MATERIALSBuying an expensive dog toy made of synthetic materials, which your dog is only going to destroy with daily play anyway, may seem a bit illogical to you after you see how easy this project is. And just think: They’re so easy to make that you can turn out a whole school of ‘em in an afternoon. Whether or not your pup enjoys the water, he’ll love catching these whimsical cloth fish.
MATERIALS
• Strong cotton material, like old jeans, sweatshirts, or twill pants or shirts–something that will hold up against your dog’s teeth
• Spool of cotton thread
• Cotton stuffing
• Embroidery floss (optional)
TOOLS
• Tailor’s chalk
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Needle
01. Using your tailor’s chalk, draw the shape of your fish on the cotton material. Your fish can be whatever size you want. Make sure to draw it 1 inch larger all the way around than you plan for it to be, to leave room for the seam allowance. (Some of our other favorite shapes to make are bones, cats, and simple cubes and balls.)
02. Cut out the shape you have just drawn. It is easiest if you cut through both layers of fabric at once, so your shape is exactly the same on both sides. Just be sure the right sides are together before you cut.
03. If your fabric has a right and wrong side (like a sweatshirt), make sure the right sides are together, and sew along the line of your drawing ½ inch in from the edge, leaving the end of the tail unsewn.
04. Turn the toy inside out through the open end of the tail so the seams are on the inside.
05. Stuff your fish with as much cotton stuffing as desired, depending on whether your pup prefers squishy toys or firm ones.
06. Tuck the seam allowance into the gap and whipstitch the opening closed. Be sure to do this tightly and securely if you want your toy to last.
07. If you want to embellish your fish, use your needle and embroidery floss to go back and whipstitch along the seams, stitch on eyes and fins, or create a pattern of stitches across the entire surface.