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Tutorial: Baby doll bassinet

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Elizabeth from Twelve Crafts Till Christmas shows how to make this doll-sized bassinet.  This soft fabric bassinet gives a special place for a child to lay their baby doll to sleep.  And unlike a larger dollie crib, the fabric bassinet packs easily for travel.  Go to Part 1 of the tutorial.  Go to Part 2 of the tutorial.

[photo from Twelve Crafts Till Christmas]

[tags]sewing, tutorial, soft, doll, dollie, bassinet, sleep[/tags]

Comments

  1. I like how you break down the fabric sizes….however, could you also include how much fabric for outside & inside….example:
    1 yd for outside & 1 yd for inside? I think it would be easier for the beginners.
    sincerely,
    B

    • I don’t have the measurements to make a bassinet for a 17″ Baby Alive doll, but I think you could probably figure them out if you had the doll in hand. My suggestion would be to lay the doll down on a piece of paper to figure out how long and how wide the bassinet base would need to be, and then adapt the measurements for the side and the hood based on the new numbers. It might take some trial and error, so I’d err on the side of larger pieces and then trim down as needed. –Anne

Have you read?

Charming Tea Towel Clutch Purse – Free Sewing Tutorial

This Charming Tea Towel Clutch Purse is such a clever upcycling project, and I love that it turns something as simple as a tea towel into a pretty handmade accessory. It is one of those sewing ideas that feels practical, affordable, and creative all at once — exactly the kind of project that makes you look at your linen drawer a little differently.

The tutorial uses a tea towel, lining fabric, heavyweight interfacing, snap buttons, embroidery thread, charms, and a feature button, so the finished clutch has more structure than you might expect from a tea towel project. The interfacing is the real hero here, helping the clutch hold its shape rather than feeling flimsy. That makes it much more useful as an actual purse, gift pouch, or little organiser inside a larger bag.

What makes this project especially charming is the way it can be personalised. The tutorial finishes the clutch with hand-sewn charms along the flap, plus a button to disguise the snap closure, giving the purse a decorative, one-of-a-kind look. You could easily change the style by using vintage buttons, embroidery, lace trim, beads, ribbon, or even little keepsake charms from old jewellery.

This would be a lovely project for using a pretty tea towel you have been saving, especially one with a vintage print, bold stripes, florals, or souvenir design. It would also make a thoughtful handmade gift, because each clutch can be matched to the recipient’s style. A bright yellow tea towel creates something cheerful and modern, while a floral or linen-look towel would give it more of a cottage or vintage feel.

The instructions are nicely broken down, starting with the downloadable clutch pattern, then cutting the towel, lining, and interfacing, sewing the pieces together, turning and pressing the clutch, adding the snap buttons, top stitching the sides, and finishing with decorative charms. It is a project best suited to someone who is comfortable sewing straight seams and handling a few small finishing details, but it is still approachable for a confident beginner.

Overall, this is a fun and satisfying sewing project with plenty of room for creativity. It is practical enough to use, pretty enough to gift, and a great reminder that handmade accessories do not need to start with expensive fabric. Sometimes all you need is a tea towel, a little interfacing, and a handful of buttons or charms to create something completely unique.