The Cat’s Meow! Free Beginner-Friendly Cat Bed Tutorial + 5 Other Free Cat Bed Patterns To Try
First things first, I want to welcome all my fellow crazy cat ladies to this blog post. This is a safe space where we can share our love for our feline companies without judgment or weird glances from strangers.
Now that we’ve settled that, let’s chat about DIY cat bed patterns! Buying a cute new bed from a store is fun, but imagine how much more fun it is to make something special for your little kitty king or queen.
In this post, we’re going to go over some basics like fabric selection and safety, and then I’m going to share with you several adorable and simple free cat bed patterns.
What Fabric Do Cats Like To Sleep On?
I have learned from having cats my whole life that each cat has their own likes and dislikes. A plush shag rug I had in my early 20s was like hot lava to one of my cats, but my other cat LOVED it and laid on it all the time.
Some cats love crinkly fabric; some love plush faux fur. You know your cat best. That said, I will share with you the materials I have noticed my cats and others gravitate towards in the past several years since I’ve been sewing and have many different fabrics around the house.
- Minky: It’s no secret cats love soft “knead-able” fabrics. Minky is a fabulous choice for a cat bed.
- Fleece: Another solid option since it is durable and soft. Fleece comes in so many different beautiful colors and patterns. You’re sure to find one that you and your kitty will love.
- Quilting Cotton: Okay, this might be a little weird, but my newest kitty, Kimchi, absolutely loves quilting cotton. I’m not sure if this is a universal favorite, but my girl, Kimmie, can’t get enough of it. She loves it in quilt form, folded yardage, or scraps.
- Faux Fur: I’ve found that this is a hit-or-miss type of fabric situation. Some cats love it; others won’t even touch it. If you want to try it, I would suggest just laying out the yardage before you actually make the bed and seeing your cat’s reaction to it.
- Other Plush Options: Anything fuzzy, plush, or soft will probably be a safe bet. You know a bed is good when your cat plops in and kneads like there’s no tomorrow.
- Flannel: Flannel is a great option if your cat is not a fan of plush fabrics. It’s still soft and cozy without the extra fibers that some cats don’t like. Like Fleece, it comes in all colors and themes, so you can make something comfy for your kitty and cute for your home.
- Your Clothing: A fun and personal choice are making a bed from one of your old t-shirts or another clothing item. If your cat is highly attached to you, this might be extra special for them to have something that smells like you to comfort them when you aren’t at home.
Safety Precautions To Take When Making a DIY Cat Bed
Before we look at any free cat bed patterns, let’s talk about safety. Cats are naturally curious, which means they will try if they see something they think they can play with. Since that is the case, I recommend not using anything small, plastic, or removable on your cat’s bed.
I know it’s tempting to add cute little buttons or maybe try out some beadwork, but left alone, they could be choking hazards for your fur baby.
Another thing you really need to be careful about is loose threads. I don’t know about your cats, but mine (for whatever reason) feel the need to try to eat thread if they find it. This may seem harmless, but it is actually quite dangerous for cats.
The thread can get wrapped around their stomach or intestines and cause extreme complications, which would be heartbreaking! Please, be vigilant, trim those loose threads on your sewing projects, and throw them away immediately, so your kitties stay safe.
How Do You Make a Homemade Cat Bed?
The free cat bed patterns I found for you on the interwebs will show you how to make some gorgeous cat beds. However, I wanted to make an easy-to-follow tutorial for you as well. This tutorial is perfect for someone who wants a quick and easy project.
Supplies You Will Need:
- ½ yard of fabric of your choice
- Matching thread
- Sewing machine
- Scissors or snips
- Measuring tape
- Stuffing
Project Time: An hour or less
Step 1: Cut Fabric
I will be using flannel for this tutorial. You need two rectangles that measure 18”x21” for this simple cat bed pattern. If you are using quilting cotton, you can use two fat quarters.
