DIY Dog Bed Project

If you don't like it when your dog jumps into bed with you in the middle of the night, make it a bed of its own. A dog bed will not only provide your dog with comfort, but you as well. Dog beds are small and padded, and are often covered in a soft material. To make a dog bed at home, use a fluffy pillow for padding and an old sweater for the cover.

Things You'll Need

  • Extra-large sweater
  • Yardstick
  • Chalk marking pencil
  • Pins
  • Thread
  • Sewing machine
  • Scissors
  • Crib-size quilt batting
  • Yarn
  • Tapestry needle
  • Large pillow, rectangular or rounded
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Instructions

    • 1

      Turn the sweater inside out. Mark a line with a chalk marking pencil across the sweater from shoulder to shoulder. Use a yardstick to keep the line straight. Fold the sweater front to back and pin it together.

    • 2

      Stitch along the chalk mark line with a sewing machine. Use thread that matches the color of the sweater. Cut off the portion of the sweater above the stitch line. Cut ½ inch above the stitch line. Remove the pins.

    • 3

      Mark a line with a chalk marking pencil across the sweater from armpit to armpit. Use a yardstick to keep the line straight. Fold the sweater front to back and pin it together. Sew along the line with a sewing machine.

    • 4

      Pull the arms together in front of the sweater to form a circle. Remove the pins and turn the sweater right side out.

    • 5

      Measure the length of the arm tube from end to end. Divide the measurement by two. Cut two pieces of batting to this length. Stuff one length of batting into each arm.

    • 6

      Slip the cuff on the left arm into the cuff on the right arm. Sew the cuffs together using a tapestry needle and thread that matches the sweater.

    • 7

      Slide a pillow inside the body of the sweater. Squeeze the pillow, while it is inside of the sweater, inside of arm tube. If the sweater is too large, trim the excess with scissors.

    • 8

      Mark the perimeter of the pillow insert on the top and bottom with a chalk mark pencil. Leave ½ inch of allowance on both the top and bottom.

    • 9

      Remove the pillow and sew the top and bottom of the perimeter together. Leave a 9-inch opening on one side.

    • 10

      Insert the pillow through the opening. Sew it closed with yarn that matches the sweater.

    • 11

      Pull the arm tube around the pillow so it is taught. Sew the bottom of the bed to the arm tube, which becomes the side walls of the bed, with yarn that matches the sweater.