HOW TO MAKE TWO DOLL QUILTS IN A DAY(Part 1)

HOW TO MAKE TWO DOLL QUILTS IN A DAY(Part 1)

Do you want to involve the children in your life with your quilting? Yes, the projects and time have to be planned but involving the little people in your life into quilting can be so much fun. Last Friday, the grand (age 4) informed me very seriously that two of her “babies” did not have quilts. What is a grandma to do? Help the grand and her babies by doing a kid project – How To Make Two Doll Quilts In A Day (Part 1).

Note: These two doll quilts are intended to be used hard. They are well made, but not intended to have a long life span.

Can two doll quilts actually be done in a day with “help” from the little person? Yes, but in my case it took a little cheating to cut off some time.

Step 1: Fabric.

I had a section of leftover bright blocks already sewn together. I let her pick the border fabric, so flamingos are the border. There was only 1/3 of a yard so it would have to be cut exactly to have enough. A piece of pink fleece would serve as both the batting and backing.

Supplies for this doll quilt: 3″ squares, one-third yard of flamingo fabric for border, and one piece of pink fleece 31″ x 23″.

Supplies for  How To Make Two Doll Quilts In A Day (Part 1).
Supplies: pink fleece, flamingo border fabric, left over sewn together 3″ blocks.

Step 2: Cutting and sewing

Do the math to cut the fleece bigger than what you will need to include the blocks, border, and self binding. Once fleece is cut, center the (in this case) already sewn together blocks on it. We decided to machine quilt down the seams in one direction. This involved pinning, which she wanted to help with.

Pinning the top to the backing.
The grand “helping” pin the top to the fleece backing.
Close up of pinning.
One row machine quilted, and the next row pinned.
Ready to machine quilt the next row -  How To Make Two Doll Quilts In A Day (Part 1).
Ready to machine quilt the next row.

As the sewn part goes through the machine, the grand pulls out the pins and puts them in a magnetic cup. The grand has done this so much that she is very good at it and she has stuck herself enough that now she remembers to always pull the pins out by the head. She has also been taught to never put her fingers close to the machine needle.

The grand-daughter helping with her doll quilt.
The grand is on the sewing table behind the machine pulling pins and putting in a magnetic cup.

Step 3: Borders

After machine quilting each row, lay the border on one side, sew it down, and fold over so the right side is out. I did a 2.5″ border on two sides and a 4.5″ border on the other two sides – using up the entire one third yard (whoo-hoo, no left over scraps).

Border pinned to fleece
Fabrics right sides together and pinned to fleece.
Blocks with border sewn on.
Border sewn on.

I sew borders on opposite sides – in this case, I sewed the 2.5″ borders on the top and bottom. Then I sewed the 4.5″ borders on the two sides of the doll quilt.

Step 4: Binding

Then I marked a half inch all the way around the top on the fleece (in this case with a blue ball point pen). Cut on the mark all the way around. The half inch of fleece will become the binding.

Half inch mark on fleece.
Marked half inch on fleece.

The self binding is simply folding the half inch of fleece over the top and zig-zag stitching down.

Close up of corner binding for - How To Make Two Doll Quilts In A Day (Part 1). .
Corner folded over and sewn down.
Reverse side of HOW TO MAKE TWO DOLL QUILTS IN A DAY(Part 1)
Reverse side of doll quilt showing machine quilting.

It took about two hours to complete this doll quilt by following the directions here: How To Make Two Doll Quilts In A Day (Part 1). We had it done in time to make homemade mac and cheese for lunch.

Finished size is 28.5″ x 20.5″.

 Grand showing off her complete quilt. HOW TO MAKE TWO DOLL QUILTS IN A DAY(Part 1)
The grand with her completed flamingo doll quilt.

Hopefully this post, “How to Make Two Doll Quilts In A Day (Part 1)” helps you make a quick and fun project for the little person in your life.

Other ideas for kid projects:

https://indianaquilter40.com/kid-project-button-quilt

https://swoodsonsays.com/easy-quilt-projects-for-kids/

https://www.quiltingcompany.com/kids-are-quilting-5-things-are-learned-teaching-kids-to-quilt-quilty-pleasures-blog/

40 thoughts on “HOW TO MAKE TWO DOLL QUILTS IN A DAY(Part 1)

  1. Howdy! This is my first visit to your quilt blog! We are a group of ladies starting
    a new project in our community making lap quilts for elderly and veterans. Your blog
    provided us with so much beneficial information to work with. You have done a extraordinary job on this blog! Many thanks for sharing.

    1. You are so welcome. I think it is great that you are reaching out to people in your community with quilts.

  2. This design is wicked good! You make it look easy to do. You obviously are a quilter that thinks beyond the “normal” designs and methods. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and how you presented it. Thanks for a new quilt project idea.

    1. “Wicked good” – don’t hear that much outside of Maine and I it always makes me smile to hear it.

      Hope you have fun with this new quilt idea.

  3. Thanks for the time and effort you put into your blog and the detailed quilt information you provide.
    It’s nice to find a quilting blog that isn’t the same old rehashed information. Fantastic read! I’ve subscribed and can’t wait to see each post.

