How to Make an American Girl Doll Quilt and Mattress

American Girl Doll accessories are easy to make. How about a quilt made with "High School Musical" fabric or "Hello Kitty" or "Hannah Montana" fleece? Easily add a "quilt" design to the doll quilt with the sewing machine. The fleece is especially easy to use because it doesn't have to be finished on the sewing machine, just cut a blanket and go! You want your little girl to have clothes and accessories for her doll. Even in these tough times the dolls can still be stylish. Remnants are always a good buy. Sometimes there is delicate eyelet fabric, sometimes fleece. The mattress and quilt can be reversible too. I always feel like I am getting more for my money when something is reversible.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• fabric
• batting
• fiber fill
• sewing machine
• thread
• scissors
• straight pins
• tissue paper
• lace - optional

1. The quilt - cut 2 rectangles of fabric 25 inches by 19 inches. Cut one rectangle of batting (low loft) the same size. Put the fabric right sides together and the batting under the 2 layers of fabric. Sew around 4 sides leaving a 6 inch opening in the middle of the top of the quilt.

2. Pull the inside out through the opening. Pay special attention to the corners. Push them completely out with the eraser end of a pencil or a ruler. Turn in and top stitch the opening.

3. Put about 8 straight pins along the edge to hold the fabric and batting in place. One pin at each corner and one pin at each halfway point on the sides. Use tissue paper to trace the design you want in the center of the quilt. Fasten the tissue paper design onto the center of the doll quilt with pins. Using the longest stitch on the machine sew the tissue paper onto the fabric, following the design you traced on the paper.

4. Carefully tear away the tissue paper and pull out all the pins. The quilt is complete.

5. The mattress - If you have a wooden doll bed cut 2 fabric rectangles of 20 1/2 by 11 1/2 inches. Cut one layer of batting (I like high loft batting for the mattress.) If you have a brass doll bed cut the fabric rectangles 22 1/2 by 11 1/2 inches. Round the corners. Lay the fabric with the right sides together and the batting under the two layers of fabric. Sew sides leaving a 6 inch opening on one end.

6. Pull the inside out fold in and top stitch the opening. The mattress is complete.

7. A pillow - Cut 2 rectangles of fabric 10 by 5 inches. Lay fabric with right sides together and sew 3 sides. Pull inside out, fill with fiber fill and fold in opening and sew.

Tips & Warnings

• Trace a few designs on tissue paper and sew them in the corners of the quilt or down the sides, etc.
• Cut smaller squares and make throw pillows for the bed.
• Make a muslin mattress for the wooden doll bed.
• Use high loft batting for a fluffier quilt.
• Stitch a delicate lace to 3 sides of the quilt (Not the top) and 4 sides of the pillow (before you stuff it)
• Make a traditional patchwork design quilt.