Making a removable cover for a dog bed

A question about : Making a removable cover for a dog bed

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

I have a very large dog bed, similar in shape and design to this one

but it's been attacked by various pets over the years and needs smartening up.

Rather than replace it - being very large it's also very expensive - and I'm not sure the latest little darlings are over their destructive stage, so I'd like to make a loose cover. I have a sewing machine, and am fairly proficient at sewing stuff together, but can't for the life of me work out how to go about cutting out the right shapes to make the and joining them together.

To keep the expense down, rather than a zipped up cover, I was wondering if it would be possible to just add some ties to the base to tie up underneath the bed and hold the cover in place?

I really just needs something removable for washing, that hides some portions of exposed foam stuffing.

I'm guessing I need to cut out an oval for the inside base, then a strip to cover the sides and join to the base....?

Best answers:

• I'm no dressmaker, and I was going to suggest unpicking the stitches of your existing bed with a Stanley knife. However, that may make it impossible to get back together.
  How about getting some brown paper, and tracing over the existing panels to make a paper pattern, then add on half an inch all round for sewing?
• If you just want to cover the exposed stuffing could you sew patches on the holes, in a colourful contrasting fabric maybe?
  To make a cover you need two pieces for the sides, an inner and an outer. Measure the circumference and add one inch all around it for the seam. Then measure the length and height of the cutout on the front. Cut it out in the centre of both strips, but add an inch for the seam. Join the two ends of the inner and outer separately, the join will be at the back. Put the two circles one inside the other with the right sides facing, they must be exactly the same size. Sew them together around the top edge.
  Cut two oval shapes for the bottom, inner and outer, add one inch all round. Use the cushion as a pattern for the size. Pin the inner oval to the sides, right sides facing, and sew it together. Then turn the sides the right way so the inner oval sits in the bottom.
  The outer oval needs to be attached to the bottom. If the bed is very flexible and can be squashed up small you could sew the outer oval on but only two thirds of the way round, leaving an opening for the bed to be inserted. You will probably have to hand sew this last seam. You could put velcro on the opening to close it. If you are really clever you could make the bottom oval in two pieces, cut down the centre of it, make it a bit bigger, and put buttons on the opening.
  Good luck. If it is very old and a bit smelly I would be tempted to chuck it. I have made a double dog/cat bed out of an old fashioned hard suitcase. Lay it open on the floor and put cushions in it. My dog lays in one side and the cat in the other.
  Ilona
  Just had a thought, you could sew on the bottom outer oval first, then add the inner after. If there is a cushion in it, it won't matter if it is a bit wonky.
• I'm a total sewing klutz, but after rehoming a brother and sister combo, I realised comfy beds were needed (our previous dogs had made do with old quilts or on our bed).
  A single quilt, folded into quarters (got 2 quilts for free) bought a few metres of black/grey/white fleece material, and made a "pillowcase" to cover with that tucky in bit at the end. No poppers, zips or Velcro needed.
  In fact, after I'd finished the first, they were both trying to sleep on the one bed. (This was for collie/lab x size).
  Total cost about a tenner for the fleece material, and some black thread.
  Fleece material is so easy to wash and dry. And a single quilt will fit in the machine when you need to do a deep clean 2 or 3 times a year.
• Hiya
  How about cutting out a big oval out of an old fleece. Hem the edge and thread elastic through - Like a fitted sheet.
• It is very pliable and fits in the large washing machines at the launderette. It has sentimental value from a previous dog so apart from the money saving aspect we'd quite like to keep it for now.
  Other dogs beds in the house are made from single quilts folded in half. We have big dogs! I use single quilt covers as the removable covers, cut in half and poppers added to the half that didn't already have the closure, but there's no doubt all the dogs we've had seem to prefer beds with walls to snuggle into.
  Thanks to Ilona - those detailed step by step instructions were exactly the sort of thing I needed. But thanks also to Good Advice as that looks like it may be a very quick solution while I'm working on the fitted cover.
  I knew this site would be the place to come