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Back in 2023, I wandered into the craft store, as I often do, and found myself in the yarn, knitting, and crochet section.
At the end of one of the shelves was a stack of books.
Among the pile was a tiny book that caught my eye. It had a simple yet intriguing theme: crochet a dishcloth a month.
It sounded like a fun idea, but then my mind started racing.
What if I did something similar, but for my dolls? And instead of crocheting, I’d sew 12 unique pillows.
One for each month!
Also around that time, I’d fallen in love with creating room décor for my dolls.
It was as if the dolly universe was bringing all the pieces together to make this project happen.
So in 2024, I launched the 12 Months, 12 Pillows series for 1/3 scale dolls.
I shared each month’s design and progress exclusively with our Ko-fi supporters, but now that the year is over, I want to share the journey with you.
And who knows?
You might just find a pattern (or two) to make your doll’s space warm and inviting!
Pillow by Pillow: A Year of Creativity
January kicked off the series with the Dolly Dreams Envelope Pillow Pattern.
I wanted to start with something simple and beginner-friendly, so I designed a square envelope pillow.
At the time, I was still getting used to working with Adobe Illustrator for pattern drafting, and let’s just say my skills were still in the straight lines-only phase.
So this shape worked within my illustrator skill level.
The ease of this pillow worked so well that it became part of our Graduation Day project which is a part of our For Beginner Doll Sewist series.
If you’re new to sewing, it’s a perfect starting point!
February brought love into the air.
I used the January envelope pillow as the base but added a sweetheart appliqué.
That’s how the Snuggle Up Sweetheart Pillow was born.
It was a fun way to build on January’s skills while introducing a new technique: appliqué.
March continued my love affair with square pillows, but this time I dropped the envelope style.
The Tiny Tassels Playful Pillow featured tassels at each corner, giving it a playful vibe.
It was the perfect way to spice up a simple design.
By April, I was inspired by springtime and bunnies.
The Cuddly Bunny Pillow Pattern came to life, thanks to a bunny SVG I’d designed a couple of years earlier.
Getting the ears just right was a challenge, but once I figured it out, I had an adorable pattern that would allow others to add their own creative & personal touches to it.
A Celestial Phase
In May, the solar eclipse that took place on April 8 sparked my fascination with all things celestial.
And the Luna Snuggle Pillow, shaped like a crescent moon, was born.
Designing such a tiny crescent for dolls wasn’t as easy as I’d thought.
There were some lessons learned about leaving enough fabric for turning and stuffing!
June followed with the Starry Night Snuggle Pillow.
Anna, my Iris Collet Petit doll, adored it.
Like the moon pillow, this one required a lot of testing to get the star points just right.
Tip for doll pattern designers: always leave extra space at the tips for easier turning and stuffing.
July wrapped up the celestial theme with the Dreamy Cloud Snuggle Pillow.
Hina-chan couldn’t resist sneaking into the photoshoots for this one.
I’m always teasing her about having her head in the clouds, so when she saw this pillow, she plopped right onto it and declared, “See, my head is on the cloud, like you always say!”
Oh, that little one.
She misunderstood me completely, but she looked so adorable I couldn’t bring myself to correct her.
Seasonal Shifts
In August, back-to-school vibes inspired the Comfy Pencil Pillow.
This was my most challenging design yet.
Getting the angles and proportions right tested every bit of my patience, but it was worth it.
September called for simplicity after that math, so I created the Dreamtime Lounge Floor Pillow.
It was a lower-profile version of a floor pillow we made during our Mon-DOLL Makes series (It was the Mon-DOLL Makes Week 30: Doll Days of Summer 4 Reveal)
This design changes dramatically based on your fabric choice.
I’d love to try it in a soft, cozy minky someday.
October meant Doll-o-ween!
The Spooky Sweet Ghost Pillow featured two playful face options: happy and surprised.
I planned, last year, to make the pillow for Raven but didn’t have the time to start it.
So I was thrilled that I was able to design it and complete it for her.
The ghost has a bit of spookiness but just the right amount of cuteness to avoid scaring the tiny dolls.
And more importantly Raven loved it.
For November’s to celebrate Dolls-giving, I designed the Snuggly Sweet Bow Pillow.
I was inspired by a human-sized bow pillow I saw at the craft store.
I scaled it down for dolls.
If there’s one thing I can’t resist, it’s bows!
December wrapped up the year with the Cozy Holiday Light Pillow.
I drew my inspiration from the festive lights in my neighborhood.
This design took countless tweaks, but the final result was perfect for holiday-themed doll photo stories.
Looking Back and Moving Forward
I can’t believe I actually created 12 pillows in 12 months.
When I started, I didn’t realize how much I’d learn not just about pattern drafting but about flexibility, creativity, and perseverance.
Some designs took far more trial and error than expected, but every challenge led to growth.
In 2025, my next new adventure begins: designing skirts for Allie!
If you’d like to join me, you can support the project on Ko-fi, where all patterns are free for supporters, or you can find them in our shop.
Thank you for following along with the 12 Months, 12 Pillows series.
I hope you’ll stick around for the next chapter!
Let’s Chat
Have you ever taken on a challenge related to your dolls, whether it’s crafting, sewing, or something else in the hobby?
What was it, and how did it turn out?
If not, is there a doll-related challenge you’d love to try?
Share your stories in the comments below.
I’d love to hear about your creative adventures!
