Enjoy this beautiful day

A year or so after our first child was born, she began dramatic play. At that age, kids begin to imitate the life they lead, their daily activities. This often includes the ritual of bedtime. Whether it’s a doll or stuffed animal (or a train, in my nephew’s case), kids love to tuck their beloved items into bed.

And so I began searching for a bed and linens that integrated into our play area. Something minimalist and simple, but still fun. And after much searching, I couldn’t find a single thing that I liked. Particularly something gender-neutral. I sighed a lot.

Fast-forward a few years, and I had taken a brief summer course about quilting. I quickly learned that I could never be a traditional quilter. I have the utmost respect for those who have the precision and patience to make all the pieces come together just so. It really is an amazing skill.

But after doing a little hunting around, I discovered there were many folks doing a much more free-form version of quilting, starting with the Quilters of Gee’s Bend and moving on forward. I loved this no-rules kind of quilting. Just throw together some fabrics and run with it.

So I made a few doll quilts, and found they are a joy to produce. If you’ve got a little sewing know-how, you can knock one out in no time.

Of course, this process can be applied to all kinds of things—larger quilts, table runners, bags, etc. I’ve included my process below. I’m sure it would make some more experienced sewers cringe, but, hey, this is how I go about it.

Don’t wish to embark on this crafty journey but would still like a modern doll quilt? I’ve got these two for sale: Birds & Cars

Feeling brave? Grab your fabric, and jump in! After all, it’s small. If you screw it up, you can always start over. Please note, I haven’t included all the minutia, making the assumption that you’ve done a bit of sewing before.

My quilts measure 21″ wide by 18″ tall, a perfect size for this affordable doll bed. Remember to measure your bed to see what size would work best, making sure it’s wide enough to accomodate whomever will be sleeping under it.