How to Make a Doll Mattress, Easy DIY for Beginners

Learn how to make a doll mattress with this easy tutorial. This is the basic feel-good part of the bedding and will complement all the other items you make. Here is part 5 of my doll bedding series, and I will show you how to make an 18″ doll mattress. I have also given you the formula measurements to adapt this doll mattress pattern to any size bed.

How to Make a Doll Mattress

Supplies

To make your doll mattress, you will need the following:

• 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, 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.

Read my tutorial on making doll clothing for a great overview of the best fabrics, tools, and techniques for sewing for dolls.

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 doll mattress to fit snuggly inside the bed frame.

Step 2 – The Doll Mattress Pattern

Cut 2 pieces of fabric the size of the doll bed 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 – Stitch the Sides

With RIGHT sides together, stitch around the doll 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 doll mattress.

Stitch across the boxed corners and trim them straight across.

Step 5 – Stuff the Doll Mattress

Turn your doll mattress the right way out and start stuffing.

If you use polyester fill, it is best to break it into small tufts. You want your mattress to look flat and not overstuffed, so go slowly. Ensure you have stuffing in the corners to give it a good shape.

Before you close the gap, try it on your bed to ensure it sits flat like a mattress. Take time to stuff the doll mattress carefully. Dolly would not like a lumpy bed to lie on, and no fairy tale princess could ever sleep on your doll’s bed!

Step 6 – Close the Gap

Hand stitch the gap in the doll mattress closed with a ladder stitch for an invisible closure.

In Conclusion

Now that 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 all the bedding, shop for an 18-inch doll pajama sewing pattern to go with it all. How cute is the dolly going to look?

Free Doll Clothing Patterns:

• Doll Cape Pattern
• Doll T-Shirt Pattern