How to Make a Dog Bed

Making a dog bed is a fun and rewarding experience for you and your dog. This dog bed is an easy craft that doesn't cost much, and simple sewing projects like this one are a great way to hone your sewing skills.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fabric
• Batting
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine

Get Ready to Sew

1. Take your dog's length measurement as she's lying on the floor. Make sure you allow enough room on all sides for her to be comfortable. For a medium-sized dog, like a Golden Retriever, this measurement will be about 3 ½ feet.

2. Gather your materials. You'll need fabric for the the bed, and any washable fabric works well. If you wish, use a different material in a contrasting color for the top of the bed (some people like a color that matches their dogs' fur). You'll also need batting, sharp scissors, a measuring tape, straight pins and a sewing machine.

3. Measure your fabrics. Use the measurement you took in Step 1. Cut both fabrics this same length.

4. Use extra-loft batting, and fold it so it's four layers thick. Cut the batting two inches shorter than the fabrics (see Step 3). Make sure the batting is two inches shorter than the material in width as well as length (you may need to cut your batting in two different directions).

5. Pin your fabrics with the right sides together. Place your pins 1 ½ inch away from the edges for your seam allowance. Repeat this process for three sides of the fabric, leaving one side open.

Sew a Bed for Your Best Friend

6. Sew your fabrics together. Follow the lines of pins to make your seams. Sew up the three sides of the fabric you pinned.

7. Cut the corners of the fabric. With the fabric still wrong side out, place your scissors at the corners and make a small cut. Cut close to, but not through, the seams. This makes the corners of the dog bed look neater.

8. Turn the fabric right side out. Roll up the batting, insert it through the open side of the dog bed, then carefully unroll it and smooth it out.

Finish Up Your Dog Bed

9. Fold under the top and bottom fabrics on the side of the dog bed that's still open, then pin both fabrics together. Place your pins as close to the edge of the bed as possible.

10. Stitch the fabrics together on your sewing machine, keeping your stitches as close to the edge as you can.

11. Back-tack the last inch or so of the seam to make it extra durable.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove the pins as you sew close to them. Never sew over a pin, as you can break your needle and damage your sewing machine.