Basic Tutorial: Upcycled Dog Toys!

Today's post is going to cover some basics for using leftover fabric and rags to make upcycled dog toys.  If you are like me, always saving all those leftover bits from your sewing projects for that "later" that never comes, then this project may be one for you! If you don't have a dog, you probably know someone who does, and chances are they will be super excited to have a Christmas gift for their favorite pooch.

For this project, you will need:

• Basic sewing skills
• A sewing machine (you can hand-sew, but it will take longer)
• Thread, scissors
• A rag bag of assorted fabrics, or a bag of scrap fabrics (or both!)

Depending on how much fabric and what kind you have, there are several ways you can go. Get creative! I have made two toy animals to get you started with ideas: a snake and a frog. 

THE SNAKE

• It's best to use a strong fabric for the outside shell of the animals (old jeans, khakis, etc.).  I used part of an old pant leg for this one, simply cutting it to the length that I wanted and then making it square up into a rectangle. 

• At that point I cut out bits of fleece for exterior decoration: eyes, tongue, spots, and spikes. If you decide to do spikes, just make sure that they are facing towards the inside for when you sew the sides together. I like fleece for this part because you do not have to worry about it fraying at the edges. 

• After finishing the decorations, fold the snake in half, right sides together, and pin. Sew the long end together.

• After sewing the long end together, open the end up, and fold so that the tongue is centered (still with right sides together). Sew that end shut.

• Note: I double-stitched since this is going to be a dog toy.
• Turn the snake inside out and stuff with scrap fabric or rags. You can use stuffing if you want, but my dogs actually eat stuffing. Or, leave it empty.

• Once the snake is stuffed, sew the opening shut. You can use the machine or hand-stitch.
• Your toy is done!

THE FROG

• Again, use a strong fabric for the outside shell of the animal (old jeans, khakis, etc.).  I used old khakis leftover from another project for this one, cutting it into oval shapes.
• I used fleece to make a stomach and eyes for my frog. Cut out similar designs, or your own. Pin them into place on the front of the frog and stitch. 
• The arms and legs will also be made from old fabric.  Find long, thin strips of fabric, about 8" long. You will need 3 per arm/leg (12 total). They do not need to match.

• Put 3 strips together and tie a knot at the end. Braid until you get to the other end, and tie another knot. Do this for the remaining strips until you have 4 arms/legs.
• Pin the arms and legs to the front of the frog, facing the inside. To make sewing easier, the outer knot can be outside the stitching area. Baste into place. 
• Place the backside of the frog onto the front, right sides together. Pin into place. 

• Stitch both sides together, leaving about 4" for turning the frog right side out. Turn right side out.
• Stuff the frog with scrap fabric or stuffing, or leave empty. Stitch the opening shut. 
• Your toy is done!

Tutorial: DIY Dog Training Pads

And the Toby saga continues....

So, after The Chocolate Incident, Toby began sucking down water like a camel, except for the retaining-it-in-a-hump-for-later part.  Yay! More carpet steam-cleaning! My floors are so clean right now! This is not why I took vacation time. However.

After a few hours at the vet the day after Christmas, Toby was diagnosed with diabetes.  Not sure if that was the chicken or the egg with regards to The Chocolate Incident, but now he is receiving insulin shots twice a day (not too bad, except that he is very furry).  Unfortunately he is a on a strict 12-hour feeding/shot schedule (which doesn't seem too bad in theory, but the practice of it is a little more difficult) and we are still working on the proper dosage.  Which means he is still peeing everywhere.  And since this apparently what I am going to be spending my vacation days on, I decided to upcycle some of the zillions of the empty grain bags sitting in our barn and make some of my own doggy training pads for him. 

The Tutorial is below.  There is one for a large pad and one for a smaller pad.

You will need:

• Absorbent fabric (fleece, old towels, flannel).  I used 2 layers per pad, but you can use as few or many as you want.
• Empty grain bags (you can rinse them out and let them dry beforehand).  This will be used for the bottom, water-proof layer, so a waterproof fabric may be used for a substitute.
• A sewing machine
• Thread
• Scissors
• A measuring device

Instructions (large pad):

Large-sized dog training pad.

• Measure the length and width of the grain bag (leave it folded in half to provide extra protection).  The ones I used measured 19"x 36".
• Cut the fabric layers to measure 19"x36" if you are using fleece (I highly recommend this as you do not need to worry about finishing the edges of fleece).  If you are using another fabric, you can serge-over the edge or add 1" around each of the edges and sew under prior to putting on top of the grain bag.

The flannel has been cut to 19"x36".

The edges of the flannel have been stitched.

• Layer your fabrics, like a sandwich, and pin in place.  Because fleece is stretchy, you can usually overlap a little over the edge and fold in place.

The underside of the training pad, with the fleece pinned in place and ready for stitching.

• Sew around the outside edges. I used a zig-zag stitch.
• Sew a line down the center of the shortest side (in this case, at the 18" line).  Sew two additional lines at 9" and 27".  This will help hold the fabric in place.

The training pad has been stitched down in thirds, to help hold the fabric in place.

Instructions (small pad):

Small-sized dog training pad with a 2-inch plastic border.

• Measure the length and width of the grain bag (leave it folded in half to provide extra protection).  The ones I used measured 19"x 36".
• Cut the fabric layers to measure 15"x32" if you are using fleece (I highly recommend this as you do not need to worry about finishing the edges of fleece).  If you are using another fabric, you can serge-over the edge or add 1" around each of the edges and sew under prior to putting on top of the grain bag.  This size will allow a 2" plastic border for the edge at the end.
• Once you have your fabrics cut and the edges finished as needed, layer them and center them on the pad.  Pin in place for stitching.
• Stitch down the center (at 18") and the two "thirds" (approximately 8" off each side from the center) to hold the layers in place.  You may also stitch around the edges prior to folding the plastic edges up if so desired.
• Fold up the plastic edges.  Pin and sew in place.

Washing recommendations: Soak in cold/lukewarm water with detergent prior to washing.  Wash on a delicate cycle in cold/water water.  Line dry, DO NOT put in dryer.

Draft Blocking Door Snake Tutorial

With the cold weather hitting, my husband asked for a draft-blocker for some of our doors.  I decided to make them interesting to look at, since they will be in front of our doors for months.

For the tutorial, click here.