Fleece Pet Bed with Bolsters

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• 2 1/4yds Fleece
• 1 yd 44"/45"cotton muslin
• 5"x 24"x 36" cushion foam
• Hi-Loft batting pkg: small or crib sized
• 32oz Poly-fil®
• Two 24'" Invisible Zippers: color coordinate with fleece
• 3/4"x 1yd Velcro®
• Loctite Spray Adhesive or Force Field Fast Tack Upholstery Adhesive
• 7" circle pattern
• Upholstery or button thread
• Upholstery needle
• Sewing machine
• Sewing notions
• Tape measure and yardstick or quilters' rule
• Iron & ironing board
• Fabric clips
• Marking pen
• Optional: 1/3yd fleece (for piping)
• Optional: 18'x 3/16" piping cording

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cutting:
• From Fleece:
• Cut 2 top and bottom pieces, 25"x 37"
• Cut 2 side pieces, 6 1/2"x 25"
• Cut 1 front piece, 6 1/2"x 37"
• Cut 2 back pieces, 4 3/4"x 37"
• Cut 2 bolster body pieces, 20"x 25"
• Cut 4 bolster ends using the 7" circle template


• Optional if using piping:
• Cut 4 piping strips for bolsters, 1 5/8"x 23".
• Cut 3 piping strips for bed, 1 5/8" wide x 42" long


• From Muslin:
• Cut 2 bolster lining pieces, 20"x 25" rectangles
• Cut 4 bolster end lining pieces using the 7" circle template


2. WRAP CUSHION FOAM WITH BATTING:
• Spray adhesive onto one 24"x 36" side of the foam. Immediately press the foam onto the batting so that 36" edge of the foam runs parallel to the shorter side of the batting, with at least 2 1/2" margins on sides and bottom edge.
• Spraying one side at a time with adhesive, continue wrapping the batting around the foam until all sides are covered. Batting edges should meet on the sides and back edge of the foam.
• Trim excess so that batting meets without overlapping.


3. PREPARE PIPING (optional):
• Seam together 42" lengths of fleece to make on piece at least 124" long. Trim seam allowance to reduce bulk. Leave 23" lengths separate for 4 bolster ends.
• Fold a fleece strip lengthwise, wrong sides together over cording.
• Match the raw edges of fleece.
• Sew as close as possible to the cording using a zipper foot.
• Repeat for all 5 pieces. Set aside.


4. MAKE THE BOLSTER PILLOW FORMS:
• Sew bolster lining pieces into a tube by folding the rectangle in half matching 25" sides. Sew 25" edge using 1/2" seam allowance, leaving a 5" gap in the center to turn the form right side out. Press seams open. Repeat for second pillow.
• Pin 1 circle to each tube end, right sides together. Evenly distribute the fabric by marking the quarter points of both the circles and tubes and start pinning from those points.
• Sew the circles to the tubes with 1/2" seam allowance.
• Turn forms right side out and stuff with poly-fil.
• Hand stitch the opening closed using a ladder stitch.
• Roll the finished pillow form on a table to evenly settle the stuffing.


5. MAKE THE BOLSTER PILLOW COVERS:
• Fold the fleece bolster body pieces in half, right sides together, matching the 25" side.
• Using 1/2" seam allowance and standard stitch length, sew 2" at the beginning and end of the seam.
• Sew the 21" between these points using a long, basting stitch. This is where the zipper will be installed.
• Open the seam and place the zipper right side down, centered on the seam.
• Pin the zipper in place.
• Using a zipper foot, sew on either side of the zipper teeth. Stitch across the zipper at both ends. Repeat for the second pillow.
• Turn tube right side out. Use a seam ripper to remove the basting stitch and expose the zipper.
• Turn the pillow tube inside out, leaving the zipper open for turning.
• Optional: If using piping, place the piping on the right side of the circle matching the raw edges. Bend ends of the piping toward the circle edge where they meet. Baste piping to circle using a zipper foot.
• Pin and sew circles to the 4 tube ends, right sides together. If using piping, match the seam to the point where the piping ends meet and sew using a zipper foot.
• Turn pillow tube right side out. Insert muslin pillow forms through zipper opening.


6. MAKE BED COVER:
• Start with 2 back pieces, fold one long edge of both strips back 1". Use fabric clips to hold fold in place.
• Place one half of Velcro tape on the back of one piece at the folded edge.
• Sew along both edges of Velcro.
• Place the other side of Velcro on the front folded edge of the second panel.
• Sew along both edges of Velcro.
• Match the sides of Velcro together to create one 6 1/2" wide panel.
• Match short sides of side pieces to the back panel, right sides together. Sew along seams, leaving 1/2" open at top and bottom edges. This will be the seam allowance to attach the sides to the top and bottom.
• Match short sides of front piece to the open edges of side pieces, right sides together, forming a loop. Sew along seams, leaving 1/2" open at top and bottom edges. This will be the seam allowance to attach the sides to the top and bottom.
• Optional: Attach piping to the top panel. Starting at the center back, pin the piping to the right side of the top panel with raw edges matching. At corners, but into the seam allowance of the piping without cutting the stitching. This will allow the piping to turn the corner crisply.
• Sew the side loop to the top- with sides and top right sides together match the center marks. Open the seams at the corners of the sides to take the corner turns on the top. The seam should land 1/2" from each corner.
• Sew one side at a time. Sew 1/2" seam allowance backstitching at the corners. If piping was added to the top sew directly over the original piping stitching using a zipper foot.
• Repeat steps to attach the bottom panel to the sides.


7. FINISHING:
• Trim the corners to reduce bulk.
• Turn bed cover right side out.
• Stuff with batting wrapped cushion foam.
• Place bolster pillows, seam down, on the top of the cushion. Mark location.
• Remove bolster insert. Hand stitch the edge of the bolster to the edge of the cushion with 3-4 stitched using button or upholstery thread to secure. Reinsert bolster insert.