Let's Build a Dollhouse Sofa

It's easy peasy!

The instructions here are for a very basic simple sofa, with photographs illustrating the steps you need to take to make a dollhouse sofa from cardboard and fabric.

You can use the method described below to make any style of sofa, chair or loveseat.

 

 

 

Let's Build a Dollhouse Sofa

When you are just starting out with a new dollhouse, it takes a while to fill it with furniture. It would be great fun to buy everything, but this is not always feasible, so making some of the furniture is a good option.

Upholstered furniture is relatively simple to make, you can make a dollhouse sofa with very little money out of just cardboard and fabric. Of course, once you get the hang of it, you can make an armchair or a loveseat, using the same method.
The main thing to remember is that we don't want any raw edges on the fabric to show.

I use spray starch and my iron where it is necessary to fold down the raw edges. I then glue [sparingly] the fold and iron again to dry the glue.

You will notice that I have not given any measurements, thinking that you will all want different sizes, depending on the space you have to put it in.
If you are in doubt measure your own sofa, or your neighbour's sofa, if you like it better. Divide the measurements by 12 if you are working in 1 inch =1foot scale. Thus a sofa which is 6 feet long will measure 6 inches.

 

It is much easier for me to actually make a dollhouse sofa, than to explain in writing how to do it, so I have taken photographs and given step by step instuctions with each photo. I hope you can understand them.

 

For the sake of simplicity, this sofa has one seat pad and one back cushion, you can have two or three cushions.

As well you can change the shape of the arms or add a pleated / frilly skirt.

I recommend using cotton for the fabric, cotton irons nice and flat and won't stretch like some other fabrics.

You don't want a bulky or a knit fabric, at least not if it is your first try.

You need to have all the fabric pieces very square, this is easy to do if you rip the fabric rather than cutting it. Make a little snip and then rip, cotton will naturally rip in a straight line.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the same sofa as is shown in the tutorial. I changed the back to 2 cushions .
It is in a little Orchid by Greeleaf dollhouse which I made for my daughter.
It is supposed to represent the Summer cottage she has always wanted but can't afford.

The little table is made from a wooden Chinese fan.

The lamp is from a dollar store, Dollarama. It was clear crystal but I painted it with a pearl nail polish.
The curtains in this dollhouse were made from one of my mum's old hankies. I used quite a few of them in bedroom too.It is a nice way to remember her, and I know she would have approved.

 

 

 

 

This little arm chair was made using the same
methods as are shown in the tutorial.

Amongst all my multitudes of of fabric, I couldn't find anything to use for this chair. After a long search I suddenly realized that the men's shirt, I wear as a cover up while mini-ing, was perfect.
I quickly took it off and cut out the back, and made the chair.

I continued to wear the backless shirt, it still served the same purpose adequately without a back, I don't often get paint on my back. One day while I was busy in my work room, my friend knocked on my front door. As I led her in she noticedmy backless shirt. She thought it hilarious.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the first sofa I ever made. It took me a whole Sunday to finish it. I knew how real upholstered furniture is made, so I used that knowledge as a guide.

I can remember how I felt when it was completed. It was just about perfect and I felt so triumphant.

Then I came out of my mini manic high and looked around me. My whole house was in shambles, I had managed to mess up every room in the house!

 

 

This is the living room of a dollhouse that my friend asked me to make for her niece.

We were excited to find a lot of furniture in a dollar store. all that was needed were the beds and upholstered pieces.

You can't see the sofa and chair too well, but they are made using the same method as is in the tutorial. The fabric on the sofa came from a couple of table napkins.

My friend wanted a ''lazy boy'' style chair, as a little joke for her brother-in-law.

I made this one in leather with a matching foot stool.

I liked working with leather, it seemed easier than fabric.