DIY No-Sew Dog Bed: Easy Step-by-Step Tutorial

Serena Faber Nelson Founder & Pet Lifestyle Writer

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.

Want to learn how to make a DIY no-sew dog bed easily? Then look no further!

The title of this post may be DIY No Sew Dog Bed, but after a friend of mine shared this hilarious video the other day of cats stealing dog beds, I realized I had a much wider audience. Thieving cats and bed-less dogs, rejoice!

Really though, I know I get excited about our DIY projects, but this one has to be one of my ultimate favorites. I’m so in love with this easy-to-make dog bed that I made one for our living room, a second one that is long and skinny to fit across the backseat of our car, and I’m currently hunting down fabric for the third to go in our office!

What is great about this doggy DIY is it’s practical, you don’t have to know how to sew, it’s inexpensive to make, and it’s completely customizable.

You can really create any size you want and pick the fabric, which I love. I made one of the beds reversible by using different fabrics for both the top and bottom. You can get so creative with the colors and patterns, it has seriously turned into my new favorite hobby.

Also, don’t let the wordier list of directions scare you. Condensed down, its basically – cut, fuse, flip, stuff, fuse  – really easy!

RELATED: DIY: No Sew Heart Dog Toy

How to Make a DIY No-Sew Dog Bed

You will need:

1. Home decor fabric – your choice!

2. Heavy duty fusing tape for heavy fabrics (I used this tape by Dritz Witch, it was amazing.)

3. Fabric scissors

4. Iron & ironing board

5. Damp cloth

6. Pillow batting

Handy prepping tips:

• Before purchasing your fabric, measure and your dog (or cat) to determine what size bed you’ll need.
• Gather all of your materials together making sure you have plenty of working space to lay out your fabric (especially if your pet is on the larger side!) When you begin ironing, make sure your dog is a safe distance away from the hot iron.
• Use your measurements from earlier to cut your fabric so that you have two pieces (the top and the bottom) that are the same size.

Instructions:

1. Take your two pieces of fabric and lay them out, one top of the another. We are starting with the bed inside out, so we want the bottom piece of fabric with pattern facing up, and the top piece with the pattern facing down.

2. Pick which side you want to bond first, and cut a piece of fusing tape the same length as that side. Place the tape at the edge between the two fabrics. If you have heavy fabric, feel free to double layer the tape for extra hold. Follow the directions on how to iron your brand of fusing tape. Most require a damp cloth between the iron and the fabric. Once you have the first side fused, let it set for a few minutes until it has cooled.

3. Repeat step 2 for two more sides leaving one remaining side open.

4. With three sides fused and one still open, flip your bed so that it is right-side out and the pattern is now showing. It should look like a pillow sham at this point. If your corners are inverted, stick your arms inside the bed and push them out. Next, grab your pillow batting and  stuff the bed until it is at the desired consistency and cushion.

5. The final step is to fuse your remaining side. For this side you want to fold the top and bottom fabric inwards about an inch, place your tape between both fabrics and follow the fusing tape instructions. Voila! You have a no sew dog bed to call your own.

Looking for a designer dog bed?

Check out our Dog Beds & Blankets category in the Pretty Fluffy Dog Lovers Directory!

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