The 12 Best DIY Gift Ideas For Your Dog

If you have a dog, you know they’re just another member of the family who brings you joy and love every day. Dogs have the incredible ability to sense when we are sad or upset, and they want to offer comfort whenever they can. So what can we do to show them our appreciation?

As a creative person, you can sew something special for them. There are so many different things to sew for dogs, and we’ll look at a bunch of them in this post. Sewing things for those we love, even our dogs, is fun and rewarding.

Is Cotton OK For Dogs?

The short answer: yes, cotton is safe for dogs. 

The actual natural cotton fibers are safe for your dogs, of course, but you need to be careful not to use tiny strips that could easily tear off the toy or item you made. Whether 100% cotton or plastic, small pieces are a choking hazard for your pup, and you want to avoid that at all costs. 

You know your dog best. If you know there is a good chance they’ll try to eat pieces they have ripped off their toys; then you should check their toys daily to ensure they’re still safe to play with. 

Other fabrics that work great for DIY projects for dog lovers include:

• Fleece
• Denim
• Flannel
• Canvas
• Corduroy

What Stuffing Is Safe For Dog Toys?

Probably the most commonly used stuffing material is Polyfil (aka Fiber Fill.) This stuffing is made from synthetic polyester and can cause digestive issues for your dog if ingested, especially in large quantities. 

But what would be an excellent alternative to stuffing for the different toys, beds, and things you want to make for your sweet pup? Here is what I would suggest:

• Socks: You can stuff anything with socks. Socks are tough and most likely won’t be ripped to shreds if your dog can rip open their toy. 
• Denim: Cut an old pair of jeans into strips and stuff your DIY dog toys and beds. Denim adds a fun texture for the dog if they like to chew. Plus, your dog won’t make a huge mess if they rip open the toy.
• Fleece: Like denim, fleece will add a fun texture to whatever you make. If your dog is prone to eating small pieces of fabric, try cutting the fleece into larger squares instead of strips. This will make it less likely that they will try to swallow it whole. 
• Natural Fiber Stuffing: If your dog is extremely unlikely to rip open a toy and try to eat it, why not try natural fiber stuffing? You won’t have to worry about it being toxic for your dog, and natural fibers will last longer than synthetic ones. Wool is the most common natural stuffing, but you could also use llama or alpaca fibers. Just make sure no one in your family, including your dog, has an allergy. 

12 Adorable and Practical Things To Sew For Dogs

Now that we’ve discussed the fabrics and stuffing you can use to make toys and things for dogs, let’s dive into this fun collection of different projects you can make for your pup. Sewing for dogs is a lot of fun, and I’m sure your little canine companion will love whatever you make for them. 

1. Adjustable Dog Collar

Here is a fantastic free tutorial that will walk you through step-by-step how to sew a dog collar. This tutorial includes excellent photos of each step for those of us who are visual learners. Store-bought collars can be expensive and bland. Now with this tutorial, you’ll be able to make your fur baby a stylish new collar for every occasion. 

2. Dog Sweater

If you have a dog that doesn’t mind wearing clothes, this free tutorial is perfect! This tutorial is from Sew What, Alicia? and Alicia shows us how to make a cute flannel sweater for our dogs. Not only does she help with the sewing process, but she teaches us how to draft a pattern for the sweater. How cool is that?

3. Dog Bone Christmas Stocking

Let’s be honest: Our dogs ARE our children, and with the holidays coming up, our babies need their stockings hung over the fireplace. This fantastic tutorial from Sew Very Crafty shows us how to make this adorable bone-shaped Christmas stocking. This is an excellent beginner-friendly project that you’ll enjoy for years. 

4. DIY Dog Harness

Meredith from Olivia Jane Handcrafted has created this free tutorial for sewing your dog harness like a pro. I wouldn’t recommend this project for a brand-new beginner, but confident beginners will be able to make this with no problem! The tutorial includes a free printable template that provides for sizes small-extra large. 

5. Doggie Bandana

Here is a tutorial I wrote a few weeks ago on how to make this adorable bandana. This tutorial includes two options: the tie method and the collar method. This is a super simple beginner-friendly project, and you’ll have so much fun making it you’ll want to make more! The bandana adds a cute accessory to your dog without stressing them out with actual clothes. My girl, Obi, is a no-clothes kind of pup. LOL!

6. Snuggle Mat

This snuggle mat is such a fun idea. I want to make one for Obi. So the idea of this mat is to create this super soft cuddle mat for your pup, but add treats to it by hiding them between the strips. This creates a fun game for your puppy to help with boredom. 

7. No-Sew Dog Toy

Look no further if you are searching for a no-sew dog toy that pretty much any dog would love. This easy toy is made using fleece and a tennis ball. That’s it! The tutorial shows you how to go through the steps to cut the fleece, wrap it around the ball, and braid the strips to make this toy look like a cute octopus. 

8. Elastic Dog Bow Tie

Oh my goodness, how cute is this little bowtie?! Jackie from Creating Purple Joy wrote this easy-to-follow tutorial on how to make a removable bowtie for your dog’s collar. I absolutely love this idea since you can change out and wash the bowtie when needed. This is an excellent option for beginner sewists who want to make something special for their dogs.

9. Jean Dog Ball

Here is a fun, quick, and easy project from The Happiest Camper. This free tutorial + printable pattern will show you how to make a DIY dog ball from an old pair of jeans. This is a great way to upcycle clothing and make something your dog will love to play with all the time. In the tutorial, she shows you how to use a cotton filling to stuff the ball, but you could easily switch that out for more denim or socks if you need to. 

10. Soft Dog Bone Toy

This free tutorial will show you how to make a template for the bone pieces using paper and a jar lid or bowl. Then she walks you through each step of creating this fun toy for your pooch. You could make several different sizes of these bones for your dog to have a little variety in their toy selection.

11. DIY Dog Leash

If you are looking for a simple tutorial that will tell you how to sew a dog leash, this tutorial from Home Sweet Life will be your best friend. Kristen will show you how to use ribbon and nylon webbing to make this adorable and functional leash in just four simple steps. You can easily adjust measurements to create the perfect leash for your pup. 

12. Dog Poop Bag Holder

Here is an excellent free tutorial from See Kate Sew, where Kate shows us how to make these adorable poop bag holders that can easily clip onto our new leash from #11 of this list. This little holder is the perfect size to hold a small roll of doggie doo-doo bags without taking up too much space. Each step in the making process includes detailed images showing what the bag should look like. 

I hope you enjoyed checking out these awesome things to sew for dogs as much as I did. Our sweet fur babies deserve to be loved and pampered, and what better way to do that than to make them something unique with our own two hands?

Which item was your favorite from this list? Let me know in the comments below. I honestly really want to make Obi a pretty harness for our morning walks.