A two-hour lazy Sunday afternoon craft project.
I’d like to say that this is my idea, but it’s not. I saw a photo on Facebook suggesting that unwanted sweaters could be made into pet beds and I immediately thought of the ugliest purple 1980s sweater I’d picked up for £2 in the charity shop several months ago.
I didn’t buy it to wear – it had 9 lovely great big purple buttons on it, and £2 for 9 large purple buttons is a bargain, in my mind. Buttons are expensive if you buy them brand new!
MAKE YOUR OWN SWEATER CAT BED
So this hideous purple jumper has been languishing in my fabric scrap bag for months and months along with some old chair covers that our cat, Izzy, ripped to shreds when she was just a kitten. I can’t throw anything away, honestly, not when I think that it might get repurposed/upcycled sometime down the road.
Izzy, our darling cat, came to us at the tender age of three weeks old as a feral Cat’s Protection rescue. She was destined, along with her two brothers and sister, to be drowned unless the Cat’s Protection collected them immediately. They did and I ended up with all four of them. They were so adorable – their eyes were still blue and they had to be fed milk every few hours out of a little syringe. When feeding their little ears would wiggle. Aaah, fond memories. Three out of the four cats were rehomed as they got older, and we kept Izzy (short for Isadora). You’d never know she was feral as she’s such a housecat, preferring to lounge away indoors all day.
Shop bought cat beds are expensive too. We’ve talked about getting one but there always seemed to be something more important to spend the pennies on. When I saw the Facebook picture I knew what I needed to do with that hideous jumper and I set to work.
Upcycled Sweater Cat Bed
Ingredients
- 1 unwanted sweater
- 2 unused terry towels or dish cloths/bath towels
- scraps of cotton for stuffing
- strong cotton thread
- wool
- needles
- fabric scissors
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Instructions
- Cut your stuffing fabric into small pieces.
- Fold towels so that they are nearly the size you want the base of your pet bed.
- Layer with scrap stuffing if required.
- Baste the layers together in a rough oval shape.
- Turn over the edges towards the inside of the circle and loosely sew in place.
- Place inside the body of the jumper.
- Sew in place using some thick wool.
- Stuff the arms and neck area with scraps or cotton.
- Arrange in a circular shape around the base area.
- Using a thread and needle, sew into place. If you use a matching thread you don’t have to worry about how perfect your stitches are.
- Embellish as desired!
Update (December 2013): The cat bed is still going strong and Izzy still loves it very, very much. Her bed used to sit on top of the tumble drier but we revamped the pantry with some new shelves this year and we relocated her to the top shelf, away from the pesky children. Of course, she needs steps to get up there (she’s not Super Cat!) so my husband fixed some onto the wall. Another idea for you cat lovers, perhaps? 🙂
I see I am getting quite a lot of traffic to this humble blog post of mine, and I truly thank you for visiting. I’d love to hear where you are visiting from – if you have the time do drop me a comment and let me know!
Chocolate Colettes with Vodka Chilli Truffle Fudge
Great idea, our 3 boys, 16 week old kittens can get quite expensive, so I’ll definitely be giving this a go. (from West Wales)
Very creative.Loved the idea.
Oh I so need to make two of these! We have two six months old kittens and they would love a new bed each. Kaz
If you don’t want to cut and sew the sweater, you could always use an old one, or buy one from the thrift store instead.
That’s so lovely of you to take in all those cats! I can’t believe that someone would want to drown them – it’s heart breaking. Love this cat bed – you’re so creative.
brilliant and beautiful cat
Izzy is a sweet looking cat,such beautiful markings..and using the jumper for a cat bed is a great idea. Paladin enjoys his velour blankets and sleeps on them a lot during the day and then sleeps on my hip during the mornings.
Nice crafting! I find cats to be the most contrary creatures on the planet. No matter what super-duper cat bed they have access to they always prefer your sports bag/dressing gown/freshly pressed business suit! We’ve recently found that a big dog bed gives them the space they need with enough of a draw to keep them off other things we don’t really want them on. I’d have to say though, your idea of using old jumpers is a good one, would be especially useful if not washed first, so it has that lovely ‘human’ smell cats seem to like! Just written a post about this http://www.timeforpaws.co.uk/blog/getting-crafty-cat-beds/
So clever. A perfect cozy bed for the cold nights here in western Kansas.
What an awesome idea I have 3 dogs that would be perfect for them. Thanks for sharing
Do you have the original link to the Facebook account you got this idea/pic from?
I don’t, no, I’m afraid. I saved the image to my computer long before I made my own. It was just an image though, there was no website or tutorial linked to it.
Great upcycling, wish I was more skilled at crafting
Clever idea
That is so clever and simple! Great option when you need a cat bed in a hurry..
Need a bed for my small dog. Looking forward to doing this project.
From NorCal
My cat would love that, must make time to do this for her
Great idea and what a lovely cat.
I love this idea. We have four cats and believe it or not, I have the same sweater that I don’t wear anymore. I’m going to try this. thanks x
A great idea just made one for my cat. I live in Maryland . I saw your article in Mother Earth news.
Yay, thanks for visiting and letting me know. I hope your cat has many happy sleeps in his/her cat bed! 🙂
Thank you! From Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
I used to hang out in Antigonish when I was a teenager growing up on Cape Breton Island, at the doughnut shop! 😀
My husband saw your “Purr-fect Homemade Cat Bed” in Mother Earth News. He knew that I would naturally fall in love with the idea. Now that the days are getting cooler in Arkansas, I went straight to your blog to get a better idea of how you did it. Now I have to make one and share the idea with my cat-lover daughter who lives in Utah. Thank you!
fab idea!
What a brilliant idea!
Looking forward to making this for our bunny. Thank you!
so creative and beautiful! a gorgeous result!
