Pet Bed Tutorial - anyone can sew this in just 5 steps and 15 minutes!

We don't have a pet - but my daughters love their cuddly toys.  They asked me recently to make them little beds - so modelling them on ones I've seen in the junk mail catalogues, I made these simple ones. Well my elder daughter (aged 8) actually made the bigger one herself! They really are easy! 

Here's how:

Step 1.

Choose the size you want the bed to be, and cut a paper circle that size. 

(We used kitchen plates and bowls to find the right sizes for our animals). Then use this to cut a circle from your fabric.

Now you have to use your maths skills!!

Don't panic - it's EASY! Grab a calculator!

Remember π from school? Well here's your chance to use it!

You need to know what the length of the outside of your circle is - 

(this is the circumference)

To calculate this use 2πr

Or put in simpler terms 2 x 3.14 x the distance from the centre to the outside of your circle.

So fold your paper circle in quarters and measure the straight side.

This is 'r'

So for my one here, r was  11cm, so the length around the circle was 2 x 3.14 x 11cm = 69cm

Add an extra cm to this to allow for seams and cut a rectangle of fabric this length and as wide as you want the padded tube at the edge of the bed to be.  For this simply loop a piece of paper around to make the size you want and measure that.

So basically your materials are: 1 circle of fabric, 1 rectangle of fabric and some stuffing (I used an old pillow).

Phew! That's the trickiest bit done !  Now to the easiest part - sewing it!

Step 2.

Fold your rectangle in half , then pin and stitch to form a loop.

Step 3.

Now fold your loop in half, wrong sides together to form a tube. Pin and stitch - leaving a gap of about 6cm (2.5") for stuffing.

Step 4.

Now you have to pin and stitch this tube to the edge of your circle. Once again leave a gap for stuffing - the same gap you left in the tube.

Step 5

Stuff the outer tube, pushing the stuffing all the way around evenly. Then pin and stitch the opening closed.

DONE!

Now you have one cute little pet bed:

Obviously the amount of fabric and stuffing you will need depends on the size of your 'pets' .

'Real' pet beds would need to be considerably bigger than these toy pet beds - but made in the same way.

I would recommend using nice soft fabric like fleece - it won't fray and will stretch nicely with the filling in for a softer bed!

I used soft velour for these toy pet beds.  You might also want to use a double layer for the base to make it a little softer for a 'real' pet!

The animals tell me they're very happy with their new sleeping arrangements!

And here's my daughter sewing hers:

For the downloadable PDF version of this tutorial, click here.

For more tutorials of things to make in just 5 steps and 15 minutes - go here.

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