DIY Prairie Mattress {Little House on the Prairie}

One of the most fun and practical hands-on activities you can include in your Little House on the Prairie Unit Study is learning how to make a DIY prairie mattress. In Laura Ingalls Wilder’s world, families made do with what they had. In this case, they used old cloth, blankets, or fabric scraps to create soft bedding for their log cabins. This activity lets children step into pioneer life while practicing creativity, resourcefulness, and basic sewing skills.

Read More! Click here if you’d like to learn a bit more about our plans for this Little House on the Prairie Unit study and to see all the bits and pieces in our adventure box.

Why Include This in Your Little House on the Prairie Unit Study?

• Historical connection: Children experience how pioneers lived day-to-day.
• Practical skills: Teaches sewing, layering, and repurposing materials.
• Creative and hands-on: Kids see immediate results from their work.
• Eco-friendly: Uses old clothes and fabric scraps, just like the Ingalls family might have.

This project is perfect for bringing the stories of Little House in the Big Woods or Little House on the Prairie to life.

Materials Needed

• Small duvet cover or pillowcase (to act as the mattress shell)
• Old t-shirts, sweaters, towels, or fabric scraps
• Needle and thread (or a sewing machine)
• Scissors
• Pins or clips
• Optional: ribbon, lace, or buttons for decoration

Check it out! Click here to find out how we made some prairie nightdresses from a couple of pillowcases

Step-by-Step: How to Make a DIY Prairie Mattress

1. Prepare Your Mattress Cover

Choose a small duvet cover or pillowcase. Wash and iron it flat so it’s ready to fill.

2. Gather and Cut Filling Materials

Collect soft, washable fabrics—t-shirts, sweaters, towels, or leftover scraps. Cut them into manageable pieces to layer evenly inside your mattress.

3. Layer the Filling

Open your duvet cover and start adding layers of fabric. Fluff and smooth as you go to create a comfortable, even surface.

4. Shape the Mattress

Press and shake the mattress to make sure the filling is evenly distributed. Ensure the corners are full for a nice, square shape.

5. Close and Sew

Fold over the open edge and sew it closed by hand or machine. Optional: stitch around the edges to secure the filling further.

6. Optional Decoration

• Add ribbons or lace to tie the edges
• Sew small buttons for a tufted effect
• Make a tiny pillow or blanket from scraps

Learning Extensions for Your Little House on the Prairie Unit Study

• Compare historical and modern bedding: Talk about how pioneer families made mattresses with what they had versus how we sleep today.
• Math skills: Measure and layer materials for a uniform mattress.
• Literature tie-in: Have children imagine which book scene this mattress could belong in—Little House in the Big Woods or Little House on the Prairie.
• Creative writing: Let kids write a short diary entry from the perspective of a child sleeping on a prairie mattress.

Why Kids Love This Activity

Making a DIY prairie mattress allows children to experience a little of what life was like for Laura Ingalls and her siblings. They can touch and feel how pioneers used simple materials to create comfort, and it becomes a tangible connection to the stories they’re reading.

Learning how to make a DIY prairie mattress is a fun, hands-on way to bring history alive in your Little House on the Prairie Unit Study. It’s inexpensive, eco-friendly, and full of opportunities for creativity, problem-solving, and historical understanding.

This is more than just a craft—it’s a pioneer experience, right in your own home!

For more activities please do visit my MEGA Little House on the Prairie Unit Study page, which contains all ten weeks of our summer building our own Little House on the Prairie!