Thank you 🙂
what an absolutely amazing and unique idea! i wish i was that way inclined lol i don’t have a creative bone x
Oh I bet you do! I think a lot of folk are daunted with the idea of trying out something new but once they get going the creativity flows 🙂
What a great idea! I found your tutorial from this link:
http://www.woohome.com/diy-2/34-insanely-cool-and-easy-diy-project-tutorials
where I found THAT link was from:
http://www.diyncrafts.com/4526/home/40-brilliant-closet-drawer-organizing-projects/8
and that link was found:
http://www.paperboutiquewithlinda.com/2014/08/simply-organized-sunday.html
from this original link:
http://paperpulse.blogspot.ca/2014/04/studio-v3-standard-and-advance-cutting.html which had the aforementioned (Paperboutiquewithlinda…..) blog as part of her blog list!
So 5 links later I found your really cute tutorial and just wanted to make a comment. I think I might do something like this for our DOGS (they are small)…and share your link with the animal rescue group from where I got our dog, Harry, a Maltese/Chihuahua.
Waving from Peoria, Arizona!!!
That’s one meandering path to my website – thank you for visiting; I hope you come back! 😀
Great idea! x
Oh my word, that’s so clever – totally going to try that!
I often buy things in thrift shops for the buttons so this is a great idea! We had a Siamese (or rather he had us) who used to eat his way through old sweaters put in his basket. The noise was like fingernails down a blackboard. Cringe!
this such a good idea, if only i could sew lol
What a clever idea! Might make one for our chihuahua pup and she feels the cold in Winter. I think the shop bought beds are often overpriced too, especially when they are just like a cushion!
Oh I hope you do! They’re super easy to make and very inexpensive.
From South Burnett, Queensland, Australia, where we already have had 0.4*C temp as we come in to winter.
Cats Frankie, an old lady, cannot jump up anymore to the top of the cupboard, so needs a floor bed and Shadow, the mystery big boy, in his outside cave loves a warm bed and is reluctant to get out of bed these cool mornings! Both beds are red from old polar fleece jumpers. Hope they like them!
Love it. From Lathrop Missouri here. Great Idea.
You are Brilliant!!!
Love Love Love it!! I am going to use this idea for a fund raiser!! Thank You for sharing!! Plus…my Callie kitty will love this!!
Great idea! I have a few sweaters I have shrunk that now have a purpose. Thank you from Michigan!
Great idea – thanks for sharing! from Crowley, Texas
I just made my Dotty’s cat bed today. It only took a couple of hours, but I had really been thinking it out for a few weeks. I found the sweater I wanted, a soft wool, at a thrift store and my friend in Oregon has an alpaca farm, so yesterday I got a box full of clean and fluffy alpaca fleece (!!!). This bed just turned out so well. I’m waiting for Dotty to try it out. She’s sniffed it and stepped into it, but she hasn’t gotten any further than that. She’s likes the alpaca smell–which isn’t smelly at all, but probably is to a cat–she’s been playing in the box it came in the whole time I was making this. I’ve got it sitting in the sun warming up right now. It’s very very very very cold here.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=696709263682933&set=pcb.696709370349589&type=1&theater
great idea; however, would be to small for my two dogs. have miniature English bulldogs. we are in Central Vermont and my friend posted this link on facebook for me to see.
I’ve shared this and will be making myself. Thanks for the breakdown. Omaha, NE, USA
I’ve shared this and will be making myself. Thanks for the breakdown. Omaha, NE, USA
hi live in butler Pennsylvania such a great idea I have a dog he would love a new bed thanks for the great idea.
I love it!! From sunny northern California.
Hello, from Tacoma, Washington. I found a link to this post on Facebook, posted by a page that I liked.
Great idea. I’m not much into crafts or sewing, but it seems simple enough. Maybe I might try it. Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful idea – I am a compulsive fabric hoarder so will be visiting your blog regularly for ideas! Thank you – my cats will be getting their comfy new cat bed soon!
Thanks for a brilliant post from Grimsby, Ontario Canada.
Hello from Fethiye Turkey. Found you on Facebook when someone else posted the cat bed idea. Brilliant. I have a jumper in the cupboard too hideous to even wear in the house. Pobby is about to get his own bed instead of using mine. 🙂
Greetings from Northern Alberta, Canada. Great idea for all those sweaters that don’t work anymore but just can’t be thrown out.
Visiting from Salem, Virginia – love this and will use it to make beds for my 12 lb. pup – plural because she eviscerates everything. 🙂
Greetings from Norway. Love this idea 🙂
Thanks so much for this idea! I help run a small dog rescue/shelter in Woodward, Oklahoma, USA and we are going to be making these for each of our wonderful dogs. So happy to provide them their own little bed. You are wonderfully clever!
Fabulous! I can’t wait to try this out for my own kitties. Found you on Facebook I’m in Greenfield, WI USA.
Fantastic Idea! Love the idea of recycling and for such a useful purpose!!! Thank you so much for sharing this idea…:-)
Thanks for the great idea! I just pulled an ugly sweatshirt out of the dryer that my husband wore yesterday (that his belly sticks out the bottom of). Too bad he won’t be able to find it anymore. And our rescue cat Cubby will love it. New Years’ Greetings from Northern Wisconsin.
Love this idea and so will my family of cats and dogs
Wendy for Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Visiting from Facebook! 🙂
Visiting from Facebook! 🙂
How fun! I made a similar looking cat bed from a scrap of faux fur, but it took quite a bit of work making it from scratch. If I need to make another cat bed, I’m going to do it this way. That’s great! Redmond, WA, USA
Love this. Was going to a flea market to find a used bed today …. no need now. I can do this. Thanks from Petrolia, Ontario Canada. – vacationing in Lakeland, Florida who got this from a friend from Fitchburg, Massachusetts . It’s a SMALL world after all. 🙂 – Penny
A great idea that I will try.
Found the link from Facebook page of a friend. Gotta try this at home, too! From Helsinki, Finland.
I too love this! We don’t even have a cat but it looks like a great idea 😀 I think I will attempt this as a gift for my cat loving friend 😀 All the way from Manitoba CANADA 😀
Fun idea! A little too much setting and time involved for me, I think, but what I think I can do is cover an existing pet bed this way! Covers could be changed with seasons and makes it easier to keep pet beds clean…love it! Daria in Dallas TX.
