News, Advice and Resources for Thoughtful Pet People
I like how these 2 projects use the zig-zaggy Lack wall shelf from Ikea. The first project packs a fair bit into a small space and makes use of materials from an old scratching post. The second project uses 2 shelves. Both use shelf brackets from a hardware store to secure the shelf to the wall and to the bookcase.
Here are three tutorials for easy no-sew dog toys you can make last minute. These aren’t for heavy chewers. Don’t miss these no sew cat toys for your kitty friends. Looking for more DIY inspiration? Check out the DIY Archive for lots of pet projects!
The first is a fleece pom-pom. You’ll need about 1/8 of a yard of fleece–it can be scraps. You could scale this down for a smaller dog.
Here are patterns for a fleece cube or triangle made by tying the pieces of fringe together. The amount of fleece you need depends on what size toy you want. You’ll also need some fiberfill or scraps for stuffing.
The last one is a tug toy made from yarn twine. You’ll need about 14 yards of yarn and about 34 yards of cotton or polyester twine. It seems you could also use thicker line or rope.
(Psssst, keep your eye out for coming information on how to enter the upcoming giveaways!)
Of course, PetProject does not recommend actually giving animals as gifts! But, here’s a tutorial in case you need to know how to wrap one.
Here’s a demo of how to wrap a dog, sort of. Gold star to mom for being so good about praising Rosco for doing what they asked! We humans are a goofy lot, aren’t we?
I love these cunning dog toys. All three tutorials are for knitted & felted toys. Don’t forget to use wool yarn so it will felt. Felted knits handle more like fabric and are more durable. (Here are a few tutorials on felting, in case you need them: this one covers both hand & machine felting,here is a printable one on machine felting, and another on hand felting.)
First, is a great tutorial for this cute dog dumbell. It’s aesthetically pleasing and a neat toy! I especially like dog toys that are fun for the dog, but also also look nice on the livingroom floor. This dumbell kind of looks like it could be modern art. The pattern comes from Tara over at Tara’s Knits.
Second, is a nice tutorial for these wonderful ducky dog toys. You can use the pattern to make a mallard & a duckling, as shown, or any bird you can dream up. This pattern comes from Ever Green Knits. She has other free patterns and makes some lovely things.
Third, is a tutorial for a tug toy. It has details for a short & a long version. You could make a nifty one using variegated yarn.
This tutorial from Stephanie over at Multi-Tasking Mama shows you how to turn a photo of your pet into a felt portrait you can put on a stocking or just about anything else—pillow, bag, etc. You will need some type of photo editor like Photoshop. The rest of the materials are pretty simple and the instructions are detailed & easy to follow. You’ll need: