Sewing Seat Cushions for A Doll's Rocker

       This 18" doll sized rocker appears to have been sold frequently in the U.S. during the past 20 years. Although I am not able to find where it originates, I see it on the shelves at resale often.
       Draw your own pattern from paper as I have done, just left, and fit it to the doll rocker that you wish to cover.  Use the back lighting from a window to help you do this. Through just a bit of trail and error, you can accomplish this. When you think that you have an acceptable pattern, fold it in half and cut both sides again at once, following the outline of your shapes. This should give you even measurements for the chair cushions. Don't forget to draw the pattern again with a seam allowance.

       You will need enough fabric for both a back and front of two cushions, plus fiber fill, thread to match, fabric for a ruffled trim and ribbon to match. 

       You may sew your cushions on a machine or by hand. Because I chose to work with fine woven wool, I completed this project entirely by hand. Otherwise, the unraveling of the wool might have prevented me from sewing on the finer details.

       I also used less than half a yard of fabric for the project, in case you are wondering just how much material it would take for a similar set of cushions on a 18" doll sized rocker.

       Originally this rocking chair was stained and the surface was nicked and scratched. So I decided to paint the chair a brick red before adding the seat cushions.

• How to make a rocking chair for a doll
• How To Wooden Pegs Rocking Chair
• Refinish A Doll's Rocking Chair

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cut and measure a paper pattern for your doll's rocking chair. There is trial and error in this process so you may not wish to attempt it unless you have a bit of experience in sewing.
2. I added a 1/4" seam allowance to the pattern and cut two of each, top and bottom cushions.
3. Straight stitch around the outer edges of each cushion, right sides together.
4. Leave a one inch opening on the back side of the lower cushion and at the base of the upper cushion for turning the sewn pieces inside out.
5. Stuff the cushions lightly and close the openings using an invisible stitch.
6. Cut long 1 1/2" strips of fabric for the ruffle and turn one end of the strips back for a clean hemmed edge before pleating and attaching the ruffle.
7. Pleat or gather the ruffle after hemming the strips of fabric. It will take, perhaps three feet of pleated fabric per cushion. This is a rough estimation of how much fabric I used. You may use more of less according to taste.
8. I also decided to sew a pleated ruffle to the top side parameter of each cushion because my material was woven wool. However some advanced sewers may choose to either pleat or gather a ruffle and sew it between the seams of their rocking chair's cushions on a machine.
9. Once you cushions are finished, you may like to sew in a bit of puckering on each cushion using hand stitching. Add buttons or beads if you like the look. I left my puckering plain. 
10. Last I hand stitched a satin lavender ribbon to cover my top seams around the ruffed areas and tacked on small ribbon beneath and behind the cushions to tie them onto our doll's rocking chair. See finished details in photos below.

Left, the finished upholstered seat cushions. Center, seeing if ruffle is wide enough. Right, up close look at lavender ribbon.