Great Idea, Im going to share on our local Humane Society Facebook page! Im writing from Indiana, USA.
Very cute!!! Hagerstown, Md.
Great idea for all my old sweaters and sweat shirts for our cat and dogs!! Thanks for sharing. Texas only needs winter clothes for about a month maybe 2 lol… Like the steps as well.
I love this, I have some old sweaters I can’t wear anymore and all of my cats usually want the same bed, this way I can make more than one and they can all have their own!! I think maybe cutting an old pillow in half and putting in for the stuffing would be a good idea too or if it is a really big sweater for a large cat just use the whole pillow! I had thought about using my old pillows for beds but hadn’t thought about how I would make them, now I know!! Thanks!!!
Thank you for sharing what you found, and adding instructions! My mother, 82 years young, received a small dog for her Christmas present this year. It took some looking, but once she decided that was what she wanted she found the perfect pup. Ellie Mae will love a sweater bed, as soon as I get it made. Thanks again, from Alaska.
Hi, my daughter has two cats, seven dogs, all of them love my couch. I will be making a gigantic pillow for them, and put it on the couch. I’ll be looking for the largest shirt I can find. Maybe get two and put them together. I’m from beautiful victorian historical town of Carthage Missouri.
I’m from the Shenendoah Valley in Virginia…My kitties will love these..(practice ones) and then as others suggested donate to animal shelters Thank you Elizabeth..I will be watching your blog…Carol
I love this!! I have an old tye-dyed sweatshirt that my cat absolutely loves to sleep on, so I’m going to ask a friend to make this using that sweatshirt. We are in Michigan, and a friend posted the link to this post on Facebook.
I found this on ‘Simple and easy recipes’ on facebook. Such a good idea! And I sure can relate to not throwing things away because they might come in handy some day. 😉
Awesome idea and I like the steps for the cat on the wall. Texas, USA
brill idea, thanks for passing on,
wendy from Devon UK
I’m so doing this!! 🙂 oh and I’m from Beach North Dakota USA
Brilliant idea, I am so going to try this one day! 😀
I saw this post on a friends Facebook page. I’m live in Arizona. Best up cycle I’ve seen in a long time. I may make one for my cat 🙂
Love it. cant wait to make one. bought a bed for my cats a few years ago and the only one who used it was my sisters dog. but i noticed that my cats love to lay on my cloths. if a sweatshirt dosent get on the hamper or hung up right away or i put cloths out on my bed before i take a shower i usually comeback to a cat shedding on it. so i thought this would work perfectly. and my comforter that im replacing soon will be the perfect filler for it.
We have a 18 year old cat who will love a fleece version of this fabu idea! Our house bunny will also love to sit on & try to shred one of these. But because it’s inexpensive & a project for my daughter, a GS Cadette, to do for her, it will be awesome! Thanks from frigid & snowy Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA
Wonderful idea from Maceo, KY
Visiting from Wisconsin, USA
What a great idea! Thanks for giving us the outline with pictures. I’m visiting from Kansas City, KS. 🙂
Very cool idea!
Hi I am pat travis. live in Nebraska. I have two cats. that is a lovely idea. my cats love sleeping in a card board box. or an old shoe box. cats names are rascal and bonnie. saw this on face book.
Now that is adorable! I bought a heated “cat house” for about a hundred bucks…the cat will not even go in it! I bet she would LOVE this freebie!
Found your sweater/cat bed upcycle through FB. Love the idea. Too bad I no longer have a cat, but it is such a great idea I pinned it on Pinterest and may use it for a gift for a friend. And if/when I get another cat, it will certainly have a wonderful upcycled bed!
Bunnlevel, NC…found you through facebook, and adding you to my pinterest!
Brilliant! I too work with Animal Shelters and Rescues and this idea would be perfect. Some well placed Velcro would let us wash them for the shelter……..an added bonus. Thanks from Sally in South Carolina
How did you modify your beds to be washable? I also want to make these for my local shelter 🙂
Visiting from Utah — this is such a fun idea — I love upcycling 😀
Hello from Michigan, USA (the mitten), I know exactly the sweater I am going to use. Thanks for a great idea.
Hello from Michigan, USA (the mitten), I know exactly the sweater I am going to use. Thanks for a great idea.
Love this idea, thank you so much for sharing – I’m in South Dakota with 4 cats and this would be an inexpensive way to get them each a bed I’m sure they will like.
A friend shared on FB. I have two big guys in my family that wear size 3XLT. I’m going to make a bed for our pup today and use this as a project for donations to our local animal shelter. Big pups love to snuggle too.
What a brilliant idea for a craft project!
What a fantastic idea, love it! Yesterday I had our local animal shelter come and collect all my unwanted clothing, books, soft toys etc … oops, looks like I’ll now be going back to their charity shop to buy a suitable chunky jumper! Can’t wait to give this project a try.
No doubt I’ll be donating it to the cat rescue when finished. He he.
From Lancaster, UK. XX
Brilliant!!
Fabulous! Looks like kitty is getting a big hug 🙂 If I hadn’t made a bed for my cat just a few weeks ago I would be making this tomorrow. My sis in Alberta just got a kitten so I’ll send here the link. Thanks for sharing.
Liz in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Super idea! I’m thinking my 13 year old granddaughter can do it as she sews all the time. Thanks for posting the instructions. (I live in a tiny town in Pennsylvania, USA)
Love this Idea, Although I think I will make this for my Chihuahua, She is smaller than my Cat and always cold Thank You, From Salina Kansas.
Love this idea! From Waxahachie, TX!!
Thank you for the lovely ideas and I am from west virginia is in the United states. Blessings to you from the Lord.
Can’t wait to make this, from Enumclaw/ auburn washington
Also can’t wait to try this pattern…from Cape Breton, Canada
I grew up in Cape Breton! 🙂
Great project. I don’t have a cat but I have several ugly sweaters and friends with cats. I could even donate them to the pet shelter. A can do project. Hello from Indiana, USA.
