Dog Beds from Scraps
 

Forever ago, there was a thread about saving scraps and making dog beds from them. I contacted a local shelter and they need these beds. Great!! O.K. now how do I make them? I have a ton of little scraps. Do I just throw them in a pillow case and sew up the end? What is to keep them from globbing up when it is washed? Any input is appreciated. TIA. Stacey

I have only made one of these, for one of my dogs, and it DOES glob up when washed. I was thinking about sewing channels in the pillowcase and stuffing those individually before sewing up the end. Don't know how well that will work.

when we talked to our local shelter they suggested using sturdy outside fabric such as denim or upholstery fabric. You could tie it with perle cotton, but don't leave long tails for the animals to get to.

I have no suggestions but do want to say I love the technical term "glob". :)

This site shows how to sew channels in the bed to stop the globbing.

http://shelterbeds.blogspot.com/

I made on too and it globbed when it was washed. I guess sewing between would have helped but kind of a hassle.

I use all kinds of different things in my dog beds. What you do with a lot of scraps that are small put them in the envelope and move them around till they are even, then stitch like you are quilting through all the layers, takes only a few minutes and even if that may blog it is only in small areas that doesn't bother the dog. I have used socks too, I cut the socks in half, flattened them as well as possible and sewed them down to the back then made the sandwich and turned inside out and then do some stitiching, like quilting. Not hard and they wash up nicely. You can use just about anything that you can wash for dog beds. It is best to use a heavier fabric or a touch fabric on the outside but a washable one. Dog blankets I will use regular quilt fabric, usually what I call ugly and line it with an old sheet or old flannel sheet, old blanket, etc. Do the same like an envelope. I always put some quilting in everything to keep the back and front together.

When I sew I throw everything into a bag, thread bits and pieces, every thing I can't use to quilt with, then sort when I get a bag full. Then make dog beds. You can actually save up enough threads and small strips of fabric to stuff a cat pillow or something like that, as well.

I am not sure they wash them at the shelters. they may be tossed out with each animal.

They should wash them frequently there. Especially if the dog goes outside, it brings in alot of dirt and mud. Our shelter washes at least once a week and they like the quilts. They are easier to wash and dry. We use denim on the outside and use old blankets and whatever we can find to use inside them.

Oh, here is how I been making mine. Just a make a pillow case out of durable fabric. like denium. upholsestry fabric is great but very hard to work with I think. Anyhow I make my pillowcase, then throw the scraps, all 100% cotton inside and sew the seam close. Sometimes they are prettier than others, the bluejeans ones I think is the most durable