18" Doll: Wooden Folding Drying Rack

SHOPPING LIST: (You may have some of these pieces on-hand as SCRAP)

5/8" square dowel    -    2@ 16.5" long (cross arms)  

5/8" square dowel    -   4@ 9" long 

heavy string/twine    -    6 feet long

#8-32x1-1/2" machine bolt    -    1 (for cross mechanism)

#8-32 machine screw nut    -    1 (for cross mechanism)

tape measure

small hand saw

drill

counter-sink bit

3/16" drill bit

1.25" screw (4)

sand paper (120 grit works well for this)

wood putty to fill holes and knots

Paint or stain to finish your piece (if desired)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.    Mark your sizes on your wood and cut out your pieces.  (I always mark the wood with sizes AND where it is to be used (leg, side) so that I can move faster when building.

2.    Sand your pieces (on the ends to be joined, at least, if not completely).  You don't want to deal with edges that won't join cleanly and snugly.

3.    You should now have 6 pieces like this:

4.    On the 16.5" legs, mark 7" in from ONE side on both leg pieces.  Then, using a countersink bit, pre-drill holes on-center at the 7" mark.  These will be your crossed "legs".  Mark the side that you measured 7" from....this will be your "bottom" of the legs (pictured here on right side):

5.    Now....using a 3/16" drill bit:

 6.    ...drill into the center of each end (4 drilled holes total) of the 16.5" legs:

 7.    Now mark the center of each 9" piece (4.5").  Pre-drill each center mark using a countersink bit:

 8.    We are going the make the "bottom" arms first, so that it can stand up.  Place your 16.5" legs together so that drilled holes meet but face out OPPOSITE of each other.  Insert your 1.5" machine screw through the drilled hole, and secure the nut to the screw on the other side.  (The pre-drilled countersink bit holes provide an indented place for the screw head and nut to rest.)  You should now have a "hinged X".

9.    Using 1.25" screws, drill through the 9" board "center mark" into the drilled holes on the "bottom" side of your 16.5" legs.

 10.    Now take your 2 remaining 9" pieces and line them up together.  Using a ruler or tape measure, mark (from left to right) the following holes: 1.5", 3", 4.5" (already drilled), 6", 7.5".  Using a countersink bit, drill COMPLETELY through the marks (make sure they are centered on boards) to the other side of your wood.

11.    Next, using 1.25" screws, drill through the 4.5" center mark (9" boards) into the holes you drilled at the ends of the 16.5" legs:

12.    Last step:  Make a knot in one end of the string, and wrap a piece of tape around the other end of the string.  Thread the taped side of the string through the arm holes, starting at the OUTSIDE BOTTOM of one arm, then UP through the outside hole, ACROSS to the opposite arm, DOWN through that hole, OVER to the hole next door, UP through that hole, and then ACROSS to the opposite arm and DOWN through that hole.  TIE OFF in a tight knot.  REPEAT for the other side of the X.

You now have a cute little addition to your doll world!!  Accessorize and ENJOY!!

Straw hat: Hobby Lobby

Metal Tubs: Michaels

Wooden Crate: Michaels

Baby: Target

Apples: folk art from family trip

Clothespins from Michaels:

Please feel free to use these plans to build furniture, for sale or for pleasure, but please do not sell the PLANS as your "own".  Please also give credit to me and link back here!  I hope you enjoy them!!

***I am NOT LIABLE for any plans featured here. Please take every precaution and use your own discretion to make sure these toys are safe for children to play with them.