Fabulous idea for our two poodles! Will try to find two semi matching x-large ones to combine and make one for the bloodhound too! Thank you for sharing! From Leavenworth, Kansas, USA
Wonderful warm’n fuzzy project. My cousin shared this on Facebook. I’ve been wanting to create something for the console of our car for the comfort of my chihuahua (and to get him off my lap once in a while) and this is givin’ me some good ideas. Cheers! from central Pennsylvania – land of buggies, bicycles, and family farms 😉
Brilliant! Greetings from Phoenix!
I’m from Pensacola, Florida and absolutely love your borrowed idea. I might find time to do the same. I’m also grateful for the idea of shopping for buttons. It never occurred to me. Thank you!
My husband and I have an animal rescue and have a couple of dogs here who just love to destroy the pet beds, this is such a great idea, I’m gonna make them new beds after I hit the Thrift Store and when it gets warmer, yard sales! Thanks from Central Texas.
Awesome idea, thanks for sharing it! Ohio, USA
Hello from Oklahoma, USA! I think these are a fabulous craft and would be wonderful to donate some of these to a pet shelter!
Hi there,
I came across this post on Facebook and I made my own cat bed last night which my cat loves!! I feel like I lucked out because the arms were not creating the tube that I wanted, but then I flipped it over and it was near perfect! Thanks for the easy 2 hour craft.
Laura
-Edmonton, Canada
Picture of bed with Ashby on FB: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153681174725641&set=a.10150656236560641.686337.566915640&type=1&theater
I love this idea and will definitely try it, but probably with fleece or hoodies. I have been crocheting extra stuff onto sweaters to make them ‘ugly Christmas sweaters’. So all the sweaters I have are either being worn or part of a project already.
I have bought pillow shams as bed covers and simply put an old bed pillow in it for the dogs – if I find ones with shiny fabric they hold up pretty well and don’t collect too much fur – great for summer months. I toss an old fleece blanket scrap on top during winter months for extra warmth. Both our dogs are part chihuahua and rather small. The three cats sleep all over, on a folded spare blanket, pile of ‘out of season’ clothing, one prefers to sleep in a cardboard box.
A friend shared a link to this on fb, I am in Oklahoma with just a dusting of snow today (up to an inch I think but nothing compared to North and East of us)
We have 3 cats that might enjoy this! Also, our 3 ferrets will really like it if I can put a cover over it somehow. Thanks for the idea!
Thank you so much for this post. My daughter has been wanting to make beds for her 2 cats & our old dog. I think we can modify this by using two sweaters for the dog bed. Oh…we are from a small town in East Texas.
I so love this idea. I recently got a puppy. I will try this for him. From Iowa…
I so love this idea. I recently got a puppy. I will try this for him. From Iowa…
visiting from Wellington, New Zealand! Now I just need to work out how to do each step and make my cat a bed today!
I’ve been making these for a couple years. Cats & dogs love them. I buy sweaters for buttons too!! Comstock Park, Michigan. USA
I love this idea & I’ll do this for 2 cats & my tiny dog ASAP. Just a brilliant way to use a sweater!!! Huntington WV USA
I love this idea & I’ll do this for 2 cats & my tiny dog ASAP. Just a brilliant way to use a sweater!!! Huntington WV USA
Interesting
If your cat climbing platforms were actually boxed in the cat would traverse the tops and the interior of the box could hold books or knick-knacks or…size dependent on what you wanted to hold. Most cats love being up to survey their domain so I loved the book The Cats House, website: http://www.thecatshouse.com
what a great idea! Thank you 🙂
Brilliant! I have a couple of feral kittens living under my porch. They currently curl up on an old sleeping bag I tossed under there. But now that I’ve seen this, I have a great idea for all those old sofa pillows and ancient sweaters! I also have 2 inside cats who refuse to stay off of the furniture. Perhaps if they had their own comfy, squishy beds………… Hmm, thank you! Oh, by the way, you asked where I’m from. Cedar City, Utah, USA
That is very ingenious! – From Brunswick, GA
Great idea. Thank you for sharing. Writing from very cold snowy Iowa, USA.
Shared this with my fur-loving friends on FB. Going to try for my feral cat that I rescued 4 years ago in Bath, NY.
Lv the idea..gonna try n make one fr my scooby..he is a terrier n would lv this cosy little bed.greetings frm bangalore india.:-)
CUTE! We’re in Hope Mills, NC!
ps Cowboy kittie sweatshirt is from Pelion SC
What a great idea! No old sweater (I live in Texas) but I am sure I can find one in a re-sale shop.
I have two lovely babies that I will make this for. However, I believe they will prefer my fabric in my quilt studio. I will try. Thanks so much. Mary in Texas
This is a fantastic idea! I have 5 small dog freebies and
2 LOL cats. All of them would love a sweater bed
Plus I could clean out all my closets. Thank you for
sharing this idea and Happy New Year! This is Angle from
Georgia USA. 🙂
Dog furbabies, not freebies! Oh my fingers are not
typing correctly today! 😀
Such a great idea! This is the first time I have visited your site.You have such great ideas. I am so happy I found you (through facebook). I have already” Favorited: you after looking through your ideas. So refreshing! Thank you for sharing these great ideas
. I am from Montana in the USA. Happy New Year to you and yours!
Wiwwww, I think I just realized how I found this wonderful Blog…UT was Facebook I always tag your recipes.
Thank you! Happy New Year to you too 🙂
Love the idea! I have numerous sweatshirts left from my fat days( lost 50 pounds!) And now I have something to do with them!
What a grand idea – I have mega old sweaters, i guess now I know why i was saving. Thanks so much for the idea – i am from Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada
Thank you for sharing the instructions.
A friend on FB shared with me….Hello
From beautiful Boise, Idaho
Happy New Year………
Thank you for sharing the instructions.
