American Girl dolls are available in fictional characters from history or can be personalized with a wide variety of skin tones and hair and eye colors. The American Girl collection also includes lots of furniture and accessories, but they can get pricey except for special occasions. Make a canopy bed and bedding like American Girl doll Julie's 1970s themed furniture and save over $100 off the catalog retail price.
Instructions
1. Cut the ¾-inch wood doweling into four sections each 22 inches long. Place the plywood rectangle on its long edge. Line a dowel perpendicular at the corner so it sticks out 1 inch below the rectangle. Glue in place. Secure with a finishing nail through the dowel into the edge of the plywood. Place the second dowel on the opposite end of the plywood. These are the two side posts of the canopy bed.
2. Turn the plywood so the posts are on the table and the other edge is in the air. Attach the last two canopy posts. Stand the bed up so the plywood piece is only an inch from the floor. The long ends of the posts will stick up into the air.
3. Cut a cloth rectangle 25 inches by 15 inches. Cut a 1-inch slit diagonally in from each corner. Fold each one inch flap of cloth in and iron a crease. There will be four creases forming a 23-inch by 13-inch rectangle in the center of the cloth. Put a drop of glue on the top of each canopy bed post. Place the canopy on the top of the bed frame so each 1-inch flap hangs down off the side. Press down on each glue spot to secure it. Cut fringe or zig-zags to trim the edges of the canopy.
4. Cut a 13-inch by 23-inch rectangle of 1-inch foam bedding. Cut a piece of bedding cloth 25-inches by 15-inches. Fold the cloth so the ends meet with the good side of the fabric inside. Sew the long edges together 1/8 inch in from the side.
5. Turn the fabric sleeve right side out. Slide the foam mattress pad into the mattress sleeve and sew the remaining short sides closed. Place the doll mattress on the plywood piece.
6. Cut 20 strands of beaded trim each 23 inches long. Separate them into groups of five. Glue each group inside one corner of the canopy to hang down beside the bed.
7. To make American Girl doll pillows, cut matching 7-inch squares from cloth. Place one right side up on the table. Place the other one face down on top. Line up the edges and pin them together. Sew around three sides of the pillow at least 1/8 inch in from the side. Flip the pillow inside out. Fill it with nylon batting. Hand sew the remaining side closed.
8. Thread the needle again with a knot at the end of the thread. Push the needle up through the center of the pillow. Pull the knot tight against the back. Move over 1/8 inch and push the needle back through the pillow. Repeat making a cross tack in the center of the pillow.
9. Cut two pieces of cloth 15 inches by 23 inches. Place one piece of cloth face down on the table. Lay the other piece face up on top of it. Begin sewing the pieces of cloth together at one corner. Loop the thread around the edges of the cloth, push the needle up through the bottom, and loop it back around the edge. Sew all four edges of the doll quilt together. Make tacks throughout the quilt by sewing small knots and trimming all the extra thread.
Tags: American Girl, inch from, American Girl doll, center pillow, each inches