of the fabric you selected for the trim pieces.
14. Pin each length to the quilt with the right sides of the fabric together. Stitch each piece in place with a ¼-inch seam. You will have extra length hanging off of each end for creating mitered corners.
15. Press open each seam with the hot iron.
16. Pin the extra lengths together at each corner to form the mitered corners of the quilt. Stitch from the outside of the corner toward where all the fabric pieces meet, leaving a ¼-inch seam allowance.
17. Press open each mitered corner seam with the hot iron.
18. Pin the quilt backing to the quilt with the right sides together. Stitch together with a ¼-inch seam, leaving a small hole for turning the quilt right side out.
19. Turn the quilt right side out, slip stitch the hole closed, attach the embroidery hoop then hand stitch around each seam to give the quilt a finished look.

Tips & Warnings

• Take your time when cutting out the pieces for the quilt. Each piece needs to be cut perfectly so that all the corners meet when you stitch the quilt blocks together.