Doll Quilt Tutorial

doll quilt tutorial

Hello everyone, I’m Caila from CailaMade, and I’m excited to share a sewing project with you today! I especially love quick projects with bright fabrics that can be used as gifts. I have 3 young children who usually serve as my sewing inspiration, and that’s certainly true of today’s Doll Quilt project.

Doll Quilt Tutorial

doll quilt doll quilt

My daughter recently turned four, and like all little girls she L-O-V-E-S dolls. For Christmas we bought her a beautiful four poster doll bed and the only thing it was missing was mamma’s touch.

How to Sew a Doll Quilt

Making your own doll quilt is very simple. For this tutorial I’m using strips of fabric cut 4.25 inches wide by 11 inches long. You can either go to the fabric store and buy four different fabrics (a fat quarter, or 1/4 yard is all you need of each), or you can use some scraps you already have on hand. Vintage sheets and pillow cases are perfect for this project! If you would rather make a doll quilt with a solid top, cut the top piece 21.25 inches long by 11 inches wide and skip the first step.

The first step is to sew your strips of fabric together to create the quilt top. One at a time, sew the pieces together along their long sides until you’ve created one long top piece. TIP: Place two sections together with the “right” sides facing (the pretty sides) and sew at your machine with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Your needle should be sewing 1/4 inch away from the fabric’s edge. Make sure you sew in a straight line, and go slow if necessary. Repeat this step until all the strips are sewn together. Once you have sewn all the pieces together, iron the seams open and press the whole quilt top so it’s nice and crisp.

quilt tutorial

Use the quilt top to cut a bottom piece the exact same size. (Note: this should be approximately 21.25 inches long by 11 inches wide.) This is your quilt bottom.

sew your own quilt

Using the same measurements, cut two pieces of flannel or any other soft fabric you have lying around. This fabric does not need to be pretty, as it will be hidden inside your top and bottom layers. I like to use flannel because it gives the quilt structure while keeping it soft and not too thick.

Layer your four pieces like you see in the photo below: flannel, flannel, quilt top facing up, quilt bottom facing down. It is important that the “right” sides of the quilt top and quilt bottom are facing each other. doll quilt tutorial

Pin all four layers together around the outer edge of the quilt. I like to space the pins about an inch apart to keep the layers from shifting while I sew.tutorial for doll quilt

You may now begin sewing around the outside of your quilt. Use a 1/4 inch seam allowance again, and leave an opening of 3 inches on one short side to allow you to turn the quilt right side out. TIP for sewing corners: When you come to a corner stop 1/4 inch from the edge, leave your needle in the fabric, lift your presser foot, and rotate the fabric so you can sew down the next side. Lower the presser foot again and continue sewing.

Always make sure to back stitch at the beginning and end of your seam. sew a doll quilt

When you have finished sewing around the quilt, use a pair of sharp scissors to clip the corners. Simply cut off the corner, making sure not to clip any of the stitches.

how to sew a doll quilt

This is the fun part! Slip your hand inside the opening and grab the far side of the quilt.

tutorial for doll quilt

Pull the quilt through the opening and push out the corners until it looks like a nice, flat rectangle.

quilt tutorial DSC09985

Isn’t it cute? I just love this part!

DIY doll quilt

Now use your trusty iron to press the quilt until the corners and edges are nice and smooth. Fold the raw edges of the opening inside 1/4 inch and press them well. Pin the opening closed.

how to sew a doll quilt

As this point you should also add some pins down the center of the quilt to hold the layers in place as you sew around the edge and over the top.

DIY quilt

Your next step is to sew around the entire quilt, just 1/8 of an inch from the edge. This is a small seam allowance, but it looks so dainty on a small quilt. Believe me, it’s worth it!

doll quilt tutorial

After you’ve sewn around the edge of the quilt, it’s time to stitch over the top. This is the part that makes your doll blanket into an actual quilt. Using the straight seams along the top of the quilt as a guide, stitch over the top of the quilt. I used a 1/8 inch seam allowance on both sides of each seam.

how to make a doll quilt

When you’re finished with this step, turn the quilt over and admire your handiwork. I love the way those straight lines look on this pink polka dot fabric.

how to sew a doll quilt

Place it on a doll bed and you’re good to go!

quilt for doll bed

I’m preparing a tutorial for these little pillows, so stay tuned for next month. Thank you so much for reading, and Happy Sewing! Please feel free to leave any questions in the comments below. I’d love to help if you have a question!

quilt tutorial

diy-doll-quilt doll quilt tutorial

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Comments

  1. 1
    Cindy

    Very cute quilt, and the pillows are adorable too!

    1. 1.1

      Thank you, Cindy! I’m so glad you like it. :)

  2. Pingback: Doll Quilt Tutorial at Craftaholics Anonymous

    1. 2.1

      Thanks Kari! :)

  3. 3

    So sweet, Caila! I’m sure your daughter loved it. I know my little girl would.

    1. 3.1

      She did! It was a huge hit on her birthday. Thanks so much, Alexis!

  4. 4

    The doll quilt and pillows are so adorable, and much loved, as we know!

  5. 5
    Paula Willbanks

    This is absolutely adorable! :)

  6. 6
    Jessica D

    CUTE!! Might have to whip some up once we have our daughter’s new room color scheme all figured out!

  7. Pingback: Doll Quilt Tutorial - CrafterNesia

  8. Pingback: Craftaholics Anonymous® | How to Sew Doll Pillows Tutorial

  9. 7
    Laboni

    I like the website-this is very helpful for me to make the dolls bed.

  10. 8

    LOVE THIS!!! And so easy to make!

  11. 9
    Shelley

    Wow! This is beautiful. I am rushing out tomorrow to buy a few bits to make this and the pillows. Thank you

  12. 10
    elaine murray

    pretty colours nice combination easy to follow instructions

  13. 11
    Vivien

    i am a 72 yr old who collects dolls but have just recently got my first AG doll. Now I am looking for free patterns and ideas for her. This site sure is helpful

  14. 12
    Ellen Hernandez

    Just what I was looking for to go with an 11″ doll. Thank you.

  15. 13
    Margaret

    Very cute…nice choice of color and patterns …the length is great, but the width is too narrow… if you put the doll in the bed the blanket is way up and does not cover the sides like a real bed….My little granddaughters noticed that right away… “needs to cover her, Grandma,” was the first comment they made…so out of the mouths of babes… I will make wider ones for them….Your cushion and pillow are really sweet.

    1. 13.1

      Thanks for the feedback!

  16. 14
    Katie C.

    I don’t know if this thread is active or not but I’ll try. I just threw together a doll blanket with two flowered pieces of fabric and a very thin piece of batting in between. I stitched around the whole blanket 1” from the edge. Do you think I need more stitching to prevent shifting? How should I do it? I don’t have the pieced seams to follow like you did. This blanket will definitely be thrown in the wash since the birthday girl will be three on Saturday and they do have pets too. I also made a mattress with tripled batting and a pillow with fluff. I saw that someone else had made ties on the mattress with yarn … I’ve never done that either ;-)

    This all goes with the doll bed that my guy made for the dolly Lola. This all has to be done by Thursday night.