If you have a cutting mat and rotary cutter, use them to cut fabric. If you don’t, that’s okay!
Use your measuring tape to measure out where you need to cut. I use a regular pen and mark it at 21” about every two inches.
Then when I go to line up my straight edge ruler with my marks, it will be a perfectly straight line. Using the straight edge as a guide, draw a line to connect the marks you previously made. Now you have an 18” long line that you can cut with scissors.
Cut along the lines that you marked to cut your two rectangles.
Step 2: Sew the Rectangles Together
Place the two rectangles right sides together. The “right side” of the fabric is the side that has the pattern or color on it. The “wrong side” is the side that is meant to be the back of the fabric.
Beginning on one of the sides, sew a straight line using ½” seam allowance. Make sure you backstitch to secure those first few stitches.
Sew around the entire rectangle until you are about 4” from the first stitches. Stop sewing and backstitching again to secure those last few stitches.
You should have a 4” opening, and the other edges should be sewn shut.
Clip the four corners at a 45° angle. This is going to help the corners not be too bulky. Make sure you don’t cut the stitches.
Step 3: Turn the Bed Right Side Out
Carefully turn the bed right sides out using that 4” opening. Don’t push the stitches near the opening too hard, or you could rip the fabric.
Use something blunt like a closed pen or chopstick to push the corners out. Make sure you don’t push too hard, or you could go through the stitches, and that’s no Bueno.
Step 4: Stuff the Bed
Take your stuffing and begin stuffing the bed. I do one handful at a time. Don’t worry if it seems lumpy and weird at first. We’ll fix that in the final step. Stuff it to your desired plush-ness. My cats love to knead, so I’m making my pretty plushy.
Step 5: Finish the Bed
Now we need to close up the 4” opening. You can do this by hand or with your sewing machine. I will use my sewing machine to ensure the stitches are super secure.
If you are going to sew by hand, use a blanket stitch, and don’t forget to trim any loose or long threads.
Finger press the ½” seam allowance closed and stitch about ⅛” from the edge. Don’t forget those backstitches.
Now to fix that lumpy stuffing! Take the bed between your hands and simultaneously squish and rotate your hands on the lumpy parts. This will help break down the balls of stuffing and combine them to make it more smooth and cozy.
Once it’s to the perfect consistency, you now have the most challenging step…giving it to your cat and seeing if they like it or not! Haha!
By the way, did you see the cute kitty peeking out of one of the campers on this fabric? Love it!
P.S. Want to make some DIY cat toys? Check out my post here, where I talk about all things kitty toys!
5 Cat Bed Patterns Free For You
Now we’ll check out five more cat bed pattern ideas to inspire you to make one for your kitty companion. All of these options are free and from amazing designers.
Isn’t this little cat bed so sweet? Cats love to feel secure, and with these stuffed, plush sides, your cat can sleep in peace and quiet. This free tutorial is from Ingrid Alteneder from Joe, June, and Mae.
Wow! Have you ever seen such a fluffy, plush bed? I need a human-sized one to snuggle up in! This is a beautiful free sewing pattern from Nana’s Favorites, and it will walk you through step-by-step how to make this adorable cat bed.
Here is a wonderful free tutorial from Kelly of Kicking It With Kelly. She shows you how to make this fun cat bed with gusseted sides and a zipper. This will also make a great little dog bed if you have canine babies!
I am a huge See Kate Sew fan, and her free Cat Bed Sewing Pattern is another one of the excellent freebies she offers. This adorable cat bed will make the perfect addition to your kitty cat’s cozy needs.
Here is an adorable and fun step-by-step tutorial + pattern templates from Rebecca Reid written for Gathered. She has written comprehensive instructions on how to make this cute cat home.
I hope you enjoyed this compilation of free cat bed patterns and my simple tutorial on how to make a cozy little bed for your fur baby. Though they may not show it (little boogers), I’m sure your cats and kittens will love whatever bed you make for them.
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