Free Dog Bed Patterns in Different Sizes and Styles

While buying a dog bed can get expensive, making your own dog bed is affordable and easy. What's more, you can customize the fabrics and trims to suit your furry friend or the decor of your home. Use these free dog bed patterns to get started.

Free Rectangular Dog Bed Pattern in Two Sizes

This dog bed pattern is easy to size up or down, depending on the size of your dog. For smaller dogs, enlarge the pattern by four to create a dog bed that is 23 inches by 31 inches. For bigger dogs, enlarge it by six, giving you a dog bed measuring 35 inches by 47 inches. To download the pattern, simply click on the image of the finished dog bed. If you need help downloading the printable pattern, check out these helpful tips.

Things You'll Need

Gather the following tools and supplies to make your dog bed:

• Two and a half yards of washable fabric
• 10 yards of piping or other trim
• Washable fiberfill stuffing
• Thread to match your fabric
• Sewing machine
• Hand sewing needle and pins
• Scissors

What to Do

1. Begin by printing out the dog bed pattern and enlarging it according to the size of your dog. Cut out the pieces, and then pin them to the fabric. Cut the number of pieces specified in the pattern.
2. The two large rectangles will form the top and bottom of the bed. Set one of these rectangles aside. Take the remaining rectangle and pin the piping in place along the outer edges, leaving a half-inch seam allowance. Baste the piping in place, and then remove your pins. Repeat with the other rectangle.
3. The thin strips are for the sides of the bed. Each strip matches one of the sides of the larger rectangles. Set one of the larger rectangles aside. Pin the side strips to the remaining rectangle, matching the size according to the size of the side (long strips on long sides, shorter strips on shorter sides). Be sure to place the right sides of the fabric together. Sew the strips in place where you pinned them, using a half-inch seam allowance.
4. At the corners of the large rectangle, draw the side pieces up to create the sides of the bed. Pin them at the corners, and sew to secure.
5. Pin the remaining large rectangle in place to create the last side of the dog bed. Sew around almost all of the rectangle, leaving part of one side open for stuffing.
6. Turn the bed right side out. Insert stuffing into the opening you left until the bed has the desired firmness.
7. Pin the opening closed, and hand sew it shut.

Adding a Bolster

Some dogs enjoy having a bolster along the sides of the bed to cuddle up against or lay their heads on. To make a dog bed with bolster sides, you will need:

• Batting material at the length you choose for the bolster
• Fabric of either the same color and style as the bed or a different style and color
• Thread to match your fabric
• Sewing machine
• Hand sewing needle and pins
• Scissors
• Velcro strips (any brand)
• A pool noodle (optional)

Follow these instructions to add the bolster to the bed.

1. First decide if you will be doing the bolster on all sides of the bed or some of them. Then measure the length of the bolster based on the sides they will be on, plus four inches. For example:
   • If you are making the bed that's 23 inches by 31 inches and you will do the bolster on three sides (23 twice and 31), then you would cut 81 inches (23+23+31+4).
2. Buy some batting material, ideally already at the length that you will need for your bed's bolster.
3. Roll up the batting to the level of thickness you want for your bolster. Cut away the extra pieces if you don't use the entire package.
   • Another option for making a bolster is to use a pool noodle and wrap batting around it. This will make the bolster a bit firmer which older dogs may enjoy more because of the support.
4. If you will be using a bolster on more than one side of the bed, you will want to cut the batting so that each side will be a separate section. This will make it easier to fold at the corners when you sew them on.
5. Cut out the pattern for your fabric based on your desired length and width of the bolster. The width will be the circumference of your rolled batting plus four inches. You can use the same fabric you used for the bed, or mix it up with a different color or different type of fabric.
6. Wrap the fabric around the bolster or bolster sections. The fabric should stick out by an inch at each end. Hand sew the edges together along the base of the batting and then again along the edges of the fabric sticking out from the bolster.
7. With each open end of the bolster, fold them in and then you can either hand sew or use your sewing machine to close them.
8. You have two options to add the bolster to the bed:
   • Hand sew: If you choose to sew it on without velcro, you will sew the edge sticking out from the edge of the bolster to the bottom side of the bed. Use pins to attach it, folding the corners around at each corner, and then hand sew it together.
   • Velcro strips: One side of the strip can be sewn or stuck on the bed and one to the fabric edge sticking out from the bolster. Sewing the velcro will last longer than using the stick-on type. The benefit of using velcro is that the bolster can be easily removed for cleaning.
9. Now you have a homemade bolster bed based on the rectangular bed pattern for your dog to enjoy!

Adding a Zipper

If you'd like to add a zipper to your rectangular bed so that you can wash the cover and refill the stuffing, it's easy to do.