A friend on FB shared with me….Hello
From beautiful Boise, Idaho
Happy New Year………
Thank you for sharing the instructions.
A friend on FB shared with me….Hello
From beautiful Boise, Idaho
Happy New Year………
Great idea…saw this on Facebook, posted by a community college teacher from Chico in northern California, where I lived until this past November 9th. Now, I’m living in Fort Worth, Texas to be near our oldest children. Thanks for showing a great project!
You are so right about the cost of buttons! I don’t currently have any jumpers that I have no use for, but there are THREE local thrift shops in my little northeastern Texas town. And, I have three cats. I don’t think that’s really a coincidence, you? Since my babies love my bed, I know where their new beds will be located (at least during the day when Daddy isn’t in the bed! LOL)
Stormy
I love it! We have 6 house cats, so I’d better get busy!!
Thanks for the idea. I have pets and clothes that I no longer wear. In today’s economy I am always looking for ways to save money. I will definitely give this project a go! Wilma Riddell from Norfolk, Virginia.
I have lots of sweatshirts that really aren’t good enough to wear but are “too good to throw away.” I don’t have any pets but I think I could find people who do. What a great way to reuse something! Thanks for the idea.
This would be a great idea for an organization like the Girl Scouts to take on. It’s easy and they can donate the finished project to their local animal shelter. Also, the stuffing could be taken out of an old used pillow…Schenectady NY
It sounds s easy and I loved the idea of he moo-moo. Have and friend with an older lab that need one. I’m from Nebraska USA. Thanks for posting.
Hi, just saw your post on someone else’s timeline and I think it is a wonderful idea. I have an older cat, Cricket, 11 and a rescue, brought to me as a 2 week old orphan that had to be bottle fed. We will be getting a third tomorrow since her owner is being moved to assisted living and they don’t allow pets. These sweater beds might help them all adjust and help them find their own space…thank you. Tammy from Murphy, Texas.
Aha…now I know what I’ll do with the old throw pillows I’ve held onto! So glad I saw this on Facebook…thanks from Wichita, Kansas 🙂
Awesome idea! Gonna make a few for my pit and 2 cats. Think I’ll use old sweatshirts turned inside out since my animals all prefer to lay on top of them only when left turned inside out. Reading this from Mchenry, Illinois. Happy new year to you all!
Love this idea. Thanks for sharing. Columbus, GA
Wow, I just spent $30 buying a bed for my dog, and my cats wont get out of it long enough to let her get in! This sounds like something they would really love! BTW I am from Bradenton Florida.
thanks
Love Love Love! I’ll have to pass along your post to other dog and cat lovers….have to share this wonderful idea! Thank you! Julie
Hi we just got a lab pup , i’m going to get two sweaters and join bodys and arms to make a larger bed , cool idea x
Just love this idea, will definitely give it a go in near Portsmouth in England
A big hello from Blind River Ontario Canada… such a fantastic idea for my lil dogs they will love it.My daughter sent it to me on facebook.
That is adorable! My cat likes to sleep on my bed, but my dog likes her dog bed and that size would do fine for her my try it! P.S. I’m from Georgia.
Hello from Kopperl, Texas………..I found this sweater bed on Pintrest one day so I found me a sweater at a yard sale for 25 cents and made one for my little chihauhaua’s they love it …and I am planning on making more to donate to an animal shelter ..or to someone that does animal rescues ….I know they would apperciate them ….
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Just thought of something else! You could include a packet of cat nip in the bed, and the kitties would be attracted to the bed!
I love this idea. What a neat way to get rid of all those old sweaters. I think I will start making them for the Animal Welfare shelter kitties and doggies! I live in Springfield, Ohio. I used to volunteer at their thrift shop and we always have tons of sweaters and sweatshirts that no one would buy or wear! Maybe we could start a sewing group amongst the volunteers, and produce lots of them for the shelter!
You have a wonderful idea.I’m looking forward to making my first one.I don’t know how to sew, don’t even own a machine.Pray for my success.
Wishing you the best of luck! You don’t need a sewing machine, just a needle and thread, and as you can’t really see the stitching it doesn’t matter how clumsy it might appear 🙂
Ah ha! Going to do a combo with a fleece jacket and some old scarves. Thanks for the idea~ from Maine…
Looking forward to trying this for my two kitties. Greetings from Minnesota!
Enjoying your blog from the state of North Carolina in the United States. Love your ideas. Wondering how the steampunk chest (LOVE IT!!!) has held up to a busy 3 year-old.
Thank you! The steampunk chest lasted about five months before DS decided he was going to use it as a potty and he pee’d in it! We ended up chucking it on a bonfire we had in August after a severe rain and thunder storm. We roasted marshmallows over it. A fitting end, I think!
Plan to share this idea
Indianapolis indiana
like this idea my daughter cat my (grandbaby) will love it
I may try this myself…to make it even softer and further the upcycling I’ll save and stuff with dryer lint.
I like this post. From Alabama.
Wonderful idea! I have a house full of kitties that would love their own beds but store bought beds can be expensive. Pretty much no other need for sweaters in Georgia so far this winter! Haha
This is perfect for my lil Chihuahua/ pom babies! The local thrift shop sells their clothes for $1 a garbage bag, this will literally cost pennies! Thanks from northern Maine, USA!! 🙂
I love this idea! My cat isn’t much of cuddler though. I do think I’ll try it one day soon and see how he takes to it. :0) I saw this posted on a friend’s Facebook wall and getting ready to share it to my own. I live in a small town in southeast Missouri, USA. Thank you for sharing!
I love this idea! I am going to recommend this site to my sister and my daughter. They will love it! And I have the perfect sweater to make a bed for my baby. 🙂
Great idea, my sis sent me your link, I have a Chau-Weenie dog that gets cold easy and likes to burrow. This project is ideal for her, I could attach a small blanket on it for her cover. Thanks again for sharing your practical use for renewing an old sweater/sweat shirt.
On a seperate note….do you have a recioe for sticky toffee pudding baked in the sauce!
