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This is a proper miniature wardrobe scaled for American Girl or other 18" dolls: a 1x12 box with a shelf and a dowel closet rod inside, two doors on the front, and a cute jigsaw-cut star as the signature detail. It's small, cheap, and a great gift — but it has real casework in it (doors, hinges, a rod), so it teaches more than it looks like.
The one measurement to verify before cutting is your 1x10's actual width. The design assumes 9-1/4"; if yours differs, the shelf and top change. The math the source gives is worth following: shelf width is the 1x10 width times two plus a half inch, and the top is that plus another 1-1/2". Get this right and the box goes together square.
The doors are cut 1/4" shorter than the opening for clearance and hung on inset (non-mortise) hinges, with a small clasp to keep them shut — a doll closet gets opened and closed constantly. The star is genuinely easy: draw it with a compass to get the angles even, then cut it out with a jigsaw making straight cuts and clean the edges up with a file. Practice the star on a scrap first so the real one comes out crisp.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x12 board, 8 ftBox top, sides, shelf. | 1 each |
| 1x10 board, 6 ftDoors. Verify actual width before cutting. | 1 each |
| 1/4" plywood backerboard, 20-1/2" x 28-3/4" | 1 each |
| Base moulding or 1x3 footer | 1 each |
| Top edge moulding | 1 each |
| Wood dowel for closet rod | 1 each |
| Rod pockets | 2 each |
| Inset cabinet hingesEuro-style butt non-mortise for full overlay/inset. | 4 each |
| Clasp or hasp | 1 each |
| Wood screws, 2" and finish nails | 30 each |
| Wood glue | 3 oz |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Box sides1x12 | 2 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 28" |
| Top1x12 | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 20 1/2" |
| Shelf1x12Width = 1x10 width x2 + 1/2"; verify against your stock. | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/4" × 19" |
| Bottom1x10 | 1 | 3/4" × 9 1/4" × 19" |
| Backerboard1/4" plywood | 1 | 1/4" × 20 1/2" × 28 3/4" |
| Footer moulding / 1x3Moulding or 1x3 | 1 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 20 1/2" |
| Doors1x10Cut 1/4" less than the opening height for clearance. | 2 | 3/4" × 9 1/4" × 24 1/2" |
Buy 5 boards at 8 ft.
2 boards
1 board
1 board
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Measure your 1x10's actual width. If it's 9-1/4" you're set; otherwise adjust the cabinet. The shelf width is that width times two plus a half inch, and the top is that plus another 1-1/2". Build the box with countersunk 2" screws and glue (or pocket screws), setting the shelf where you like — screwed in place or on shelf pins for adjustability. Adjust for square.
Cut the 1/4" backerboard to fit and attach it, using it to pull the cabinet square as you fasten.
If you're using moulding, add it to the top edge and the bottom with 1-1/4" finish nails and glue. Inside, mount the rod pockets and set the dowel closet rod so the doll's clothes can hang.
Cut the doors 1/4" less than the overall opening height for clearance and hang them on inset (non-mortise) hinges; standard face-mount hinges also work. Add a clasp or hasp to keep them shut — a doll closet gets played with constantly.
Draw the star with a compass so the angles come out even — practice on a scrap first. Cut it from the door fronts with a jigsaw using straight cuts, then file the edges smooth. Sand the whole cabinet and paint or stain it.
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