I made my first dollhouse pillow for one of our daughters when she turned two, and she loved it so much and used it as a sleeping bag for a long time. Five years later, it’s still one of her most prized possessions and still gets a lot of loving from her. She doesn’t quite fit in it as a sleeping bag anymore, but it makes a nice reading and play cushion.
Today, I’m happy to show you how to make a much simpler version of my original dollhouse pillow. This would make a very special gift for a little one in your life!
Supplies:
-1 yard patterned fabric (pillow backing)
-14″ x 16″ yard of plain fabric (roof)
-16″ x 18″ patterned (house body)
-three 7″ x 9″ pieces of plain fabric (windows)
-4″ x 7″ piece of wool felt (door)
-decorative button
-black fabric paint
-paintbrush
-Poly-Fil
Tools:
-pins
-fabric pencil
-sewing machine
-scissors
-rotary cutter
-self-healing mat
Seam Allowance: 1/2″
Step One: From the 14″ x 16″ piece of fabric, mark the halfway point across the top of the fabric, about 8″ in from the edge. Then starting 2″ up from the bottom of each side, draw a diagonal line to the top center mark, and cut along that line.
Step Two: Line up the base of the roof with the top of the front interior fabric with their right sides together. Pin in place, and stitch together. Press the seam open.
Step Three: On your roof, paint your roof design, and on the pieces for the windows, paint on your windowpanes. Allow to dry completely, then press to heat set the design in place.
Step Four: For your window pockets, fold down the top edge (the 7″ side) 1/2″, press, fold down another 1/2″, press, pin in place, and topstitch. Repeat for the other two pieces.
For each pocket, fold the remaining three sides of the pocket in 1/4″ and press. Place each pocket on the desired spot on the dollhouse body (about 1 3/4″ in from the edge), right side facing up, pin the folded sides in place, and edge stitch around the three sides.
Place your wool felt fabric for the door 2 1/2″ in from the right side and up 1″ from the bottom. Pin in place and edge stitch around. Sew on a decorative button for the doorknob.
Step Five: For the backing, place the front of the house on top of the backing fabric, and cut all the way around the perimeter of the house. With the right sides together, sew around the entire perimeter, leaving a 3″ opening for turning. Clip the corners, turn right side out, and press.
Step Six: Fill the house with Poly-Fil to desired thickness, and slip stitch the opening closed.
I love how bold the hand painted design turned out, and I love that blue with the bright coral. My girls were asking who was going to get the pillow, but we eventually all agreed to give it to their neighbor friend for Christmas. This pillow doesn’t open up to reveal the inside of the dollhouse, but you can use the pockets to stuff special dolls and treasures. We made these easy softies to put in the pockets to give to their friend.
If you do want to learn how to make a giant dollhouse pillow that opens up, I have full instructions and a template in my book, Let’s Sew Together. Besides the dollhouse pillow, I share a lot of other projects you can make with and for kids! The book itself would make a great Christmas present for someone looking for more unique sewing projects, and I share additional activities to do with kids. Come on, let’s sew together friends! –Rubyellen
Credits // Author and Photography: Rubyellen Bratcher. Photos edited with Valentine from The Signature Collection.
Hi,
Where can I buy a hair clip like this?
Best wishes, Magda
I made one it looks okay for my first project 🙂 it was fun making!
This is too darling! I can’t wait to have children to have excuses to make stuff like this!
This is absolutely adorable and so unique! Gotta try this some time. 🙂
That pillow building remind me so much one of the Moomin building. 😀
this is so cute!
xx nikki
www.dream-in-neon.com
Oh, I love this! Too adorable.
love this idea. Could one not possibly use a ready made pillow case and create a similar looking sleeping bag / pillow?
This is too cute to handle! The perfect DIY gift to my niece!
https://annescribblesanddoodles.blogspot.com/
This is one of the cutest kids DIY’s I’ve ever seen. I’m definitely pinning this for later use!
Hi Geraldine! We have been contacting the winners directly. 🙂 -Jacki
Beautiful people, I know this comment is unrelated to this post but since we can’t comment on your 12 days of giveway posts… Will you communicate at some point the names of the winners? Because from our “players” point of view, it looks like nobody is winning if you don’t communicate the winner’s names. And it’s a bit discouraging, which is too bad because your 12 days of giveaways is magic.
Cheers!
Géraldine
www.nimportequoipourdesgensbien.com
Yea! I think I’ll attempt this pillow. I also just order a couple of copies of your book for my little bookstore.
This is SUCH a fantastic idea! I wish I had thought of/seen this when my sister was younger. I can imagine that a castle shape would work great for this, too!
<3 dani
http://blog.shopdisowned.com
This is so cute! I love this pillow house. Perfect for a childrens room.
I love this and have never come accross this idea before. The small pillows you made for the pockets remind me of a unicorn toy my daughter made. I let her lose with fabric pens and she drew her unicorn on an old sheet. We cut it out double then she coloured it in and stitched it up complete with wool mane and tale. I think it maybe needs a doll house pillow to live in. 🙂
This is way adorable! I am totally making this for my niece!
Oh, that’s such a lovely idea! I really want to try it some day!!! thank you!
Love this idea! Imagine a whole village of these cute little stuffed houses 🙂 I think I’m inspired
http://www.thelittleststudio.com/blog.html
love this, too cute!!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/intralove