Homemade Dog Beds

Project: Homemade Dog Beds

This project is about how to make fast and easy homemade dog beds. This project is very inexpensive, and a great opportunity to use vintage fabric you can find cheap at flea markets and the like. If you like, you can purchase specialty fabrics from a fabric store. Just do whatever fits your budget the best.

Now I must also be honest with you, I never sewed myself until this past December. I knew how to make patterns and how to put together fabrics. I also sold my own dog beds for my company for 19+ years. However, it was not until this December when I received a sewing machine that I learned how to sew and fell in love with it. That said, you can make this project by sewing, but it turns out just as nice if you join your fabric with high quality fabric glue, such as the product made by VELCRO® glue. This brand stands up to repeated washings.

You can used the techniques I'll teach you today to make many different styles of homemade dog beds, but the one we will make today is the most basic. As you learn the steps, I promise to give you some more styles in the near future.

Fast and Easy Homemade Dog Beds and Covers

Here is the list of what you will need to make this first style of fast and easy homemade dog beds and covers. Personally, I like to make multiple covers for my dog's beds so I can easily change them out for washing.

Supplies

• A sewing machine/or non-toxic fabric glue
• Thread and a needle if you choose to sew by hand
• One pre-made square or round pillow: I like to use down-filled pillows for my boys, but I also use poly-filled pillows. Make sure your pillow has a good muslin cover on it, and that the basic size is right for your dog. A good rule of measurment is 25" x 25" for a small bed, 36" x 36" for a medium and 40" x 40" for a large bed.
• VELCRO® tape: I buy mine by the yard because it is much less expensive this way. It comes in many colors to match your fabric. If you can sew and want to make button holes, or put a zipper in, by all means do so. As I have not yet learned how to put a zipper in or make button holes, I prefer to use Velcro tape.
• Your choice of durable fabric: The amount you'll need will depend on the size of your pillow. You want enough fabric to fully cover the pillow while still leaving an extra two inches around the outside edge for your seam. Hint: Wash, dry and gently iron your fabric before gluing or sewing. Most fabrics will shrink a bit and this will ensure the fabric you cut will still fit your pillow after that first wash.

Directions

• Set out your pillow, measure it, and then lay out your pre-washed fabric. Make sure it will go all the way around your pillow before cutting it to fit the shape, remembering to leave an extra two inches all the way around for your seam.
• First you'll fold over and glue or hem the top of your fabric on one of the shorter sides on the back side of the pattern. This will create the opening you'll eventually slide your pillow into.
• Next, fold your fabric in half length-wise with the pattern facing inward, and sew or glue the three remaining sides together, leaving the orignal hemmed area open. This creates a sort of pillow case.
• Next, cut a length of Velcro tape long enough to fit across the opening of your pillow case from end to end. Turn your pillow case right side out, and glue the assembled sides of the Velcro along the inside, outermost edge of your hemmed opening on both sides so that when the glue is dried you can pull your case open to insert your pillow.
• Finally, slide your pillow into your finished case and Velcro the opening closed. Now you have your basic homemade dog bed!

I hope you give this project a try. Once you've made one cover for your pillow bed, you can make more so you have fresh ones to switch when you wash. I promise your dogs will just love your fast and easy homemade dog beds better than store-bought, plain dog beds.

More Tips from Wendy

• Homemade Dog Collar Holder
• Homemade Dog Ribbon Organizer