How to Sew Dog Bed Bolsters

A dog bed with a bolster provides a dog security, by surrounding the dog with a soft, comfortable barrier between it and the world. According to the Pet Education web site, ̶0;beds offer your dog the sense of security of having a place of her own.̶1; Your dog will appreciate having a bolster as a new attachment for its bed -- don't be surprised if your dog starts spending more time in its own bed and less time on the couch.

Things You'll Need

  • Fabric
  • Scissors or Pinking Shears
  • Iron
  • Compass
  • Fabric pencil
  • Straight pins
  • Needle
  • Thread
  • Poly-fill fiber
  • Sewing machine
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Instructions

  1. Preparing the Fabric

    • 1

      Measure the edge or edges of the dog bed to which you are going to attach the bolster.

    • 2

      Measure your fabric. A toy-sized dog bed bolster is typically 7 inches in circumference, so your fabric should be 8 inches wide. Add 2 inches for medium-sized dog bed bolsters, 4 inches four large-sized dog beds, and 6 inches for giant-sized dog bed bolsters.

    • 3

      Fold your strip of fabric in half lengthwise. The ̶0;wrong̶1; side of your fabric should face outward. Measure 1/2 inch in from all three edges and mark with a broken line. This line is your seam allowance.

    • 4

      Pin the edges of the fabric̵7;s long side together.

    Sewing the Bolster

    • 5

      Sew along the long side edges, using the broken line as a guide. Finish off thread.

    • 6

      Turn the tube inside out. The ̶0;right̶1; side of the fabric should now be on the outside.

    • 7

      Stuff the tube with polyfill fiber. Pack the filling very tight, until the bolster is round. If you are stuffing a bolster for a square or a rectangular bed, mark the location of the corners and stuff lightly at those locations. Leave enough empty space at each end to sew the bolster shut.

    • 8

      Tuck in the fabric at each end and sew the ends shut. If making a round, square, or rectangular bolster, tuck the fabric under and sew the ends together, leaving enough of a gap to finish stuffing as needed. Sew the remaining gap together after you have finished stuffing the bolster.

    • 9

      Sew the bolster to the dog bed.

    Circular Ends

    • 10

      Make circular ends for a neater look on a straight bolster attached to only one edge of a dog bed.

    • 11

      Make and stuff the bolster as before, leaving the ends of the tube open. Use a compass to draw a circle on your fabric 1/2 inch larger in circumference than the circumference of the tube.

    • 12

      Fold the excess fabric to the wrong side of the fabric and iron in place. Fold the raw edges of the tube under about 1/2 inch and iron in place.

    • 13

      Sew the finished edges together, leaving space to finish stuffing the tube. After you have stuffed the tube as full as desired, sew the remaining space closed and finish the thread off.