Hey everyone. Today we're making a soft pet bed, and you're going to learn how one yard of plush Cuddle can become your pet's favorite spot in the house.
Meet the fabric first
This is the Aqua Solid Cuddle 3 58/60" Fabric per yard from Shannon Fabrics. It's a Cuddle Fabric. Shannon calls Solid Cuddle® 3 the fabric that started it all.
Here are the real numbers. It's 100% polyester. It features a versatile 3mm pile. It's 58/60" wide. That's a generous width to work with, folks.
The surface is smooth and ultra-soft. Shannon says it's beautiful and super durable, too. For a pet bed, that's exactly what you want. Soft for them. Sturdy for you.
The color here is Aqua. It's a calm, watery solid. It reads fresh and clean, and sits happily in any sunny corner.
That short 3mm pile matters, too. It gives plush comfort without a deep, shaggy surface. Pet hair sits on top instead of disappearing into long fibers. Shannon lists this fabric for pet accessories, among many other uses. We're putting that one to work today. Here we go.
The project: a soft, simple pet bed
A pet bed here is a plump, flat cushion. Two Cuddle panels. Soft fill inside. A few stitching lines to keep that fill in place. No zipper. No complicated gusset. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
We're finishing at about 26" by 34". That's a good size for a cat or a small to medium dog. Big enough to stretch out. Small enough for a crate or a corner.
Why does this fabric suit it? A pet bed gets dragged, pawed, and napped on hard. That durable, ultra-soft surface handles the love and still feels inviting. The wide cut means one yard gives you both panels, side by side. Just like that, there's almost no waste.
Materials list
- 1 yard Aqua Solid Cuddle 3 — cut into two rectangles, 27" by 35" each
- Polyester fiberfill, about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds, or a foam pad cut to 26" by 34"
- Matching polyester thread
- 90/14 stretch or ballpoint needle
- Walking foot, pins or clips, and a long ruler
- Hand sewing needle for closing the opening
Brief steps
First, let your fabric relax flat. Cut your two rectangles at 27" by 35". Cut from the back side when you can. Your lines stay visible, and the pile stays calm.
Second, place the panels right sides together. Pin all the way around, every 4 inches or so. Cuddle can shift as you sew.
Third, sew around all four sides with a 1/2" seam. Leave about a 10" opening along one long side for turning and stuffing. Backstitch at both ends of that opening. Slow down at the corners, and pivot with the needle down.
Use that walking foot. Lengthen your stitch to about 3.0 to 3.5mm. If the layers creep, stop and re-pin. Take your time. It's not a race.
Fourth, clip the corners at an angle. Don't clip into your stitching. Turn the bed right side out. Push the corners out gently with a blunt tool.
Fifth, add your fill. With fiberfill, add small handfuls and tuck it into the corners first. Keep it even, not lumpy. With foam, fold the pad, slide it in, and let it open flat.
Sixth, fold the opening edges in by 1/2". Pin it closed. Stitch it shut by hand with a ladder stitch, or topstitch close to the edge. Tie off your ends clean.
Seventh, keep the fill honest. Sew two quilting lines across the bed, about 11 inches apart, dividing it into thirds. A straight stitch works. A soft meander works, too. Completely up to you.
Practical tips from my table
Shake your cut Cuddle pieces outside. That fluff gets everywhere. A quick shake now saves a cleanup later.
Want a bigger bed? Cut two rectangles 37" by 43" to finish about 36" by 42". You'll need about 1 1/4 yards, and more fill. For a cat, cut at 21" by 27".
Your bed does not have to be perfect. If a quilting line wobbles, it wobbles. You're your own worst critic. Your pet is not checking your lines, folks. Your pet is checking how soft it feels.
I'll admit my own mistake here. I once stuffed one corner way too full. The bed rocked like a boat. The fix was simple. Open a few stitches, pull out a handful of fill, and sew it closed again. No drama.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. This is a super duper fun afternoon make, and a sweet gift for a new pet owner, too.
Alrighty, folks. Thanks for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Aqua Solid Cuddle 3 58/60" Fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
