How to Make a Homemade Snuggle Bed

Cut the Foam

• 1

  Have the person who will use the snuggle bed lay on the flat side of the egg crate foam pad. Draw a line across the foam about 2 inches longer than the person's body. Cut along the line to create the foam pad that will become the bottom of the snuggle bed.

• 2

  Measure your dog or cat from the back of its neck to the curve of its rear and add 6 inches. Cut a piece of egg crate foam to that length.

• 3

  Measure all the way around the outer edge of the foam pad. Lay two pool noodles end to end and measure them to ensure that they are the same length as the edge of the foam pad.

• 4

  Cut as many additional pieces of pool noodle as necessary to ensure a proper fit all the way around the edge of the pad.

Make the Cover

• 5

  Cut a strip of fabric 10 inches wide — the same length as the measurement all the way around the foam pad — plus 2 inches. Identify the right side of the fabric, which is usually smoother, shinier or prettier. Lay the fabric strip right side down on the table.

• 6

  Fold each short end of the cloth 1 inch toward the middle. Press along the folds with a steam iron on the cotton setting. Stitch across the short ends of the fabric to create hems, 3/4 inch from the folds.

• 7

  Fold the cloth in half lengthwise. Stitch along the long, open side of the cloth, 1 inch from the edge, leaving the short ends of the cloth open. Repeat a second time, 1/2 inch from the open edge of the fabric.

• 8

  Feed the pool noodle pieces through the resulting fabric casing to make the draft barrier. Set the draft barrier aside while you make the cover for the bed pad.

• 9

  Lay the remaining fabric right side down on the table and face one of the long sides. Measure and cut a piece of fabric twice the length of the egg crate pad, plus 4 inches.

• 10

  Make a 1-inch fold in each short end of the fabric and press along the folds with a steam iron on the cotton setting. Cut a piece of hook and loop tape 38 inches long. Separate the pieces.

• 11

  Pin one piece of hook and loop tape along each folded end of the fabric. Run a zigzag stitch alongside each piece of hook and loop tape, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

• 12

  Lay the fabric right side down on the table again. Fold the fabric across its width, matching the hook-and-loop ends to each other, with the right side of the fabric on the outside.

• 13

  Turn the fabric so the folded edge faces you. Pin along the right and left sides of the fabric, 1/4 inch from the open edges, with the pins pointing toward the stitched ends.

• 14

  Stitch along each side of the fabric cover, removing the pins as you sew.

• 15

  Face the open end of the fabric cover. Beginning at the right front corner and working toward the right rear, pin the draft barrier to the cover along the stitched sides, with the unfinished seams exposed. Bend the draft barrier as needed and pin it along the folded end of the cover, then pin along the left side.

• 16

  Hold the open end of the cover apart while you pin the draft cover along only the upper side of the open end. Stitch the draft barrier to the cover, using the sleeve arm of your sewing machine, if you have one. Carefully stitch only the draft barrier and the upper side of the cover together.

• 17

  Cut enough seam binding to go all the way around the snuggle bed cover. Open the seam binding and fit it over the exposed seam connecting the draft barrier to the cover. Pin the seam binding, pointing the pins parallel to the unfinished edge of the cover.

• 18

  Stitch the seam binding in place. Open the cover and insert the foam pad.