Making your own dog cushion is also cheaper than buying one at the pet supply store, can be made in a fabric that matches your decor and is easier than you may think.
Things You'll Need
- Sturdy washable fabric
- Stuffing material
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Pins
- Newspaper
Instructions
Make a pattern. Dog cushions can be any shape--square, circular, oval, even bone-shaped. Of course you also want to make the cushion the right size for your dog. It should be just big enough for her to stretch out on comfortably but not so big that she gets lost in the middle.
Choose your fabric. You want fabric that is tough enough to withstand digging and plumping with dog claws. Machine washable is also always an important factor.
Cut the cushion out. Lay your newspaper pattern and on your fabric. You will need two of your shape--one for the top and one for the bottom. Pin the pattern to the material to get a neat, professional cut.
Sew and stuff. Sew the edges of the cushion, right sides of the fabric together, leaving a few inches unsewn. Turn right side out and stuff.
Give to your dog. Dogs are opportunists; if it's on the floor and soft, odds are good he will plop down on it immediately and take a nap.
Take a page from your newspaper and draw your pattern on it. Add a 1/2-inch seam allowance, and cut it out with scissors.
How much fabric you need is determined by how big your dog cushion needs to be. For smaller cushions, you may already have the perfect fabric left over from some other sewing project. For bigger cushions, or if you just don't have what you want, check the remnant bin at your local fabric store. Look at fabric (not vinyl) tablecloths at the thrift store. Buy a new twin bed sheet at Wal-Mart for less than $5.
You can stuff the cushion with just about anything, including old clothing, old pillows, tattered blankets and towels or polyester fiberfill. Whatever you use, don't stuff the cushion too tightly.
Once the cushion is stuffed, hand stitch the unsewn edges together.