This doll cradle is great for 22 inch and smaller dolls. Children can do most of the work. An adult can help hold the pieces during assembly, line up the nails so they go through both pieces of wood and cut out the half circles for the cradle ends. A group of five-year olds assembled this cradle by drilling pilot holes, gluing and nailing. They were proud of their work. It will not be long before these children can clamp and saw the wood also.

Tools you will need:

Supplies you will need

1 - 1 inch by 10 inches board, 6 feet long

1 - 1 inch by 6 inches board, 4 feet long

1 - 1 inch dowel rod, 4 feet long

1 - 1 inch by 1 inch firring strip, 2 feet long

2 ½ inch screws

2 ½ inch finishing nails

1 ½ inch finishing nails

Wood Glue

Perform the basic crosscuts on the wood:
Measure the cut. Draw the line across the wood using the square. Secure the board to the workbench. Perform the cuts. Remember to make sure that the kerf of the saw cut comes out of the waste side of the cut (Sawing Basics).

Mark the two 9 inch half circles on the 1x10 as follows. Measure along the edge of the 1x10 and mark the zero-inch, nine-inch and eighteen-inch measurements. Drive a finishing nail into the nine-inch mark. Tie a string to a pencil, the other end around the nail so that the string is taut when the pencil is upright and with its point on the zero or eighteen inch mark. Draw the half circle keeping the string taut and the pencil upright. Pull the nail out and repeat this for the second half circle.

Drill the holes with the brace and one-inch auger before sawing the half circles so that the auger does not split the wood. Mark a point one and one half inches in and down from the top corners. Remember to put scrap wood under the holes to prevent splintering out the exit hole (Using a Brace). It is important to clamp the wood securely so that the drilling is easier. Adults can help small children by holding the ball of the brace so that it is straight and has more pressure on it. The child should put one hand on top of the adults and operate the crank. Even very young children love to use the brace (with an adult stabilizing it) and twist drills (with no help).

Cut the two half circles with either a keyhole or a coping saw. When cutting shapes that are not strictly cross cuts it is best to clamp the piece so that you can cut down as much as possible. Clamp the half circle bottom side up in a vice. Saw down to one corner, then down to the other corner. This is hard work and most children will need help from an adult (at minimum for encouragement).

2) Assembly:

Measure 7 inches straight down from the center of the top edge of the half circle. Mark a line straight across parallel to the top. Glue the 11 inches piece there to support the bottom of the cradle and make assembly easier. Hammer a few 1½ inches finishing nails into the strip. Repeat on the other half circle.

Drill some pilot holes with the twist drill and a bit that is narrower than the 2 ½ inches finishing nails, all the way through the half circle, one-half inch above the 11 inches piece.

Hold the 1x10 22 ½ inches cradle bottom board straight upright. Put a line of glue on the end of the board. Place the half circle on the end of it with the 11 inches strip snug against the bottom. Nail them together through the pilot holes with 2 ½ inches finishing nails. Screws will make the cradle stronger but the pilot holes should be used to prevent the wood from splitting. Flip the assembly over and repeat for the other half circle.

Put a line of glue on both ends of one of the 1x6 22 ½ inch piece. Fit it next to the cradle bottom, between the two half circles so that its edge rests on the outside of the 11 inches piece and it is angled in line with the one inch holes. Nail both ends. Repeat for the other side.

Put the dowel rod through one hole. Put glue on the around both ends of the dowel rod. Slide it the rest of the way through to the next hole. It should fit snugly. Repeat for the other side.

3) Finishing the Cradle:

The cradle can be finished any number of ways (Finishing Wood). Stenciling or stamping it is fun and easy. Wiping with Tung oil is a nice easy finish (wear gloves).

We glued a 3 inches by 11 inches piece of wood to the head of the cradle with a heart shape cut out of the middle. The heart shape was made by drilling two holes with the brace and auger and then sawing down to the tip of the heart with a keyhole or coping saw.

An easy sewing project is a mattress and pillow for the cradle:

Materials:

Foam- 1 inch thick - 11 inches by 22 inches

Fabric - Folded double, measure 23 ½ inches down along the fold, 13 inches out. (This allows ½ inch for the seam)

Stuffing and fabric for a pillow

Sew two sides of the fabric for the mattress and pillow on a machine leaving one side open to hand sew (one side is the fold). Turn the pillow inside out by reaching inside and grabbing the far end and pulling out. Push the corners out with a finger or scissors. Stuff the pillow with fluff. For the mattress reach both hands inside the inside-out mattress fabric and hold the far corners. Then also hold the corners of the foam. Flip the fabric over the foam. Fold the rough edges in and whip stitch the folded edges together. Warn children to leave enough thread to knot before needing more thread. Children can perform most of these steps. Even three year olds can hand sew with supervision. Turning things inside out is a new skill for some kids. Flipping the fabric over the foam is a neat trick that could be used for putting cases on pillows.

Doll Cradle Plan - Copyright 2001 Kids Can Make It, Inc. All rights reserved