How to Make a Pet Bed Slipcover From a Flat-Weave Rug

If your pet's bed is looking worn and tatty, use inexpensive rugs to create a stylish slipcover for your furry friend's favorite resting spot.

January 10, 2022

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

Related To:

How to Slipcover a Pet Bed with a Flat Weave Rug

Tools and Materials

dressmaker shears
measuring tape
marker or chalk
round-ended tapestry needle

sewing pins
(3) identical 2’ x 3’ flat-weave rugs (for small and medium pet beds) or 3’ x 5’ flat-weave rugs (for large pet beds)
fabric pet bed
2-oz. skein of mercerized cotton

Step 1: Choose the Right Rug

To help mask shedding, it’s best to use flatweave rugs with nubby textures and neutral coloring. You’ll need to get three of the same rug in order to create the top, bottom and side panels for the slipcover. Our rugs have fringed edges, so we laid out our slipcover to have the fringes at the short ends.

To help mask shedding, itâs best to use flat weave rugs with nubby textures and neutral coloring. Youâll need to get three of the same rug in order to create top, bottom and side panels for the slipcover.

Step 2: Cut Two Rugs for Top and Bottom Panels

Lay the pet bed out on a flat surface then use a measuring tape to determine its length and width; add an additional 1/4" all the way around for hem allowance. Then mark two of the rugs to that size using a marker or chalk. Use dressmaker shears to cut the rugs into the top and bottom panels of the slipcover.

Lay the pet bed out on a flat level surface then use the measuring tape to determine its length and width.

Using the length and width measurements of the pet bed as a guide, mark the rug to size using a marker or chalk.

Use dressmaker shears to cut two of the flat weave rugs into top and bottom panels for the slipcover.

Lay the pet bed out on a flat level surface then use the measuring tape to determine its length and width.

Using the length and width measurements of the pet bed as a guide, mark the rug to size using a marker or chalk.

Use dressmaker shears to cut two of the flat weave rugs into top and bottom panels for the slipcover.

Step 3: Cut One Rug for Side Panels

Use a measuring tape to determine the height of the pet bed; add an additional 1/4" all the way around for hem allowance. Then mark the third flat-weave rug to size using a marker or chalk. Use dressmaker shears to cut this rug into four side panels for the slipcover. Two pieces will be cut to the length of the pet bed and two will be cut to the width of the pet bed.

Using the height measurement of the pet bed as a guide, mark the rug to size using a marker or chalk.

Use dressmaker shears to cut the third flat weave rug into four side panels for the slipcover. Two will be cut to the length of the pet bed and two will be cut to the width of the pet bed.

Step 4: Attach Side Panels to Top Panel

Lay one of the side pieces on top of the top panel right-sides together, and then pin the pieces together along one side. Thread a round-ended tapestry needle with mercerized cotton then sew the two pieces together along the pinned intersection. Repeat the process for an adjacent side, sewing it to the top panel and to the panel next to it. Continue until all four sides are attached to the top panel and to each other.

Use the sewing pins to temporarily attach each of the four side panels to the top panel.

Thread round-ended tapestry needle with mercerized cotton then sew the four side panels to the top panel.

Step 5: Pin and Sew Side Panels to Bottom Panel

Use sewing pins to temporarily attach three of the four side panels to the bottom panel, inside out. Leave one of the four panels unstitched so the pet bed can be inserted. Thread a round-ended tapestry needle with mercerized cotton then sew the bottom panel to three of the four side panels.

Use the sewing pins to temporarily attach each of the four side panels to the top panel. Leave one of the four panels unstitched so the pet bed can be inserted.

Thread round-ended tapestry needle with mercerized cotton then sew the bottom panel to the three of the four side panels.

Step 6: Flip and Close

Remove the pins then turn the slipcover right-side out. Insert the pet bed into the unstitched side of the slipcover. Once the pet bed is in its proper position, sew the unstitched side with a round-ended tapestry needle and mercerized cotton.

Remove the pins then turn the slipcover so the inside faces outward. Next, insert the pet bed into the unstitched side of the slipcover. Once the pet bed is in its proper position, sew the unstitched side with round-ended tapestry needle and mercerized cotton.