How to Sew a Puppy Hut and Dog Leash

Show your furry kid how special she is with a cozy bed/tent combo. This simple pattern can be scaled to the size of your pooch. As a bonus, design it to fit your décor. Home sweet home. Woof!

This project is one of many featured in the BERNINA 2013 Holiday Look Book. Visit your local BERNINA store for more information.

Puppy Hut

Supplies

• 1⅝ yards of exterior fabric
• 1⅝ yards of interior fabric
• 1⅝ yards of 1ʺ-thick, 24ʺ-wide home dec foam
• 2½ yards of 1ʺ-wide sew-in hook-and-loop tape
• Blue water-soluble marker or white iron-away marker
• Chalk marker
• Large clear gridded ruler(s)
• Rotary cutter and mat (optional, but helpful)
• Edgestitch foot (BERNINA Edgestitch Foot #10/10C/10D)

Instructions

Before cutting, press the bolt crease out of both fabrics. Cut a 25¾ʺ x 54ʺ rectangle from each fabric.

Does your pooch need a larger bed? Increase the size of the rectangles as needed. You’ll need longer strips of hook-and-loop tape, too.

On the lining fabric, fold under ¼ʺ to the WRONG side along one long edge. Press.

On the main fabric, fold ¼ʺ to the RIGHT side along one long edge. Press.

Working with the lining piece first, place the loop tape over the raw edge so it is even with the fold. Pin to prevent it from shifting.

Set your sewing machine for a straight stitch and attach the edgestitch foot. Move the needle (or adjust the guide) so it is three “clicks” to the left of center. Align the edge of the hook-and-loop tape with the guide and stitch along the side.

Move the needle (or adjust the guide) so it is three “clicks” to the right of center. Stitch down the left side of the loop tape.

On the main fabric, position the hook tape to cover the turned raw edge, aligning the hook tape with the folded edge of the fabric. Pin in place to prevent shifting.

Stitch in place as for the loop portion of the tape.

Return the needle to center position.

Pin the main fabric and lining fabric right sides together, aligning the hook-and-loop tape edges.

Using a ⅜ʺ-wide seam allowance (this is approximately the distance from the centered needle to the outside of the presser foot), stitch three sides of the dog bed, leaving the hook-and-loop tape edges open.

Turn the dog bed right side out.

Divide the bed into three even sections by measuring 17¾ʺ in from the left and right sides.

Use a long ruler and a marking pen to draw lines separating the three sections.

Pin along the drawn lines, through all layers, to prevent shifting.

Fasten the hook-and-loop tape. Let the hook-and-loop tape roll to expose about an inch of the lining on the main fabric side.

Stitch along the drawn lines, using the center guide of the Edgestitch foot to follow the drawn line as you sew. Secure the stitching by back-tacking at the beginning and end of each line.

Stitch the remaining hoop-and-loop tape sections to the lining side of each end of the puppy hut. (This is what will hold the tent shape in position.)

Cut the foam to fit into the three “pockets.” For my 17¾ʺ x 25ʺ sections I cut three 16¾ʺ x 24ʺ rectangles.

Insert the foam pieces into the openings. Close the opening by fastening the hook-and-loop tape.

Fold the puppy bed into a tent shape and fasten the edges together with the hook-and-loop tape.

Dog Leash

Supplies

• 1½ yards of fabric (makes up to 10 leashes)
• ⅓ yard of Shir-Tailor fusible interfacing
• 1ʺ swivel hook
• Chalk marker
• Large clear gridded ruler(s)
• Rotary cutter and mat (optional, but very helpful)
• Edgestitch foot (BERNINA Edgestitch Foot #10/10C/10D)
• Zipper foot (BERNINA Zipper Foot #4)

Note: While it’s tempting to piece the leash yardage, cutting it along the grain all in one piece results in a much stronger leash. You don’t want your baby to get loose, do you? (You can cut leashes for your friends’ pets from the rest of the fabric.)

Instructions

Using a rotary cutter and mat (this is the best way to get a straight cut), trim off one of the selvages about ¼ʺ in from the white area.

From the straightened edge, cut a 4ʺ-wide x 54ʺ-long strip.

Cut three 4ʺ-wide strips of Shir-Tailor interfacing (it’s okay to piece these).

Place the leash fabric right side down/wrong side up on an ironing board and place the interfacing on top, fusible side down, overlapping the ends to form one continuous strip. Fuse the interfacing in place following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Move the needle (or adjust the guide) so it is three “clicks” to the right of center. Stitch down the left side of the loop tape.

After the fusible adhesive cools, fold the dog leash in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. Press.

Open the fold. Fold the raw edges in to meet the center crease, wrong sides together. Press.

Fold again along the center crease; you now have a long, four-layer-thick strip with raw edges enclosed.

Set your sewing machine for a straight stitch and attach the edgestitch foot. Move the needle (or adjust the guide) so it is three “clicks” to the left of center.

Align the long open edge of the leash with the guide and stitch along the side. Repeat for the other side.

Feed one end of the leash through the 1ʺ swivel hook. Fold over the end ½ʺ, then 1ʺ to enclose the raw edges.

Select a triple straight stitch and attach the zipper foot to your machine. Adjust the needle position all the way to the right and stitch as close to the swivel hook as possible.

Stitch again along the folded edge.

Make a fold 9ʺ from the opposite end of the leash; fold the raw end under ½ʺ to hide the raw edges.

Attach the edgestitch foot and move the needle three “clicks” to the left of center.

Stitch the folded edge to the leash. Stitch again 1ʺ from the fold to complete the handle.