No Sew Fleece Dog Toy, Tied Into a Heart

Three heart-shaped fleece dog toys in purple, teal and pink, with fringed edges.

Updated 18 October 2026

If your sewing machine lives at the back of a cupboard, this no sew fleece dog toy was made with you in mind. It borrows the knotted fleece blanket method, two layers of fleece tied together around the edges, and shrinks it into a soft heart a small dog can carry from room to room. A pair of scissors and an afternoon is all it asks.

It began as a Valentine's Day project and sits happily among these Valentine's Day DIY gifts for dogs, but there is no reason to save it for February. In any color, it is a sweet comfort toy, a chin pillow for a dog who likes to nap, and a lovely gift for a friend's new puppy.

Cute small dog holding a purple DIY no-sew fleece heart dog toy in its mouth next to handmade heart toys.

Supplies for a Heart Shaped Dog Toy

Half a yard of fleece makes two small to medium hearts, stuffing included. That is the whole shopping list, apart from a few things already in most kitchen drawers.

Micro fleece fabric, half a yard for two hearts
Sharp fabric scissors
A pen or fine tip marker
A heart stencil, optional, since freehand works well

Like the other DIY dog projects and treat recipes here, nothing on the list is specialist, and a fabric store remnant bin is often the cheapest place to start.

Best Fleece for Homemade Dog Toys

Fleece is the fabric that makes no-sew work. It does not fray when cut, so the tied strips stay neat without a hem, and it washes and dries quickly. Micro fleece or anti-pill fleece is the one to choose, because it sheds fewer fibers when a dog mouths it. Skip loosely woven or fluffy faux fur, which pulls apart far more easily. Old socks work too. This DIY rope dog toy with sock donuts turns a spare pair into a tug toy in about ten minutes.

The same idea, a fabric that holds its edge without stitching, sits behind this no-sew dog bandana, which uses cotton and hemming tape instead of knots.

Stuffing a Tied Fleece Toy

Offcuts from cutting out the hearts become the stuffing, so nothing goes to waste. Cut them into long, wide strips rather than tiny pieces. Long strips pack evenly and are much harder for a dog to pull out and swallow if a knot ever loosens, while small scraps escape easily and are just the right size to gulp.

Sizing a DIY Fleece Dog Toy for Small and Large Dogs

The half-yard measure gives hearts sized for small to medium dogs, and they suit tiny mouths particularly well, since shop-bought plush is often too big for a Chihuahua to carry. Scale the outline up for bigger dogs. The finished toy should be too large to fit fully inside the mouth, so a big dog cannot swallow it whole. Sized right, it earns a place among these boredom busters for dogs on quiet afternoons.

For a large breed, trace a heart the width of a dinner plate and keep the same 2-inch border. For general advice on size and play style, this guide to choosing a dog toy covers the basics.

How to Make DIY Dog Toys With No Sewing

To make a no sew fleece dog toy, stack two layers of fleece, trace a heart and cut around it with a 2-inch border. Snip finger-width slits all around that border, then double knot each top strip to the strip beneath it. Leave a small gap, stuff it with long fleece strips, and knot it closed.

Stack two layers of fleece on a flat surface and trace a heart shape with a fine tip marker or pen.
Keeping the two layers stacked, cut around the heart, leaving roughly 2 inches outside the outline. That border needs to be long enough to double knot.
Cut two slits into the border, each about the width of a finger, cutting in toward the heart outline but not past it.
Take the matching top and bottom pieces and tie them in a knot, then knot again so it is extra tight and secure. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until most of the heart is tied.
With a small hole still open, fill the heart with long, wide strips of the leftover fleece.
Keep cutting and tying until the heart is completely sealed.
Trim the knotted ends to an even length and hand it over for playtime.

Two layers of fleece stacked with a heart shape traced on top for a no sew fleece dog toy.

Cutting the Fleece Heart and Border

The 2-inch border is the part to get right. Too narrow and the strips are too short to double knot, which is where homemade fleece dog toys usually come undone. Wider is fine and simply gives a fluffier fringe. Cut the slits evenly so each top strip lines up with the one beneath it.

Fleece heart cut out with a border of finger-width slits ready to be tied.

Tying Double Knots on a Fleece Toy

Every pair needs a double knot, pulled firmly each time. A single knot looks fine on the table and slips loose within minutes of play. Tug each one once tied, and redo any that move.

Hands tying the top and bottom fleece strips together in double knots around the heart.

Finished knotted fleece heart dog toy with a fringed edge.

Step-by-step tutorial for a DIY no-sew fleece heart dog toy, showing cutting, tying, and a dog with the finished toy.

No Sew Dog Toy Variations

Adding a Squeaker to a No Sew Toy

A squeaker makes the heart far more exciting for dogs with a strong play drive, which is why dogs like squeaky toys so much. One reader's clever tip: wrap the squeaker in a small muslin bag first, then tuck it into the middle of the stuffing before the final knots. Squeaker toys need supervision, and any dog that starts digging for it should have the toy put away.

Other Shapes for Homemade Fleece Dog Toys

The same tie method works for a star, a bone or a simple square, and seasonal colors turn it into a quick gift: red and pink for Valentine's Day, orange for Halloween, and red and green to tuck into these no-sew Christmas dog stockings.

Fleece Dog Toy Safety and Supervision

Which Dogs Should Skip a Fleece Heart Toy

This heart is made for gentle players, carriers and nappers, not rough chewers. A dog who shreds plush will have the knots open and the fleece in pieces quickly, and swallowed fabric can cause a blockage that needs surgery. Power chewers are better off with sturdy rubber, like these dog toys for chewers. For every dog, supervise playtime with a homemade toy.

Signs a Dog Has Swallowed Fleece

Call the vet straight away if a dog may have swallowed a piece of fleece or stuffing, even if they seem fine. Vomiting, refusing food, lethargy, a tender belly and straining to poop can all point to a blockage. Do not try to make your dog vomit unless your vet advises it.

Washing and Retiring a Fleece Heart

Fleece washes well on a cool cycle and dries fast, so the heart can be refreshed often. Check the knots after every wash and every few play sessions. Once a knot will not stay tied, a strip has torn or stuffing shows, retire the toy and make a new one. VCA Animal Hospitals sets out similar rules on size, removable parts and retiring worn toys in its guide to choosing a safe chew toy.

Made with care and handed over with a little supervision, this soft heart is the kind of toy a gentle dog will carry around for months.

About the author

Serena Faber-Nelson

Founder of Pretty Fluffy

Pet lifestyle expert Serena Faber-Nelson is the founder of Pretty Fluffy. A contributor to Everyday with Rachael Ray, Modern Dog Magazine, Cesars Way and more; her modern, stylized take on DIY dog treats has seen her recipes viewed millions of times over. Serena is the author of the go-to dog mom bible, Dog Mama, and the popular dog treat recipe book, Healthy Homemade Dog Treats.

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Diane Cummings11 February 2015

You could also add a “squeeker” to the inside to make the toy a bit more fun. I always make a muslin bag around the sqeeker then insert into the toy. LOVE this idea and will definitely be making!! Thanks, I have made the fleece no sew blankets but never thought of making a dog toy-some people are so brillent and think “outside the box” Thanks!