Make a cozy pet bed using a favorite old sweater. This project is easy-to-make and completely washable.
Got cats? See some recommendations to keep indoors cats safe and happy here.
Turn a Sweater into a Cuddly Pet Bed
Pets have been telling us for years that our clothes are a favorite sleeping spot, so it’s about time we surrender and give them what they want. Resistance is futile.
This DIY pet bed is a quick and easy project made from repurposed items. I used a favorite wool sweater that shrank in the wash.
The stuffing is an old pillow and a rolled up baby blanket. Simple!
If you have a shrunken sweater, you might be able to “unshrink it” – see the instructions here.
The one you see here is an easy-to-wash model with removable stuffing and it took about an hour to make.
I’ll walk you through all the steps. Then I’ll show you what it’s like to try and get a very silly rabbit to pose in his new pet bed.
Skill Level & Options
Basic sewing skills and installing a zipper (optional).
Planning
Pick a garment you know your pet likes. I used a shrunken wool sweater.
Tip: It’s much easier to work with a sweater that has a round neck. Mine was a V neck—not as simple. The goal is to have enough fabric there to be able to easily sew it shut or attach a zipper.
Options
A. Removable stuffing. You will either add a zipper, snaps, Velcro, or an extra flap of fabric tuck in and to keep the stuffing accessible.
B. Sew the whole thing shut. If may still be washable but difficult to dry thoroughly this way.
Supplies
- Pet’s favorite sweater
- Stuffing
(1) Square decorative pillow the size of the body of the sweater (see b) pillow in diagram). - (1) Fleece baby blanket. To determine length, measure your sweater from Cuff #1 to Cuff #2. You want it big enough to roll up like a tube, approximately 4” in diameter. If your blanket is too big, you can cut it down and the fleece won’t fray. You could also use two smaller blankets.
- (1) Zipper (optional for removable stuffing model).
Tip: Decide if you will be making the neck or bottom open-able and use that measurement for your zipper, Velcro, or snaps – whichever you prefer. - Sewing supplies – needle, thread, scissors, pins, sewing machine (optional).
Tip: Instead of using a pillow, you could also remove the stuffing from unwanted stuffed toys and put it in a lingerie wash bag inside your pet bed.
Steps
Steps Model A – Removable Stuffing Option
- Test to make sure your stuffing (baby blanket and pillow) fits nicely and can be pulled in and out of the designated opening (where you’ll put the zipper).
Tip: Roll up the baby blanket and secure the roll with elastic bands. Use one elastic band to mark the middle of the roll for easy placement in the sweater. You want the stuffing to fill the garment but not be so big that it’s difficult to slide in and out. - Install zipper (or Velcro or snaps) at the designated opening.
- Sew cuffs together (overlap the edge of one around the other and whip stitch or machine stitch).
- Sew remaining opening (either neck or bottom) shut. You may want to sew it with the garment inside out so the stitches won’t show. When done, put the put the garment right side out again.
- Add stuffing. Use the elastic band marking the middle of the roll to match up with the middle of the neck. Zip shut. Sounds rude! I leave the elastics inside.
- Done? Some like to sew the arms to the body. I see no need for this, and it’s easier to get the stuffing in and out if the sleeves are movable.
Related: DIY Wool Felt Phone Case
Steps Model B – Sew Shut Option
- Test to make sure your stuffing (baby blanket and pillow) fits nicely. Whichever opening works best for getting the stuffing in will be the one you sew shut last.
Tip: Roll up the baby blanket and secure the roll with elastics bands. Use one elastic band to mark the middle of the roll for easy placement in the sweater. You want the stuffing to fill the garment but not be so big that it’s difficult to slide in and out. - Sew cuffs together (overlap the edge of one around the other and whip stitch or machine stitch).
- Sew neck or bottom shut (not the one you’re using for inserting the stuffing). You may want to sew it with the garment inside out so the stitches won’t show. When done, put the garment right side out again.
- Add stuffing. Match up the elastic band marking the middle of the blanket with the middle of the neck. Zip it shut. Sorry if that sounds rude. I leave the elastics inside.
- Done? You could hand stitch the arms to the body or leave it as is (I did).
Outtakes
I made this pet bed for Eli the rabbit. I first presented it to him in his cage, or should I say, ‘estate’ since it’s 4’x4’x8′ large.
If you know rabbits, they can be very affectionate but they’re also jokers. Eli has a sense of humor like no other pet we’ve ever had. He’s also deeply romantic (with female humans only; males are playmates to monkey around with). When I showed him his new bed, he made it clear that he was very interested and would make use of it. But… he loves to play me like a song so the photoshoot would be on his terms and it was hilarious.
Because I couldn’t get a good, clear photo of the bed in his cage, I opted to bring it out onto the floor and ask Eli to pose for me there.
Well, any time spent out of the cage is play time to Eli. He knew full well what I wanted, and boy did he have fun taunting me. He must have jumped in and out of the bed about 50 times. The one time he settled in to snuggle, as soon as I went to take the photo, he flipped around to have his back facing me! If rabbits could laugh, he was having a good chuckle. As soon as I put the camera away, he settled in for a nice, cuddly snooze. Camera comes out: up he jumps again. Waskly Wabbit.
Anyways, here’s Eli enjoying his new bed taunting me for fun. Enjoy!
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
