Rogue Socks Turned Dog Bed

If you're anything like me, you've got a stash of rogue socks, too-small kids clothes and other miscellaneous fabric items of seemingly little value somewhere around your house. Stemming from a desire to save money and limit waste, I decided it was time to do something with these less than loved materials. They had to be good for something... Something other than taking up space in my house or finding a home in a crowded dump. Generally, I enjoy passing on too-small clothes to family, friends or local thrift stores, but when it comes to things like stained or holy clothing and socks missing their partner, I feel more like I am giving hand-me-down trash than a gift of once-loved clothing.

 

 

It wasn't very long before I found some inspiration for a project. I came across a box of scrap fabrics from projects abandoned or completed long ago. Some soft, fuzzy red stole my attention immediately. That's it! A bed! A dog bed so my pal, Murphey, can relax by the fire. The only other things I needed besides my pile of "stuffing" and fabric scrap was some thread, my  sewing machine and a helper!

After checking that the piece of fabric I found was big enough for my dog to lay on, I turned the fabric inside out & sewed it together, leaving an opening large enough to add the filling. Then I turned it right side out and handed it to my special helper, Brandon. He was a BIG help in this project! It helped to hold the bag open for my assistant so he could just fill the hole with stuffing.  Once it was full enough, Brandon helped hold the almonst finished bed while I sewed the opening shut.  Next time, I think I'll add a zipper of velcro to make washing or refilling easier.
 

 

In the end, Murphey looks pretty cozy on his new dog bed that cost nearly nothing to make. Why pay $20 + for a dog bed when you can make your own with things you've already got lying around? 

Thrifty Thursday 1-31-13