1. Following the instructions in the first section, at step 3, take one of the strips and decide if you want the bed to have the long edge or the short edge.
2. Then measure the zipper to match the length.
3. Cut the strip in half lengthwise and then fold about ¼ inch inside. Baste the folded edge, folded side in, to the fabric edge of the zipper, so that there is a section of fabric sewn on each side of the zipper.
4. Then take the basted sections and use a sewing machine to sew them.
5. Then proceed with step 4 in the section above.

Free Envelope Style Dog Bed Pattern

Envelope style dog beds are a favorite of dogs that like to snuggle under the covers when taking a snooze. This type of bed is easy to do with minimal sewing knowledge.

Things You'll Need

You'll need the following to make this bed. The length of the fabric will depend on the instructions below based on your desired bed size.

• Fabric of your choice for the bed. Ideally choose something easy to clean and durable, such as fleece. Choose either fabric of all the same color or pattern or get two contrasting choices.
• 10 yards of piping or other trim
• Washable fiberfill stuffing or a pre-made pillow
• Measuring tape
• Thread to match your fabric
• Sewing machine
• Hand sewing needle and pins
• Scissors

What to Do - Using a Pre-Made Pillow Insert

1. First you will create the cover portion of the bed. Begin by figuring out the size of your bed.
2. Measure out the length and width of the pillow and add one inch to the height and six inches to the length. In other words, a standard king size pillow is 20 x 36 inches. Therefore your fabric width will be 21 x 42 inches. Standard pillow sizes and their accompanying pattern sizes are:
   • Standard pillow 20" x 26" - Pattern size 21" x 32"
   • Queen pillow 20" x 30" - Pattern size 21" x 36"
   • King pillow 20" x 36" - Pattern size 21" x 42"
   • Euro pillow 26" x 26" - Pattern size 27" x 32"
3. Print out the dog bed pattern and enlarging it according to the size of your dog. You will need to cut out two pieces of the same size and then pin them to the fabric.
4. The two pieces will form the top and bottom of the cover for the pillow. Take one of the pieces and place it flat on your workspace, then lay the second piece on top and pin the top and bottom edges together. Then place the pillow on top to make sure it will fit inside once it's sewn. Baste the two pieces together where you've pinned them.
5. Take the short edges of the two pieces and fold them so that there are about four inches inside the pillow case. Use pins to hold them together and baste them. Place the pillow on top again to make sure you have a gap of about one inch on either short side to accommodate the pillow.
6. Now take the case to your sewing machine and sew along both the top and bottom long edge and along one short edge.
7. Place the pillow aside, still making sure it fits and there's some extra room to accommodate it's size. Then sew along the remaining side. If you want, you can add a zipper instead to this one side so you can change out the pillow at a later date.
8. Now it's time to make the "envelope" flap. Based on the size of your bed, cut a piece of fabric that is the same length as the bed but with a width that is about six inches longer. For example if your bed is 21" x 32" then your envelope flap should be 27" by 32". If you have a bigger dog, especially one that's heavier and thicker, you may want to increase the length.
9. Now take this piece and put it flat on top of the bed. Use sewing pins to attach the fabric to the bed. You will attach the two long sides of the bed normally so that they match edge to edge as far as size.
   • For the bottom section, measure to the middle of the fabric (in the example in #7 that would be 13-½ inches.
   • Then measure to the middle of the bed, which would be 10-½ inches.
   • Pin the middle of the envelope flap piece to the middle of the bed. Hand sew the flap sides to the bed.
10. For each section on either side of the middle, you will not be able to lay the fabric flat to sew it to the bed as the flap will be longer than the bed section underneath. Measure twice on the flap to get the sections into 3 equal sections. For the example above, that would be approximately 4-½ inches.
11. Make a fold at 4-½ inches in and 9 inches in. Then pin these folds to the bed section, making pleats. Now baste the entire section to bed section, and repeat on the other side. Now hand sew the bottom section to the bed.
12. Leave the other short side open. Fold along the top edge about a half inch inside the bed and sew to make a clean edge.

What to Do - Using Stuffing Material

Making the envelope bed with stuffing rather than a pillow follows much the same directions. The difference is you can decide to make your bed whatever size you like as you are not bound by fitting the pillow.

Helpful Tips for Making Dog Beds

Regardless of which type of dog bed you make, keep these tips in mind:

• Using fiberfill stuffing allows you to wash the entire bed in your washing machine and dry it in your dryer. Make sure you purchase fabric that is also washable.
• Choose durable fabric like canvas, corduroy, twill, or heavy fleece. Dogs can be rough on their beds, and you want your work to last.
• Get creative with the trim. Piping gives the bed a classy look, but there's nothing wrong with substituting lace or ruffles.
• If your sewing machine has an embroidery function, you can add your dog's name or initials to the top of the bed for a personal touch.

Sweet Dreams

Making your own dog bed doesn't take a lot of time or money. In fact, all you need are a few supplies and a free pattern, and you can begin creating a cozy place for your dog to have sweet dreams.