This is my new sewing companion. If I’m in the sewing room he is too. If I’m in the kitchen, so is Basso. If I’m in the office, guess who is curled up under my chair? It seems Basso wants to be certain we aren’t going to leave him. (Basso had been living in a rescue kennel for a year).
Even though I am constantly stepping over him, I like having his company in the sewing room and thought I would show my appreciation by making him a dog bed. Side note: A new dog is not cheap. There is the adoption fee, the crate, the bed, the bowls, toys, collar, leash and food plus replacing chewed up socks and now a carpet. I really didn’t want to shell out another $50 on a dog bed. Instead I busted out the fabric scraps and started sewing them up without too much thinking and no planning.
I had seen pictures of foundation piecing quilt blocks and thought I could give it a whirl. Using scraps I felt no fear since it was only my time I was investing. This project felt a little odd to me at first with its anything goes approach. The questions “where to start” and “where to go from here” were slightly daunting until I got into it more.
Right away I avoided using very light color fabrics (dogs and dirt seem to go together) and fabrics I can’t throw into the washer & dryer. I also began to sort my scraps into piles based on colors. That helped speed up my fabric selection and decisions.
I layered up polyester quilt batting (6 layers!) that I had purchased and started to cut into for a project that needed cotton batting. Perfect use and some satisfaction that I used that batting for something.
The thickness made it impossible to quilt so I tied the top, batting and back together at various points with embroidery thread.
I also ended up hand stitching the binding on to the quilt top all the way around. I see now I should have sewn the back and top like a pillow case. Then I could stuff the batting in and close by hand only one short end. Lesson learned.
Basso was more interested in the camera than his new bed but since this photo he has adopted it as his napping place. Good boy, Basso.
4 Comments on Fabric Scraps Dog Bed
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Beautiful finished product and beautiful pooch!!
I would love my dog to sit with me while I sew – instead he is petrified of the sewing machine and hides in a corner in another room!!
Thanks.
Great job! I used my old comforter off my bed to make one for my dog! I cut it 73″x37″ after sewing all the way around it to secure the batting inside. Then I sewed a zipper in so it looked like tube, then sewed down each side. Turn it right side out and voila! You have a dog bed that’s already stuffed and machine washable!!!
That’s clever.