An Adirondack Chair for 18" Dolls.
It's been an especially busy time for me of late, as I am sure it is for most of you, with the Holidays in full swing. We also have Grace's birthday right before Christmas. It's always an extra effort to try and not let the Holidays overshadow Grace's special day.
So when Fiona emailed me her cut list a few weeks ago for a doll Adirondack chair, I could not have been more thankful that she would give her plans to you - and give me a little bit of a break during these busy weeks before the Holidays. But I wanted to get some of the larger projects blogged to give you time to build before Christmas, so this one's been promised for a few weeks, and I'm so happy to finally be able to blog this plan! I'll be posting lots more smaller projects between now and the Holidays, things you can whip out in no time flat.
I'm itching to get back to some media walls and storage beds and bigger plans, and have big big plans for the new year. It's going to be an exciting new year! . . . But let's get back to small things for now.
Isn't Fiona's doll chair just adorable? Building doll furniture is perhaps the most "fun" I've ever had building. You don't have to be perfect, the finished project is so cute, doesn't take long, and it's usually quite inexpensive to build. But the best part is the joy of giving these gifts to children. Last night, I had a conversation with a friend who grew up on a farm with a mom that was like many of us, handy because she had to be. And my friend told me about when she was a little girl, her mother made her doll cradles and a cupboard to use as a kitchen. She's since moved thousands of miles from her mother, but has plans to find those wooden toys her mother built her, and give them to her own children. The story really struck me as special, and I can only imagine what your children are going to think of these pieces you are building for them.

Preparation
1 – 1×3, 8 feet long (whitewood or furring strips should be about $1.50)
2 – 1×2, 8 feet long (whitewood or furring strips should be about $1.00 each)
1 1/4″ screws or nails
wood glue
finishing supplies
2 – 1×3 @ 13 1/2″ (Stringers, one end cut in step 1)
1 – 1×3 @ 10″ (Front Apron)
4 – 1×2 @ 10″ (Seat Slats)
5 – 1×2 @ 14″ (Back Slats)
3 – 1×2 @ 8 1/2″ (Back Supports)
2 – 1×3 @ 9″ (Front Legs)
2 – 1×2 @ 9 1/2″ (Arm Supports)
2 – 1×2 @ 9 1/2″ (Arms)
Instructions
Step 1
Step 3
Step 6
Step 8
Arms
And then just attach the arms to the arm supports.
If you have any apprehension about building an Adirondack Chair, this would be a fabulous project to start with. And I have to tell you, the Adirondack Chairs are amazing, some of my absolute favorite pieces in my own home.
Thanks again to Fiona for sharing her plans and photos!
Comments
V (not verified)
Tue, 12/14/2010 - 13:57
Are the arms by chance
Are the arms by chance suppose to be 1x3s instead of 1x2s?
In reply to Are the arms by chance by V (not verified)
spiceylg
Mon, 04/11/2011 - 04:41
Arms
The pic does show 1x3s but the list shows 1x2s. I built with 1x2s and didn't like the look so I swapped them out for 1x3s. Much better.
dad the builder (not verified)
Tue, 12/14/2010 - 21:17
i miss the old "people also
i miss the old "people also built this" with the 5 or so examples of other ideas
spiceylg
Sun, 04/10/2011 - 05:58
Angles?
Morgane-O (not verified)
Tue, 06/26/2012 - 17:56
beautiful chair
I made the chair and it turned out great. My daughter is very happy with it and so are the girls!
thank you so much for the plan.
here is the link if you would like to check it out (i tried the brag section but no luck!)
http://beardollyandmoi.blogspot.com/2012/06/doll-summer.html