TUTORIAL: Simple Pet Bed

Every pet should have a cozy place to call their own.  Here is a super easy, super quick way to make your pet happy.  You'll need some scrap fabric, a little fleece or minky, some batting and about 30 minutes (maybe less).  Really!

This pet bed is a circle with a plush lip all the way around.  The ones I made were for guinea pigs, so they were quite small with an 11" diameter, but can easily be modified to fit your pet. Read on after the jump to find out how to make one for your furry friend!

STEP 1 - Determine the diameter of the bed

Figure out how large you want the diameter of the bed to be.  You may want to add an inch to accommodate for the seam allowance, although it really doesn't matter too much!

Use this number to determine the circumference of the bed.  Either do the math: Pi (3.14) times Diameter (C=pD); or take the easy way out and use an online calculator like THIS ONE. 

STEP 2:  Cut the fabric

Cut 3 circles (exterior fabric, interior fabric & batting)

I use a circle cutting template for my circles, but there are lots of other methods...

Cut 1 long strip of exterior fabric the length of the circumference x 8" ( If you are making a bed that is larger than 14", you may want to increase the width for higher sides)

Cut a strip of batting the same size.

All together you will have 2 pieces of exterior fabric, 1 circle of interior fabric and 2 pieces of batting.

STEP 3: Create the Bed Base

Place the exterior fabric right side down on your worktable.  Place the batting on top, and the fleece/minky on last (right side up).  The batting will be sandwiched between the other two pieces.

Pin in place and sew all the way around the perimeter using a 1/2" seam allowance.

 

If you have a serger, serge the raw edges, if not, trim and zig zag.

Put this aside for later.

STEP 4:  Create the SIDES

Place the long exterior strip right side up on top of the long strip of batting

Baste (I took a short cut and only tacked the short ends, but you can sew around the entire perimeter to make the next step easier)

 Bring the two short edges together (exterior fabrics right side together, batting facing out) and sew using a 1/2" seam.  This will create a tube.

Fold the tube in half bringing all of the raw edges together, exterior fabric facing out, and pin along the raw edges.  This is going to enclose all the batting.  Don't worry about the raw edges, these will be hidden inside the folds of the bed.

Sew around the perimeter again using a 1/2" seam allowance.

Once again, if you have a serger, serge the raw edge; if not, trim and zig zag.

STEP 5: Assemble the Bed

Turn the tube so the raw edge is facing upward and place the circle base that you set aside and pin together so the fleece/minky is facing upwards.

Sew in place.

Turn right side out - the sewn edges will tuck nicely into the folds of the bed.

You are FINISHED!