How to Make a Barbie Sofa From Cardboard

Every girl needs a place to sit and relax, and Barbie is no different. But she has an extra problem--she is quite tall and her legs don't bend at the knee. You can make a sofa for Barbie, but it needs some extra support so she can sit up with her book and glass of lemonade when entertaining an 8-year-old girl. You can make a sofa for Barbie with a large cardboard tissue box.

Things You'll Need

• Tissue box
• Scissors
• 12-inch square of quilt batting
• Clear packing tape
• Cotton cloth, 1/4 to 1/2 yard
• Thread and needle

Instructions

1. 

   Make sure that the Barbie doll can be set into the tissue box and will sit up straight. The height of the box must make it possible for the doll to sit upright. The legs need support past the knee area.

2. 

   Cut the back of the box top away, leaving about 1/4 inch of the top intact. This will support the doll's head. Cut the sides of the box top away also.

3. 

   Cut the side panels away at the front portion of the box. Shape the area in the rounded upright curve similar to a sofa arm.

4. 

   Cut the front side away, leaving a 1/4-inch front piece extending the entire length of the box. This will prop up the legs and keep the doll from falling off of the sofa.

5. 

   Slide the quilt batting into the open box. Secure it to the center of the upper back of the box with a small piece of clear packing tape.

6. 

   Tape both sides of the batting to the back sides of the box top. This will keep the batting in position.

7. 

   Run a line of tape down the entire length of the back of the sofa.

8. 

   Place cloth over the front of the box. Drape it over the top to cover the batting on the back of the piece. Place a small piece of tape to hold the cloth in place temporarily. Smooth cloth over the arms and seating area of the sofa. Adjust on the sides of the arms.

9. 

   Pull excess cloth from the sides to the back. Pull cloth from the top neatly down over the side excess. Pin in place with a straight pin. Repeat on the other side. Insert a threaded needle at the joining point where the pin is holding the cloth in place. Pull needle and thread through until the knotted end of the thread is hidden in the center of the cloth fold.

10. Use tiny stitches to sew the sides of the top of the sofa. Cut a piece of cloth to cover the entire back of the sofa. Pin over the back of the sofa about 1/2 inch from the top ridge. Hand-stitch in place.

11. Smooth the cloth on the seat and bottom of the Barbie doll sofa. Use needle and thread to make tiny stitches to secure the cloth at the bottom of each side of the sofa.