A dog bed with bolster sides provides your furry friend with a cozy and comfortable place to rest. Making your own dog bed can be a rewarding project, and you can customize it to fit your dog's size and style.
Materials You'll Need:
- Fabric: Choose a durable and washable fabric. Fleece, cotton, or canvas are good options.
- Filling: Polyfill, foam, or shredded memory foam are suitable choices for the bolster sides and bed base.
- Sewing machine and thread: You'll need a sewing machine and matching thread.
- Scissors: Use sharp scissors to cut your fabric accurately.
- Measuring tape: For measuring the dimensions of your dog bed.
- Pins: To hold the fabric together while sewing.
- Zipper (optional): A zipper can make it easier to remove the cover for washing.
Steps:
1. Measure and Cut Fabric
- Determine the size of the bed: Measure your dog's length and width while they are lying down. Add a few extra inches to allow for comfort and movement.
- Cut the fabric for the bed base: Cut two pieces of fabric to the dimensions of the bed base.
- Cut the fabric for the bolster sides: Cut two pieces of fabric for the bolster sides, making them the length of the bed base plus the desired height of the bolster. The width of the fabric will be the height of the bolster.
2. Assemble the Bolster Sides
- Pin the fabric: Place the two fabric pieces for the bolster sides right sides together. Pin them along the long edge.
- Sew the bolster sides: Sew along the pinned edge, leaving a small opening for turning.
- Turn the bolster sides right side out: Use a turning tool or a blunt object to push the bolster sides out.
- Stuff the bolster sides: Fill the bolster sides with your chosen filling. The filling should be firm but not too tightly packed.
- Sew the opening closed: Close the opening in the bolster sides with a slip stitch or a hidden stitch.
3. Create the Bed Base
- Pin the bed base fabric: Place the two bed base fabric pieces right sides together. Pin all four sides.
- Sew the bed base: Sew around the entire perimeter of the bed base, leaving an opening for turning.
- Turn the bed base right side out: Turn the bed base right side out through the opening.
- Stuff the bed base: Fill the bed base with your chosen filling. The filling should be firm but not too tightly packed.
- Sew the opening closed: Close the opening in the bed base with a slip stitch or a hidden stitch.
4. Attach the Bolster Sides to the Bed Base
- Position the bolster sides: Place the bolster sides around the perimeter of the bed base, ensuring they are evenly spaced.
- Pin the bolster sides to the bed base: Pin the bolster sides to the bed base, matching the raw edges.
- Sew the bolster sides to the bed base: Sew all around the perimeter of the bed base, attaching the bolster sides.
5. Optional: Add a Zipper
- Attach the zipper: If you want a zipper to make it easier to remove the cover for washing, sew a zipper to the bed base before stuffing and attaching the bolster sides.
6. Finish and Enjoy!
- Trim any excess fabric: Trim any excess fabric around the edges of the bed.
- Wash the bed cover: Wash the bed cover in cold water on a gentle cycle.
- Dry the bed cover: Dry the bed cover on a low setting or air dry.
- Place the bed in a comfortable location: Your dog will be ready to enjoy their new, cozy bed!
Tips:
- Use a heavy-duty thread for added durability.
- Consider adding a layer of batting to the bed base for extra cushioning.
- If you have a dog with allergies, choose a hypoallergenic filling.
- Experiment with different fabrics and colors to create a custom look.
Enjoy making your own dog bed and creating a special place for your furry friend to rest and relax.