HOW TO MAKE A DIY NO SEW DOG BED

How To Make A Dog Bed

I have a very cute dog named Seamus. He is a chocolate lab and he is a character, for sure!  He is also quite lazy and loves sleeping.  He was in need of a DIY no-sew dog bed!

Recently I bought a dog bed from Amazon. I like it and my dog seems to think it is comfortable BUT if I wash it I have to take the whole thing apart and remove the cover while setting aside the multitude of little pieces of stuffing inside.  I do not like that!

In figuring out how to make a new pet bed, I made a DIY no-sew dog bed and it is so very simple!  Plus the fabric I chose is fleece and I am very happy with that.

Fleece is cozy and in this tutorial, it covers a big soft pillow that my dog loves. I came up with the perfect indoor bed for my dog that is both removable and washable.  Add that to the fact that it is totally affordable and it becomes the perfect fabric for a beloved dog.  If you want something for yourself, be sure to check out my tutorial for a no-sew fleece blanket.

One nice thing about making your dog bed out of fleece is that you can match your prints and colors to match your home decor.  I am always impressed by the beautiful fleece available and it is not hard to find pieces that will look great in your home.

 

This step by step tutorial will work for just about any size dog bed you want to make (either rectangle, square, or circle-shaped ) and I have included a video below.

***This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.  Read my full disclosures here.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE GREAT SELECTION OF FLEECE AT HOBBY LOBBY!

 

How To Make A DIY No Sew Dog Bed

With this tutorial, you can use just about any size pillow.  A small pillow just like the one you sleep on is perfect for a small dog or even a cat.  For a large dog, you will need to buy something bigger.  Base your pillow purchase on the size of your pet.

Let get to it!

Gather Your Supplies

• A nice soft pillow or pet bed insert in the size of your choice
• Two pieces of fleece (see size notes in step one)
• Fabric scissors

That’s it!

I suggest that you pick a colored fleece and/or a print.  Buying something too light will show dirt and animal hair too easily.

You can either follow the step by step instruction or scroll down to watch the video.

Step One: Let’s talk about measuring the fleece and how much to buy.  You want to buy a piece of fleece that is 4″ larger than your pillow on all sides.  If your pillow measures 20″ X 30″ you need two pieces of fleece that measure 24″ X 34″.  Use a measuring tape to find the size of your pillow by measuring from side to side (both vertically and horizontally).  Cut your fleece to the correct measurement.

Step Two: Lay your fleece out on a hard surface. I have hardwood floors and they work great for this project. Tile floors in the kitchen will work just fine.  Make sure your fleece pieces are “right-side” out. In general, fleece has no “right side” but just in case make sure the sides you want to see are facing out.

Step Three: Using your scissors simply cut into the fleece approximately every inch. In other words, cut 3-1/2 to 4″ into your fleece at 1″ apart.  You will automatically create the squared-out corners as you cut.

Step Four: Now you will have to get down on the floor for this step.  Tie each set of cut fleece together all the way around your pieces, leaving an opening that your pillow will fit through.  Once you stuff the pillow between the pieces simply tie the rest of the way around your fleece.  When you make your ties be sure to tie firmly, but not to tight that you can not untie them.  Keeping them tied firmly (but not overly tight) will keep the pillow in place but also allow you to untie the bed enough to remove the cover to wash it.  You will also be able to wash the pillow or trade it out with another one when needed.

Step Five: Round up your pet and let them relax on their new bed!

DIY Dog Bed

I have found that many of the larger pillow sizes that are available are round.  This presents a small challenge in measuring, but because of the flexibility of the fleece, it is completely doable!  The pillow I purchased is 42″ around. I will need to cut my fleece pieces into 46″ circles.  From there I cut the fringes the same as in Step Three but you will not end up with any cut-out corners.

Once you cut all the way around your fleece pieces you will tie all the way around, leaving an opening for your pillow before completing the circle.

Easy peasy!

This project is easy to make and it will make your pet happy and comfortable.

If you want to wash your dog bed you can simply untie the cover until you are able to remove your pillow.  Do not untie all the way around or you will have a hard time matching up your pieces when you want to reassemble the bed.  Toss the dog bed cover in the washing machine and wash it on “normal” in either cold or warm water.  You can either hang the cover on the line to dry or dry it on medium in the dryer.

Fleece is a very forgiving fabric the cover will look great even after several washes.

You could also wash the pillow depending on what kind your purchase.  And feel free to replace the pillow if needed since they are quite affordable, especially the smaller sizes.

DIY NO SEW LARGE DOG BED

Please feel free to comment or message me with any questions!

Happy DIYing!

Here is Seamus enjoying his bed.  Honestly, he spends most of his “in the house” time right here, being all comfy:

Click here to see more DIY projects for your pets:

DIY Projects For Your Pets

If you love using fleece for DIY projects you will not want to miss this one:

DIY Tied Fleece Blanket Tutorial

And these ones will work if you want to make a pillow for YOU!:

Cozy Sweater To Pillow

$2 Pillow Cover Tutorial

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