I don’t have my own recipe I’m afraid, I usually use Nigella Lawson’s recipe which is absolutely divine! http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/easy-sticky-toffee-pudding-180
I am extremely excited to get started on one for my two bigger dogs .. pit mix & great dane .. oh yes .. u say your not sure just how to make one for the larger breeds well guess what … im making one out of this horrible “moomoo” pajama dress my mother gave to me with the instructions to “bring it back.” lol well i will be bringin it back as a lovely pet bed .. that im sure the dogs will love .. so all you large breed owners theres an idea !
^^^^^Hello from Cali !
I wanted to buy pet beds for my dog and cat for Christmas, but didn’t get around to it. I know I have several sweaters packed away that wold be perfect for this project. Thanks and “hello” from Arkansas, USA.
I love how you said minimal sewing skills required! I can sew a button back on but that’s about it! Our dog just tore his new (store bought) bed to shreds but he loves to lay on a hoody that’s been tossed into the garage. Gonna have to try this out…with my minimal sewing skills, that is!!! Thanks for the great idea! Happy holidays…and greetings from California!! 🙂
this is a great idea. and yes those in the stores are very pricey. I thought about making a house for my adult cat. I already made a cat scratching post. I have recovered it 4 times already . she loves it. my husband put the idea of making her a house. like a dog house but has carpet on the floor and around the house for clawing and climbing. this will be in the summer time making . I do have a sweater I don’t like will keep you idea in mind. thanks.
Just curious. Does your animal control organization actually DROWN cats to eliminate them? That’s pretty dreadful!!!
I believe that the owner of the cats was going to drown them if animal control didn’t get them. I was once involved with a shelter and there are some horror stories about the ways people try to get rid of their unwanted animals.
Meghan is right – they were feral kittens and the property owners were going to drown them unless the Cats Protection came and collected them. A terrible thing to do, I think!
Isn’t that horrible! Some jerk here in Missouri just drowned his girlfriend’s cat in front of children no less and got away with it as he was acting as the owner’s agent (i.e. had permission from the girlfriend). What is wrong with people?!
What a great idea, even for a group, to make and give to the local animal shelters…. I am going to go thru some of those sweaters, or sweatshirts, that I have way to many of (as soon as I recover from some surgery(ies) 2 in 5 months…ugh, but this would be something I could do while recuperating, and I am reposting also. I know the shelters around here (SC) would appreciate these beds as much as the animals will. And what a great idea for groups like scouts, church groups, young and old to do! Thanks again for posting this
Would it be possible to use TWO sweaters and connect them to make an oversize one for dogs? Hmmmm… Love this!!
A really great idea . I will save this to see about making it later. Our two cats just sleep where they please and won’t use a bed. We have two but no one will use it. I knit a lot and have lots of sweaters. I am in Oshawa ,Ont. Canada
Small world. I am from oshawa
This was wonderful and I loved reading the comments with even more ideas. Thank you so much.
This is the best upcycle idea for 2013! An old toss pillow or bed pillow makes a great stuffing in the body, too.
Such a great idea.Tganjs for sharing.I have no idea,how I found this Blog, but I’m so glad I found it.Now, I’m not sure how to get back!Any suggestion, would be greatly appreciated.
You could always start following me on BlogLovin’ or by email (see the sidebar to the right) and never miss a post again! 😉
Using pillows is a great idea, but they have all been treated with flame retardant, so you have to be very diligent about monitoring the condition of the bed. These chemicals do horrible things to animals.
This is an AWESOME idea!! Thanks for sharing.. I’m in eastern N.C. and feed over 35 cats inside and outside my home. We have about 10 inside as of now because of the litter of kittens that were left on my front porch on day very sick. I don’t let them go outside until they get fixed. So soon we will have 6 kitties going outside for the first time since coming to my house.. But the ones that stay inside sure will love new beds.. I have to make sure the beds are pretty easy and durable to wash because I do have one cat that likes to “christin” the beds at times. (mark them) and I don’t know who it is. But they enjoy them any ways. Thanks again. Kelly E.
That’s a lot of cats! 🙂 I bet they really will appreciate having little home made beds of their own.
How did you modify your beds to make them more durable for washing? I am trying to make some for my local shelter 🙂
I didn’t 🙁 Occasionally I would take her bed outdoors and bash it like you would a carpet to get the worst of the dirt and cat hair off, but I have to confess I ended up putting the catbed on the bonfire and we bought a washable one from the vets!
We just finished up christmas crafts and I was looking for something else to do! This is a great idea! Thanks for sharing from central oklahoma!! 🙂
Friends cat just had kittens today and they’re currently in a cardboard box. I’m gonna make one o these with extra layer to raise the sides. I think both mummy and kittens will love it.
Great Idea xx
Just to update. I made the sweater bed and ot looks fab! Wish I knew how to attach a photo. Thanks xx
Ooh fantastic! You could always tweet me the photo @TangoRaindrop I’d love to see it!
I just bought a new puppy and I am now going to make his bed with my most hated sweater, thank you for step by step instructions.
Why not a rescue dog. They are so in need of a good home and some love?
I’ll bet a Polartec fleece top would make a cozy, non-snag version too! Gotta try these!
a great idea!
WELL… I GUESS I WILL BE MAKING 3 OF THESE! LOL THANKS FOR THE IDEA!
Splendid! Enjoy 😀
that’s exactly what I was thinking, perfect for the poor kitties/doggies at the city shelter!! they’re only given 72 hours to live, wouldn’t it be nice if these poor souls had a warm/comfy bed to lay on?!
I bet they’d (the animals and the people who run the shelter) really appreciate your kindness
I volunteer at an animal shelter and I was going to make cat and dog blankets but now I think I will go to the salvation army or goodwill and see if they have any old sweaters that would make cute cat and dog beds. I think for larger dogs you could just get an double or triple X size sweater. My husband stopped wearing most of his sweaters when we moved to AZ and now we live in southern Texas and its to hot for sweaters here. I still have some from when I used to visit my daughter who was living in Colorado for a few years. I haven’t worn the sweaters for about ten years. I still don’t know why I kept them.
