This is an easy 30-by-48-inch blanket that you can take with you most anywhere. It is always helpful to have one or two in the car as well as on hand around the house, to slip onto the sofa or the end of the bed.
MATERIALS
• 2 yards of 60-inch-wide 100 percent cotton fabric of your choice (twill, medium-weight canvas, broadcloth . . . anything that’s not synthetic)
• 1 yard of 60–inch-wide 100 percent organic cotton batting
• Matching thread for seams
• Contrasting thread for topstitching
TOOLS
• Scissors
• Sewing tape measure
• Ruler
• Straight pins
• Tailor’s chalk
• Sewing machine
• Iron
• Ironing board
01. Cut out two 32-by-50-inch pieces of the cotton fabric.
02. Cut out one 32-by-50-inch piece of the batting.
03. Lay the cotton-fabric pieces one atop the other, right sides facing.
04. Lay the cotton batting on top of the cotton pieces, lining up the edges.
05. Pin the layers together, denoting with the tailor’s chalk a stop-and-start location for sewing that leaves 6 inches, so you can turn the piece inside out once it is sewn.
06. Sew the layers together, making sure to leave the 6-inch opening and to back-lock stitch on the start and stop positions. (This will reinforce the seams for when you flip the pieces inside out.) Sew 1 inch in from the edge on all sides.
07. Flip the layers inside out, making sure to point out the corners as much as possible.
08. Fold in the opening, and press all the edges flat.
09. Pin the three layers together about 2 inches in from the edge.
10. Topstitch ¾ inch in from the edge, making sure to catch all three layers at the 6-inch opening to ensure that they are sealed. You may also sew knots in random patterns as a way of basting the layers together, or add your dog’s name or initials to the final product.
We all love the idea of a comfortable place to sleep: a place that feels safe and cozy, a place to relax, rest, and unwind, either for a nap or a good night’s sleep. While your dog may not be so concerned with thread count, perfectly pressed linens, or even whether the bed is made, she does appreciate a place to call her own.
Opinions differ on whether you should allow dogs on the furniture, whether it be on a sofa or chair or curling up on your bed to sleep. But even if you let your dog use the furniture, it is still important for her to have her “own” place. Our dogs were funny about their sleeping spots. Jordan just wanted to sleep on your feet, so he was always at the center of activity (you’ve got to love a Lab). Gertrude, our little hound-shepherd mix, liked her quiet space and would curl up on a washcloth on the floor, just because she thought it was that much cozier. One of both dogs’ favorite spots was curled up inside any laundry they could find. Dogs love things that have their owners’ scent, which make them feel safe, feeling that their owners are not far away. In Jordan’s golden years, we bought him a therapeutic heat-and-massage bed. He really enjoyed it, and we could tell it made him feel more comfortable.
There are many types of dog beds available. One of the most important things to keep in mind when searching for one is that the cover should be removable for frequent washing. There is no point spending any money or time on the “perfect” dog bed if it cannot be cleaned easily.
These beds, usually filled with loose cedar shavings, ground-up natural latex foam, and natural cotton batting, are great for dogs that like to root around before they get comfortable. Be sure to avoid ones that contain Styrofoam beads or synthetic latex materials—you want to make sure that if the bed splits open, there is nothing toxic inside for your dog to ingest.
Some beds contain a rectangular piece of foam, which can be textured on one side to offer therapeutic support, especially for older dogs. Other beds contain baffled feathers and down inserts, which offer plusher cushioning. Again, be sure to seek out a bed with a natural latex insert, as opposed to a synthetic one. Synthetic latex is a petroleum product (natural latex is derived from the rubber tree). Petroleum is not a renewable resource, and the synthetic latex will off-gas (release toxins into the air). The amount of off-gassing depends on how much synthetic latex is in the product; you’ll know it by its chemical scent. We’ve seen dogs chew up and ingest their foam beds, so it’s vital to seek out nontoxic foam.
These are round beds that have a high back, which allows your dog to truly curl up and go to sleep. Dogs of all shapes and sizes seem to love these. Most are filled with feather, down, or natural cotton batting.