On Monday night we found out that my friend Tara’s three-and-a-half year old daughter, Molly, broke her arm and needed surgery. Luckily, her surgery went smoothly and she was discharged from the hospital the next morning. While there’s never a good time to break a bone, summertime certainly has to be the worst. Because she needed surgery, she’s in a hard cast, which means no swimming, no playing in the sand, being extra-careful, etc. I can’t imagine keeping a preschooler calm and entertained while her siblings run around doing summer things. I know as Molly recovers she’ll be able to do more, but during these early days of camping out on the couch with pillows we wanted to give Molly something that would help the time pass a little faster.
I thought about having Mike swing by the American Girl store to pick up a cast accessory for Molly’s doll (he works by it), but they don’t offer an arm cast. So, I quickly made one for her with felt and glue. It was so easy I made another one for a plush doll we gave her, too!
White Felt
Colored Felt (if you want your cast to have a color)
Velcro
Glue gun or fabric glue
Fabric marking pen/pencil
Scissors
I drew out a pattern for the cast that’s about 5-inches wide by 2.75-inches tall, and cut out a little hole for the doll’s thumb. You can make your own pattern, or you can download my cast pattern here and adjust it for whatever doll you’re making the cast for. Trace the pattern onto your felt and cut it out.
Glue the pieces together. Make sure to really glue down the ends. The glue might make your felt a bit lumpy, but casts are pretty lumpy, too. STUNNING REALISM.
Cut some small pieces of velcro. These are about 1/4-inch pieces.
Glue the soft velcro on one side….
…and the scratchy velcro on the opposite.
That’s it! You’re done! It was so simple that I made another one for Annie’s American Girl doll, too.
Annie insisted that her American Girl doll would still wear sunglasses if she broke her arm. Beauty is pain.
Any questions, let me know!
Denise says:
LOVE THIS! my 7yo has the AG casts, but we are always seeking out more. We will be making this today!
nona says:
That is awesome, Heather! I would have liked a hot pink one, to match the cast I had when I broke my arm (in my 20s.)
amourningmom says:
You are such a thoughtful friend! Hope Molly recovers quickly.
samatwitch says:
How thoughtful of you. It’s too bad she couldn’t have one of those web casts that were being posted around the other day. So much better for summer and scratching and heat!
Heather says:
I know! But because of the surgery she needed, the only option was an old-fashioned plaster cast. Boo!
Cecilia says:
This is perfect timing. My 5 year old daughter is in a sparkly pink foot cast. It’s for therapy though to stretch a very tight muscle in her leg. Finding a perfect time to be in a cast is super tricky even when you have choices on date. At least for her she gets it off every 2 weeks but it’s immediately replaced. A bizzaree moisture tip for your friend is that we vacum it each night. It pulls some moisture out that’s stuck in there. Any tips for making a foot cast for the doll?
Heather says:
Oh, your poor daughter! That’s hard. Hmm, I would think that you could use the same pattern but cut a bigger opening for the foot…but let me try in the morning (Annie is sleeping with her doll right now!).
Heather says:
Alright, I checked on Annie’s doll! If you’re making a leg cast for an American Girl, I’d make it about an inch wider, and cut the hole a little bigger for the foot!
Tam. says:
Sweet and Genius!! The no sew part gives me hope that I’ll be able to “get my craft on ” and succeed!
Megan says:
Wow, the felt really does give it the right texture for a cast! And it matches Annie’s doll’s dress, which I love, btw.
I’m sorry to hear about Molly’s arm. Hope her recovery is quick and as painless as possible.
kate says:
Thank you! Thank you! I am so glad I found this on Pinterest! My daughter has been feeling bad about her arm. She is in hip hop, ballet, tap, and jazz and since braking her arm she has had to sit out a lot. For a dancer that is huge! We went to go get her cast and they told us we have to go back to the hospital and she has to go under and get her bones re-set. She is very nervous. I was looking for something that would make her feel better. This was perfect. It was so easy and I made one for her AG JLY doll Taylor and her GOY Isabelle. I even had her other dolls sign and draw pictures. I can’t wait for her to wake up to go to the hospital and see these. Hopefully this make it not so scary. Thanks again! I havea ffeeling I might be asked to make some for the other dolls including her Ever After High dolls.
Heather says:
Aw, your poor daughter! I hope everything goes smoothly and she’s better soon!
Annie G says:
This is the most adorable craft ever! i found this on pinterest and just made it, easy and beautiful! One of my girls is wearing it right now, thank you!
Heather says:
Oh, that makes me so happy to hear! Thank you!
Vicky says:
Our new puppy chewed the hand/arm on my daughter’s AG Doll. This is perfect until we can afford to send her to the AG hospital for repairs!!!
thank you