Learn how to make a doll mattress with this easy tutorial. This is the basic feel-good part of the bedding and will compliment all the other items you make. This is part 5 of my doll bedding series and here I will show you how to make an 18″ doll mattress to fit any sized bed.
Table of Contents
How to Make a Doll Mattress – Supplies
To make your doll mattress you will need:
- FABRIC – Around 1/2 yard (0.90m) of fabric for most 18-inch doll beds. Cotton fabric is the easiest to sew. I used quilting cotton which is a light to medium weight tightly woven fabric. It comes in endless designs and colors and is readily available.
- STUFFING – Polyester or foam stuffing. If you don’t have stuffing, substitute fabric scraps. Using fabric scraps makes the mattress a little heavier but is a cheap alternative. Cut the scraps up into small pieces to minimize lumpiness.
How to Make a Doll Mattress | Sewing
Step 1 – Measure the Bed
First, measure the base of your bed. This bed was purchased from IKEA and measures 12 by 19 inches (30.5×48.2cm) at the wooden base.
Tip: Make sure you are measuring just the base and not the sides of the bed. You want the mattress to fit snuggly inside the bed frame.
Step 2 – Cut the Fabric
Cut 2 pieces of fabric the size of the base plus 1-inch (2.5cm) seam allowance all the way around.
So cut 14 x 21 inches (35.5cmx53.3cm) (Remember my base was 12×19″)
Step 3 – How to Make a Doll Mattress – Stitch the Sides
With RIGHT sides together, stitch around the mattress pieces with a 1/4 inch (6mm) seam allowance leaving a 3-inch gap (7.5cm) at one of the short ends.
It always looks neatest if you leave your gap at the end of the bed.
Step 4 – Box the Corners
Box the corners by finger pressing open the seams at the corners and then aligning the top and bottom of the seam. Mark across where it is 1 1/2 inches (4cm).
The purpose of boxing the corners is to give some height to the mattress.
Stitch across the boxed corners and trim them straight across.
Step 5 – Stuff the Doll Mattress
Turn your mattress the right way out and start stuffing.
If you are using polyester fill it is best to break it into small tufts. You want your mattress to look flat and not overstuffed so go slowly. Make sure you have stuffing in the corners to give it a good shape.
Before you close the gap, try it on your bed to make sure it is sitting flat like a mattress.
Take time to stuff the mattress carefully. Dolly would not like a lumpy bed to lie on and no fairy tale princess would ever be able to sleep on your doll’s bed!
Step 6 – Close the Gap
Hand stitch the gap closed with a ladder stitch for an invisible closure.
PIN THIS IMAGE FOR LATER 🙂
More Doll Bedding Tutorials
Now you know how to make a doll mattress, it is time to see all the tutorials in my free doll bedding sewing pattern series. You can make pillows, pillowcases and blankets.
- PART 1 – Free Doll Pillow Pattern
- PART 2 – Free Doll Pillowcase Pattern – 2 styles
- PART 3 – Free Doll Mattress Sewing Pattern
- PART 4 – Free Doll Blanket Sewing Pattern
When you have finished with all the bedding, shop for an 18-inch doll pajama sewing pattern to go with it all. How cute is dolly going to look?
thirion sylviane says
bonjour , je voudrais le faire , mai la notisse en français merci bien
Linda Eggleston says
Very helpful tutorial……..easy to follow. Thanks!
Jill Jacobek says
Love this, using it for this particular bed for my elderly cat<3. Thank you for taking the thinking out of it! So easy.