After my (moderately successful) attempts at sewing eco-friendly dog toys, I decided to take it up a notch!
Over the weekend, I decided to make a travel blanket for Cooper for our upcoming trip to BlogPaws. I wanted to do it well in advance so that he’d have time to get used to it and so that it would smell a little like home!
I found some “recipes” online, but ended up winging it.
Materials required:
- fabric – any length! You can customize this blanket to your dog’s size!
- coordinating thread
- cotton batting
- pins
- measuring tape
A few caveats/reassurances:
- I bought the cheapest batting at the store. It ranged from $5 to $45. I got the $5 roll. It’s still soft, and I’m really unclear on the differences between them, so I figure it doesn’t matter!
- This is only the second sewing project I’ve undertaken since seventh grade home ec, and it was super simple. You can do it!
- As far as fabric goes, you can re-purpose something you have around the house so that you’re not spending anything on this project. My plan was to use an old flannel sheet. But then I went to the fabric store to get the batting, and I saw the cutest fabric… Sigh. On the NEXT blanket I’ll re-purpose material.
- Also, be sure to pre-wash your fabric and batting so that it doesn’t shrink after you’ve sewn it, thereby screwing up your stitching.
Alright, enough background! This project has five simple steps, which took me about an hour. I would have been finished much faster, but I had a “helper” while I tried to measure everything.
- Cut two pieces of fabric and the batting to your desired size. For simplicity, I did one yard, which was plenty big for Cooper.
- Put the two pieces of fabric together with the right sides (the sides that will be OUT in the end, so whatever has the print or design) and lay the batting on top. Pin them together leaving a five- or six-inch gap. (You’re not going to sew that gap – hence, no pins – because that’s where you’ll flip it right-side out in the end).
- Sew! If you accidentally sew over your gap, whip out that handy seam ripper! And if it’s not a straight line, don’t worry. Remember: This is the insides.
- Flip the entire blanket right-side out through the gap you left, and use a ruler, pen, hanger, whatever to poke out the corners.
- Sew a border the whole way around. This adds a little decoration, but – most importantly – it closes the gap you left. You COULD close the gap by hand, but this seemed way easier to me.
Ta-daa! A travel blanket!
If you’re feeling fancy – and if your skill level exceeds mine, which isn’t much at all – you could embroider something cute into the blanket, sew in your dog’s name, and so on! Those are beyond me at this point. Maybe next time around.
Assuming he doesn’t chew it up between now and then, this sucker will be coming to BlogPaws with me and Coop. If you’re there, feel free to fawn over it! 🙂
Keep up with the dogs, cats, and kids of OMD over on Instagram. I post tips, tricks, and lots for fun nearly every day. I’d love to see you (and your pets!) there:
Wowee! You’re really talented, Miss Maggie. That’s an awfully cute travel blankie. I think my mom sewed a button back on one time. But that’s about it. So I just have to settle for store-bought blankies. I’m kinda deprived.
Wiggles & wags,
Mayzie
Aww! Mayzie, thank you for the kind words!! (I didn’t show any close-ups because none of my lines are straight, but I appreciate the sentiment!)
So sweet! It looks like all your effort paid off too, he seems quite attached to it!
What a nice blanket. Honey just gets to take her regular old camping bed with her to Blog Paws. I better not show her Cooper’s bed. She’d probably get jealous.
See ya Thursday!