It must be nice to live in an area where you don’t need a sweater! Here we wear them year round!
I think that we keep things so a reason, even if we don’t know the reason at the time. Now you have a reason to use those sweaters. This is a great idea, I think I will make some for the local animal shelter — would be fun to be able to make one for each pet to take to their new home. Sometimes the local 2nd hand or thrift stores sell clothing for a #1 a brown paper bag. I have even had some in our area just donate the used clothing like coats and sweaters when I say they are going to the animal shelter.
This is a great idea, fun for the animals and a good way to recyle. Would be easy to clean also.. thanks for sharing. — I am from SW North Dakota, we have lots of sweaters and sweatshirts here too 😉
Can these beds be easily thrown in the wash? My washer doesn’t handle pillows well, but it might do OK with these. Shelters have to be able to wash/disinfect everything so you may double check that they have a decent washer just to be sure. Ours just got a used commercial washer so it could probably handle several at once, but it may not be practical if only 2 or 3 can fit in a standard machine. I hope it works out though as they would be nice and snuggly for some lucky pets!
I’m a dog sitter and can’t wait to pass this on to my dogs owners and I plan on making one for when my furry friends visit.
Splendid! Your doggy wards will appreciate it, I am sure 🙂
We need a new dog bed and I saw this and got so excited since it has back support! Then the person posting it pointed out it might not work for larger dogs.. deep sighs.. I have a small Great Dane! (135 lbs)
Then I thought.. what if I take 2 really large or long (ya know the kind y wear leggings with) sweaters n attach them in the middle with the arms on the sides (can always make them a bit longer if need be). Any one have any thoughts? He has arthritis n having the back support is helpful.
Either way, thanks for the great idea! I am always loking for inexpensive homemade gifts from the heart for my mom (1 cat) & sister (7 cats).
I think that’s an absolutely fantastic idea! Go for it! I’d love to hear how you get on. I have neighbours with Great Danes, I wonder if they’d let me make one for them to try it out…. 🙂
why not try a old fuzzy bathrobe just cut to fit and stuff with old pillow hope this helos
Go to the local thrift store and go to the big and tall section and get sweaters, sweatshirts and hoodie that are 4, 5, and 6X sizes make a big dog bed out of those, i have a great dane and i have her son as well that is 175 and the bigger the shirt the bigger the bed also the hoodies you can make a pillow or better back support fir big dogs!
Great idea. Just connect the hems of the sweaters and arms and you will have a double-sized bed. You can also get some stuffing for cushions or cuddly toys to fill it with.
Another great item to make into a cat or dog bed would be an old duvet.
Could you buy a large round pet bed, usually have them at discount stores and the attach two long draft stoppers, the sausage ones especially if filled with sawdust, which would add more support maybe use 2 and sew one on top of the other!
my best source is either the Goodwill or Salvation Army Thrift stores — go on Wednesday when they have clearance racks — you will be making all sizes of pet beds in no time !
You could also try using some firmer foam or extra robes to make higher/more solid support portions.
Or use “extra” leggings stuffed to make higher walls.
Special Consideration for a Great Dane: How about using a “Body Pillow” from discount store or recycle your old one? Cover with Corduroy/Canvas or recycled bathrobe fabric to make a nice bed pillow?? You May need Two “Body Pillows” though, right – for a 135 lbs dog??
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Suggestion for Big Dog Owners – my suggestion to adapt/adjust this for a big dog is to sew Two sweaters at the waist with a large rectangle shape pillow (i.e. standard or queen-sized pillow, etc., depending on size of sweaters/sweatshirts) in center instead of a squared/rounded one. stuff all four arms, both neck/chest areas as in instructions, and then sew the wrists together (two on top of pet pillow and two remaining wrists on other side) so it forms one big rectangle shape. Hope this helps your Big Dog get a pet pillow too!!
You did fine on the sewing. Your darling cat obviously loves it.
Aw thanks, yes, she does!
Do you make these to sell?
No, I don’t I’m afraid, although they are very easy to make yourself. 🙂
That is such a great idea! One my cats has a special affinity with a certain jumper of mine and I think would love it turned into a special bed for her!
I’m sure she’d really appreciate it! Let me know if you try it, I’d love to hear how you got on.
BRILLIANT! I am sure my Willow would love one if these, such a GREAT idea! Karen xxx
Thanks Karen, you should give one a go!
Brilliant!
Good idea but as a seamstress, I think the instructions could have been written much better. I can figure it out as I go.
Do you ladies sell these?
Anonymous, why criticize a wonderful and free idea? We don’t have to be seamstresses to figure the instructions out – they’re described and illustrated well enough for anyone to use.
Elizabeth, thanks so much for passing on this great idea!
I have a new puppy and he needs a bed. Great idea. Kalamazoo Michigan
Brillian use of a sweater. I have a bright mustard one lurking in the back of a cupboard.
I too bought it for the button content!! Hugs Mrs A.
Isn’t it! I wish it was my own idea, alas, I borrowed it off Facebook. I can’t think of a better thing to make with a mustard yellow sweater!
Wonderful idea found you through facebook!
Love this idea! great winter project for my family of felines and all the back porch feral guests. Thanks.
Greetings from Gibson Louisiana. Great Idea. I too found you through facebook.
What a wonderful idea! I love making something useful out of something headed for the trash. I’m in Las Vegas, Nevada. Thank you, Betty Scott
I love this idea! My brother passed away a few years ago and my niece still has a bunch of his sweaters. I decided to make her a blanket with most of them and now after seeing this, I may make a pet bed as well for her dog!
Love this idea!! Think we’ll try it with an old coat for our dog Molly!!! Thanks so much.
A friend posted a link from Facebook to me, via Facebook! This IS such a fabulous use of a sweater! I re-purpose wool sweaters into hats, baby-pants, blankets, water-bottle-covers, bags, backpacks, yoga mat bags and OH .. , PiIlows! With 3 cats? I’ll soon be searching for ‘extra’ sweaters in the house!
