Hello, my fellow makers!
This week I'm introducing you to the best little project for our fur babies--a puff pet bed!
This is an easy project and a great intro to making a puff quilt! With it's mini size, its a project that can be done quickly and with scraps from your stash.
See how much Agnes loves hers? She couldn't even wait for me to put the backing and binding on here. The little bit of puff is enough to make it feel luxurious without adding a lot of weight, making washing harder.
Please note: Do not leave your pet unattended with this pet bed--especially if they are prone to chewing, scratching or ripping stuffed items. There is always a risk of them swallowing the stuffing.
Supplies needed for a 16.5" x 20.5" cat bed:
(48) 4.5" fabric squares
20" x 24" piece of backing (it will also be used for binding)
Poly stuffing
{To make a larger size, take your length and width and divide it by 4, then double it. So, for example, if you want a 24" x 36" mat, you will need 54 squares for the front and 54 squares for the back--so a total of 108 squares.
For backing, add 8" to your measurements so you have 4" overage on all sides.}
Instructions:
1. Gather (2) of your 4.5" squares and place them WRONG sides together. Sew along three sides using a scant 1/4" seam to create a puff pocket.
Repeat these steps for all the squares. They should look like this.
2. Take a small amount of poly stuffing and begin stuffing the pockets. Make sure to move around the stuffing so it gets into the corners. Do not overstuff the pockets or it will be difficult to sew them shut later.
3. Once all the pockets are stuffed, sew the last side closed, using a scant 1/4" seam.
4. Arrange the pockets so you are sewing 4 pockets in a row. Use a full 1/4" seam to sew the puffs together. Continue until you have 5 rows of puffs. (Your numbers may be different if you are making a larger bed).
5. Sew your rows together to form the puff bed.
6. Prepare your backing my laying it wrong side up on your table. Center the puff bed on top, right side up.
7. Using your machine, do a a couple of stitches forward and back at the puff intersections to attach the puff bed to the backing.
Or, if you have the option on your machine to embroider a symbol, you can do that. My Janome has a symbol option that looks like an asterisk. I used that option to attach the puff bed to the backing.
After all the intersections are stitched, I recommend doing a final set of stitches all the way around the edges, 1/4" in from the edge. This will make binding easier in the final steps.
8. Once your bed is secured to the back, trim off the excess backing leaving a 1" border all around. You will use this to create the binding.
9. Fold the backing 1/2" in towards the puff mat. Repeat one more time to enclose the raw edge. You should have two 1/2" folds and the binding should now be ready to fold over the edge of your puff bed.
10. Using your machine, sew down the binding all around the edges.
There you go! A sweet puff pet bed for your sweet fur babies!
I would love to see what you make! Please tag me on Instagram @midlife_quilter and use #mqpuffpetbed.
I would love to see your pets enjoying their new pet beds!
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