Supplies You’ll Need
A safe surface to cut and measure fabric on (I’m using my fabric board)
Rotary cutter and/or scissors (I like using both)
Measuring tape and acrylic ruler
Thread in your color of choice
Sewing machine (a basic one will do just fine for this project)
Fabric (enough for your desired size)
Filling of choice: batting, old blankets, or pet-safe stuffing
Step 1: Measure and Cut Your Fabric
Fold your fabric in half and decide how big you want your pet bed to be.
For reference, I’m making mine for a little cat house, so it’s on the smaller side.
Use your measuring tape and ruler to mark your dimensions, then cut through both layers of fabric.
Tip: If you’re repurposing old fabric, make sure it’s clean and free of loose threads or embellishments that could be unsafe for pets.
Step 2: Pin and Prep for Sewing
Flip the fabric inside out, with the right sides (the “pretty” sides) touching each other.
Pin around about 2¾ sides of the fabric’s perimeter, leaving a small section open for turning and stuffing later.
My machine settings for this project:
Tension: 3 for a flat finish (or you can bump it up to 4 for a more puckered, quilted look)
Stitch type: Straight stitch
Stitch length: 3.0 (or 2.0 if you like tighter stitches)
Stitch width: 0
Step 3: Sew It Up
Sew along the pinned edges, following your line and removing pins as you go. And please do not sew over pins. It’s just not worth losing an eye or injuring yourself.
Make sure to leave a small opening. I made sure it was large enough for my fist to fit through.
Once you’ve finished sewing, carefully flip the fabric right side out through that opening.
It should look like this after you’ve flipped it inside out.
Step 4: Stuff the Bed
Now comes the fun part: stuffing!
You can use whatever pet-safe material you have around, such as batting, old shirts, fleece scraps, or even shredded blankets all work great.
Push the filling inside evenly so your pet has a comfy, consistent surface to lie on.
Step 5: Close the Opening
That little gap we left earlier? Time to stitch it close!
Tuck the raw edges inward so they line up neatly with the rest of the seam, but don’t stress if it’s not perfect. I highly doubt your pet will care.
Pin it in place, then sew a straight stitch using the same machine settings as before.
Remove the pins as you go. And just like that, you’ve got a handmade pet bed!
Don’t forget to take pictures!
If you’d like, you can always quilt it to prevent the stuffing from moving around, but I personally didn’t want to put in the effort for such a small bed.
If you’re wanting to keep it cleaner longer, you can always make a pillow cover using the same basic steps above!
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