  4. Thanks for the marvelous post! I really enjoyed reading it, and now I am going to involve my grand in making a quilt for her “baby” using your method. I am bookmarking your blog. I want to encourage you to continue quilting and sharing with the rest of us.

  5. Thanks on your marvelous posting! I certainly enjoyed reading it, you might be a great author.
    I will remember to bookmark your blog and definitely will come back down the road.
    I want to encourage yourself to continue your great work, have a nice afternoon!

    1. It’s fun to involve the grand in quilt making. Please visit again or subscribe. I try to post every Monday.

      Happy quilting.

  6. Thank you so much for all the high grade quilt content on this blog. Great ideas here for beautiful quilts. Please keep sharing.

  7. Hello, I read your blog weekly. Your writing style is awesome, and all the information is wonderful. I know your goal is to inspire other quilters but I want to say you are inspiring. Great quilts and great attitude about sharing your ideas. Thank you so much.

  8. This is a fantastic blog! Wish I had found this when I was looking for simple ideas with my first few quilts. I am reading thru all the posts and just amazed at your talent and willingness to share with other quilters. I hope you are ok with me sharing a link to this blog on my FB page. I also subscribed so I don’t miss any new ideas.

  9. Greetings! I’ve been reading your quilt blog for some time, and want to give you a shout out from Huffman, Texas!
    Keep up the excellent work! This is an fantastic place for quilters to get new ideas and to just enjoy being here. Thanks again.

    1. Thank you for the shot out !! Years ago I actually visited your neck of the woods. Enjoyed the parts of Texas I have been able to visit.

      You folks have some really great quilting stores down that direction.

      Happy quilting.

  10. I think this is one of the best articles on making doll quilts I have ever seen! So simple but really pretty.

    The blog style is unique, and the posts are excellent. Cheers.

    1. Thank you for the encouraging words. Please enjoy the blog and come back often or subscribe.

      Happy quilting.

  11. I couldn’t resist commenting for this exceptionally well written blog! I make a quilt once in a while, and I have no interest in making anything complicated. Too much work and I really don’t enjoy it.

    But most of this quilt blog is about really nice quilts that are simple to do. You have no idea how inspiring this is – most of them I could do!

    Thank you so much.

    1. You are so welcome!

      And I feel the same – I love to look at complicated quilts, but they are not the ones I want to do. I like to start with easy and simple traditional quilts and just add my own twist (colors, setting, borders, etc).

      Have fun and make your quilts your own.

  12. Hello there! I’d like to follow you if that would be okay.
    I’m enjoying your quilt blog and look forward to new posts.

  13. Great blog here! And this site loads fast, even with all the photos!

    There are so many ideas on this website. I am a beginner quilter, and I am amazed at how you seem to have a limitless amount of creativity for simple quilt designs.

    Love it!

    1. I am so happy that you are finding the blog useful. Quilting is my “drug of choice” and I am passionate about sharing the joy of making easy and beautiful quilts.

  14. Hello! Someone in my quilt guild shared this website with us so I came to take a peek. I’m definitely loving the information here. I’m book-marking this blog and will be telling other quilting buddies too.

    I love the idea of making doll quilts using fleece as backing and just machine sewing the pieces to the back – simple and efficient. I have some small nieces who would love these quilts for their doll babies. Thank you for sharing.

    1. These doll quilts are so easy and fun to make. Have a great time making some for your nieces.

      Please subscribe so you don’t miss any posts.

      Have a great day.

  15. This is a topic that is near to my heart… I collect antique ones, and on occasion make them for my collection from antique patterns and reproduction fabrics. Most are hand quilted.

    I now have a small niece that loves my doll quilts but I cannot let her play with them. But the directions in this post are for some that I can make for her and her “babies”. She can even pick the fabrics and colors.

    Best wishes!

    1. Hello,

      Lucky you having a doll quilt collection. I am trying to think “smaller” and do more small quilts – there are only so many beds in the house. But I have lots of room for smaller quilts. Thank you for the idea.

      My granddaughter really enjoys the doll quilts for her “babies”. They wash and dry easily. They can also be replaced quickly when worn out.

      Have a great time making some of these for your niece.

  16. What a great idea for me to do with my grand-daughter. Thanks so much for the fun quilting posts and all the information.

    1. Have a great time making doll quilts with your grand. It was fun to make these doll quilts with my gr-daughter. We want to give them the “quilting bug” while they are willing to learn.

      Happy quilting.

  17. Someone in my group shared this website with us so I
    came to take a look. I’m definitely loving the quilt information. I’m bookmarking and will be
    tweeting this to my followers! Wonderful blog! Superb design and style too.

    I do not want to make bed quilts, but there is lots of information here on doing doll quilts and wall hangings.

    1. So glad you stopped by the blog and found useful info for your quilt journey.

      Enjoy the quilt process for what ever size quilt your decide to make.

      Happy quilting.

    1. Glad to know my information and all the hours I spend doing quilt related activities is helpful to others (and always fun for me). Happy quilting.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow by Email
https://www.facebook.com/groups/3364321106927836/
https://www.pinterest.com/morrfamily0476/
Verified by MonsterInsights