Pillow for Pets

Every time I get out my soft fabric and batting to make a quilt, Dalek, my cat, decides it's her job to sit on all of it and get entirely in my way. In an effort to combat this, I decided to use these materials she so loves to make her a sitting place.

Here's my pet pillow making process:

The minky dot fabric and the quilt batting were things I knew from the start I would use, since she was always sitting on them anyway. I used cardboard (12x16in) as a base to make it a little sturdier. I got brown fabrics to match our living room decor and, of course, I had to get the dalek fabric for a cat named Dalek.

I just folded the batting until it was the right size (It was already a scrap piece so it was cut thin enough.).

Dalek immediately sat down on it. Good sign, I guess.

Anyway, I cut out the side pieces to the right width and height (about 6in tall) (She was not pleased that I was messing with her pillow. She batted at me and bit me so I made her go away.), then I cut the front corners at an angle because I thought it would look better that way.

I cut the two fabrics to about 15x20in each, so the cardboard and batting would easily fit inside. Then I laid them inside out and sewed only along what would be the front edge. I turned the piece right side out and pinned it around the cardboard and batting. I carefully folded the front corners in at an angle because I thought a square corner wouldn't look as nice.

I cut the fabric to be bigger than the batting so there was plenty of room for seams (Since I did French seams on the bottom and corner edges, it was good I had the extra room.). Once both fabrics were cut to size, I placed them, outsides together and placed the batting on one side. I pinned and sewed, keeping as close as possible to the edge of the batting. I ONLY sewed the front and top edges (for the back piece, just the top edge). Once sewn, I turned it right-side out.

Apparently this is called a French seam. I just called it, "figuring out how to not have open edges on either side" and went with it. Basically, I lined up the pieces RIGHT SIDE OUT and sewed them together, very close to the edge. Then, I turned the piece inside out, pinned, and sewed to cover the seam. I had a puffy edge thing since there's batting in there, but it actually helps keep the corner edges stable and, since it's a finished seam, it looks nice.

I made sure the sides lined up with the pillow, then turned them insides out and pinned the bottom edges along the pillow edges. I sewed it together and trimmed the excess before turning it right side out again. Just like before, I pinned and sewed to cover the seam. I also sewed the front pillow corners that I had folded in earlier.

Once turned right side out again, I hand sewed the edges to the pillow in a few places to keep the edges from falling away too much.

She seems to like it. I put her catnip pillow (also with dalek print) and her yarn ball with her for pictures, but usually she throws them out.

I hope you liked my Instructable and my cat's new pillow!

Thanks for reading!