How to Make a Doll Chair

So we have been shoe shopping lately, and we have really racked up on the shoe boxes!  I didn’t want to throw them out because I knew that as soon as I did I would need them.  So, instead of waiting around for a project, I decided to get creative.  I actually came up with several projects but I have to take it one at a time or none will get done!  There isn’t a video for this craft, so hopefully my pictures and instructions will help you recreate it.  Please feel free to ask questions in the comments if I didn’t make something clear.

Materials Needed:

  1. Shoe Box
  2. Fabric
  3. Quilt batting (I substituted this with an old dish rag.  Don’t worry, it was clean.  Stained, but clean.)
  4. Scrap Cardboard
  5. Scissors
  6. Needle & Thread or Sewing Machine
  7. Hot Glue gun and extra glue sticks

**Helpful Tip—If you don’t have any shoe boxes hanging around, you can go to a local shoe store and ask for extras that they have in the back!  I learned this trick when I needed more shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child.  Payless had no problem giving me as many as I needed!

How to Make a Doll Chair How to Make a Doll Chair

 Step 1:

Turn your shoebox upside down.  This will be the seat of the chair.  Cover the seat and the front with your batting or substitute.  You can choose not to use anything except the cardboard, I just didn’t want my dolls to feel uncomfortable!  A little cush is nice ?

How to Make a Doll Chair

Step 2:

Use your scrap cardboard and measure how tall you want the back of your chair to be.  Make sure the back is as wide as the seat or a little wider.  When you attach the arms you don’t want a gap. (Learned the hard way and had to re-do.)

How to Make a Doll Chair

Step 3:

Use your scrap cardboard and measure how high you want your armrests.  If you are making an accent chair you might not even want arm chairs.  There are pictures further in the post that will give you an idea of this option.  Once you measure how big you want the armrest, double it.  Once you cut it out you will fold it over.  See picture below.

How to Make a Doll Chair

How to Make a Doll Chair

How to Make a Doll Chair

Step 4:

Add batting to the armrests and the back of the chair.

How to Make a Doll Chair

How to Make a Doll Chair

Step 5:

Hot glue fabric to the armrests.  I pulled each corner in first, then worked my way around the board.

How to Make a Doll Chair

How to Make a Doll Chair

Step 6:

Place your shoebox upside down on your fabric to measure the cutout.  Trace the box first, then flip up on each side to trace those.  I gave about 1/2″ around the sides for a seam allowance.

How to Make a Doll Chair

Step 7:

Once you cut out the pattern place it over the shoebox to make sure it fits with extra room.  Then hem each corner.

How to Make a Doll Chair

How to Make a Doll Chair

How to Make a Doll Chair

Step 8:

Place the slip cover over the shoebox and then glue each edge up under the box so you can’t see it.

How to Make a Doll Chair

How to Make a Doll Chair

How to Make a Doll Chair

Doll Chair tutorial

Step 9:

You are going to repeat step 6& 7 for the back of the chair.  Trace the cardboard on your fabric, cut it out, hem it to make a slipcover and then slip it over the back piece.

How to Make a Doll Chair

Step 10:

Fold over the excess fabric and hot glue into place.  You will not see this because it will be behind the shoebox.

Doll Chair

Step 11:

Glue the back of the chair onto the seat.  If you want an accent chair then you are done!  If not, keep going!

How to Make a Doll Chair

Step 12:

Take your armrests and since they are open, you need to glue them together.  See picture below.

How to Make a Doll Chair

Step 13:

Glue the armrest onto the back and side of the shoebox.  You’re done!  Whew! Now go make some cute accent pillows!

How to Make a Doll Chair

doll chair

How to Make a Doll Chair

How to Make a Doll Chair

How to Make a Doll Chair

How to Make a Doll Chair

American Girl Chair

18 Comments so far. Feel free to join this conversation.

    1. Amy Siamesecat
      December 11, 2016 at 3:04 pm –

      Awesome! I have been waiting for this for my doll, Olivia. Lol

    1. Lily2007b
      November 27, 2016 at 1:07 am –

      Making Phone and iPad for Brooke (my American girl doll) for Christmas ?

    1. EmmaGrace
      September 26, 2016 at 12:52 pm –

      Hi I love the style girl

    1. Christa
      May 18, 2016 at 5:17 pm –

      Love your stuff. I don’t get how to do it it. Please please make a video.

    1. kaylee
      May 14, 2016 at 9:18 am –

      i used a pencil as a glue stick and it works! ALSO I LOVE YOUR CRAFTS Rudy I made more stuff though that you might not have thought of.

    1. Kenedi
      April 3, 2016 at 1:10 pm –

      Maybe you could use an AG Doll box.Then your doll could also sleep on the couch during sleepovers!

    1. maraline
      March 31, 2016 at 12:13 pm –

      I never have fabric or hot glue gun what can I do

    1. Daniela
      February 6, 2016 at 9:26 am –

      This is such a cute craft.I just finished making the hand wipes

    1. Olivia Wilson
      December 2, 2015 at 11:44 pm –

      Ooh! I want to make this! I made your “Isabelle’s Studio Stool”, “Rice Krispy Treats” crafts tonight, and started making a Nightstand/Desk! Can’t wait to make this and finish my Nightstand! I have made many others of your crafts also, and they turned out great! (Well, most of them?)

    1. buzzy
      November 18, 2015 at 5:42 pm –

      Fabric…… :0!!! I <3 this craft but I don’t have fabric. can I use a felt or a scrap blanket/

    1. Julia M. H.
      October 20, 2015 at 7:22 pm –

      It looks like Maryellens sofa!

        • Rudy
          October 21, 2015 at 7:08 am –

          Haha, it does! And this was long before she came out!

    1. Alexis
      August 13, 2015 at 5:40 pm –

      I love this craft I want to be you

    1. AGlover
      August 11, 2015 at 10:41 am –

      I love this chair! My mom is teaching me how to sew,so its the perfect project! I have GOTY 2014 Isabelle,and this will be so cute to put in her room! May I also request if you can make the american girl flip-top desk? THANKS!

    1. Katie
      July 13, 2015 at 2:02 pm –

      My dolls totally need this one!

        • Rudy
          July 13, 2015 at 4:13 pm –

          Yes they do!

    1. Catlover02
      March 28, 2015 at 9:34 am –

      This is a cute project! I can’t wait to make one!

    1. Rebecca
      March 26, 2015 at 5:46 am –

      Cute! You could also make this out of a box. Maybe a bigger one for several dolls.