Dogs have preferences and special needs, just like we humans. Your four-legged prince or princess may love a small soft and squishy bed, while a more firm and spacious one might work better. Create a dog bed you can be confident your pet will love.
Stuffed Dog Beds
Step 1
Measure your pet from his head to the tip of his tail to help determine the size of bed you wish to make. Add one inch to the measurements for a sewing seam. Use chalk to mark the desired size of square, rectangle or circle on the back side of one layer of fabric.
Step 2
Place the marked layer over a second layer of fabric, with the right sides facing inward. Pin the fabric together. Cut through both layers of fabric, using the chalk line as a guide.
Step 3
Sew around the edge of pinned fabric layers, using a one-inch seam allowance. Leave about one-third of the fabric open for stuffing. Turn the sewn bed shell right-side-out.
Step 4
Use the finished shell for a pattern to cut the bed's stuffing. Trace around the bed with chalk onto high or medium loft cotton batting, if you wish to stuff the bed with the flat filling. Cut more than one layer of the batting if you wish to have a fuller dog bed. Substitute foam padding if you want a more firm bed. Consider, also, the egg-crate textured foam pads for more comfort.
Step 5
Stuff the dog bed with one or more layers of cotton batting or foam. Use bagged fiber filling or small foam pieces if you choose to stuff the bed with handfuls of loose stuffing. Fill the bed as full as you wish.
Step 6
Tuck the one-inch seams of the open edge inside the bed. Hand stitch the seam closed.
No-Sew Dog Beds
Step 1
Create a quick no-sew dog bed from a pillow case. Slip a foam pad or two kitchen chair cushions inside the pillow case, and pin the excess fabric on the under side of the newly formed bed.
Step 2
Stuff a small cloth beanbag chair shell with Styrofoam beads or bags of cotton fiber stuffing for a quick and easy playful-type bed.
Step 3
Purchase a used couch cushion from a thrift store. Unzip the side and remove the stuffing or cushion. Wash the cushion cover. Re-stuff the cushion with a foam pad or soft cotton stuffing.