I got this idea from fb. This is a very useful idea. We have a rescue for cat and dogs. This would be good for either one, even if you have a larger dog you could try to find a couple the same and join them together. You can also recycle old pillows for the stuffing. I plan on making several as we have several of both cats and dogs.
What a great idea!! From Minnesota.
Thank you for this idea. Found it on Facebook. Beside the bed I live the stair idea for my cats. From Wisconsin.
Great idea -my husband has just the right sweater for making a bed for our mini schnauzer! Love from Alabama 🙂
Saw this and found an old sweatshirt with a cowboy kittie on it!!! Love it!!!! Think is would be great to make some for pet shelters also. I don’t even have to go out and by anything!!
Thanks!!
How can I join this Blog grouo?
Great idea! Saw this on Marmalady Lemieux (The Tripod Kitten) FB page. It is seven a.m. in Missouri (small town near Kansas City) and the wind chill temp is currently minus seven degrees Fahrenheit (-21.667 Celsius) with blizzard like conditions. So, I’m thinking this would be a perfect day to do some sewing! Thank you and have a very happy new year! 🙂
I am making several for the animal shelter. I get the sweaters and stuffing (old blankets) at the thriftstore I volunteer for. Thank you for this idea!
Regards from Colorado.
I have a ton of clothing left under my house by previous owner some years ago. I also have lots of kitties dropping by on my porch for meals, some strays some feral. Here’s a great marriage of excess! I will have to start a sewing circle, though – I’m all thumbs.
I love this idea and will be making 4 I have 3 cats and 1 dog so every one will get a bed
thanks di from Spain
Love the idea for animal shelter and strays and ferals. Thanks. Live in Michigan and this morning at least 10 inches of snow and more coming. Stay warm.
Great Idea..Thank you from Hampstead NC
Will be making one for my puppy I am receiving for Christmas….such an awesome idea… Thanks for sharing! (Brownwood, Texas is home).
S.D.
What a wonderful idea! I LOVE the idea of repurposing and I too, hate to throw anything away that might be used. I’m going to bring this idea to my church group to see if the ladies might like to make a few of these for our Christmas fair next year. We have the advantage of having a thrift store associated with our church so we will have an endless supply of sweaters and sweatshirts available to us, in case we run out of yucky ones ourselves. I am in Woodbury, CT. Thanks for the post. LOVE it!
Also saw the post on facebook in central Florida, I was thinking of a 3x sweat shirt for our dog, who likes her comforts
Awesome idea! I have a wee bit of a cashmere addiction & currently have about 60 sweaters, 98% of them from the local Saver’s Thrift Store. There’s several I’ve decided I don’t much care for for one reason or another or that I no longer like how they fit. I’m also a seamstress by trade w/ 1/2 a dozen cats, soooo cashmere cat beds here I come!! — Jeanne from Dartmouth, Massachusetts, USA.
Great idea and I’m going to try it right away. The one we bought for our dog was fairly expensive and is getting really flat already. Plus she shares it with one of our cats so it gets used quite a bit. I will have to do a quick look-see at your other ideas. Thanks for sharing. Stacie from Kansas
I am going straight away to get the sweaters I never wear but can’t bear to part with!!
My 14 year old cat Nelson will love a cosy new basket as Mimi my Fox Terrier is slowly chewing through his wicker one!!! He can have one upstairs and one downstairs!! I am in France.
Awe, how cute , my Sister would have just loved that for her cat —– I use to get the small cat or dog pet bed , and line it with paper towel , and my bird loved it , he always knew where to go , and he’d poop there on the papertowel , finally I noticed each time he pooped I’d change the paper towel , and that bird thought it’s time to go to that place , and poop —– Think I’ll make one , from an old sweater , and see if my new bird will like it ——— Fantastio idea ————
Great idea, I will definetly be trying this one out! from Long Island NY.
Thanks for passing this along! I will definitely make one for Sunshine, my Missouri, USA cat. It should work well for Cookie, my little terrier, too.
Great idea, thanks! Saw this on FB from Charlotte, NC.
What a clever idea! I know I have some old worn sweaters that I’ll have to recycle for our dachshund who would love it, especially if he could smell us on it! Greetings from cold Colorado!
Very cute idea!!! Hagerstown, Md.
I loved your idea. I have two cats and I have some sweatshirts I will use to make them a bed. Thanks for the information…Love it!
Thank you for making this site available…I saw the post on facebook. I love the pet bed idea and will be starting some soon down here in southern Arizona!
Great Idea, no cats will try it for small dog. Jefferson Texas
Thanks for posting 🙂
Great idea! I have 2 cats and 3 small dogs. This will be perfect for all of them. I’m from Central Canada in Saskatchewan.
Thanks so much for this great idea. I’m from Ontario, Canada..
Great idea. I saw it on FB and at least 3 friends emailed the link to me (knowing I’m a frugal cat lover!) I’m in Elkins, West Virginia, USA.
I’ve seen this idea on facebook before, too, but I love having an actual, real life review of the process and end product. I can sew a bit, but don’t have a sewing machine, so I’m always looking for easy projects like this for either myself or my furbabies. I have some old sweaters/shirts that I don’t wear so I think my babies will be getting new beds soon 🙂 Thank you for the post!
I have 3 kitties and 1 little dog…great idea for ALL of them!! I love the idea and am going to try my handiwork one of these next days and see what I can create. Your kitty, Izzy, is absolutely beautiful!!
From Las Vegas, Nevada.
I am going to try and see if my cat will use this bed so I can have my bed back. I am gonna try and make some with old dresses for the dogs. I am from Arkansas, USA.
I can’t waif to start on this ! I have three cats and my daughter has a pup! I wish I’d seen this sooner I would of had them made way before now especially with the cold weather we have been having!! So thankful for the posting . And the church group making them to help sell at charity . Also the women making for shelter god bless your heart!