DIY How to Make Pet Beds to Fit a Handmade Cat Tree – Sewing a Quilted Sleeping Mat and a Pillow Bed – Bravo Dada! Sewing Tutorial

Hi everyone!

In this sewing tutorial I’m going to show you how to sew pet beds to fit a handmade cat tree. I will make a quilted sleeping mat and a pillow bed. Let’s hope they will stop scratching the sofa! 😅

Important note: I use the metric system and make the exact conversion from cm to inches in the hope of helping. Please adapt these measurements to your ruler. In this case, most of the measurements are for reference only as your cat tree might be different from ours.

Hope you enjoy this tutorial. 🥰🪡

NOTE: Dimensions in inches are approximated.

The materials and techniques I used are the ones I thought were the best for me as a self-taught creative seamstress. It doesn’t mean they are the best for you, so feel free to use your creativity and make it your own! You can adjust the measurements as you like and also add other features.

These measurements are for reference only as your cat tree may have different dimensions than ours.

QUILTED SLEEPING MAT

Fabric measurements for the mat:

- 2 Cotton canvas fabric pieces: 66cm | 26" x 37cm | 14.6"

Polyester batting measurements:

- 2 Pieces: 66cm | 26" x 37cm | 14.6"

Fabric measurements for the short straps:

- 2 Cotton canvas fabric pieces: 9cm | 3.5" x 7cm | 2.8"

Fabric measurements for the long straps:

- 2 Cotton canvas fabric pieces: 28cm | 11" x 7cm | 2.8"

- Plastic snap buttons.

PILLOW BED

Fabric measurements for the pillow bed:

- 2 Cotton canvas fabric pieces: 49cm | 19.3" x 44cm | 17.3"

Fabric measurements for the straps:

- 3 Cotton canvas fabric pieces: 48cm | 18.9" x 4.5cm | 1.8"

- Polyester hypoallergenic fiberfill, as needed, for stuffing the pillow bed.

Needle sizes (universal sewing machine needles):

- 90/14

- 110/18

You will also need:

- Turning Tools

- Scissors

- Wonder Clips

- Quilting Ruler

- Rotary Cutter

- Cutting Mat

- Corner and Edge Shaper

- Sewing Thread

- Seam Ripper

- Heat Erasable Pen

- Measuring Tape

- Iron

- Ironing Board

- Sewing Machine

- Tracing Paper

- Snap Pliers Set

- Snap Buttons

- Hand Sewing Needles

- Snap Buttons

- Corner Radius Template (Optional)

You can use tracing paper to make a template or a measuring tape to take the measurements of your cat tree.



QUILTED SLEEPING MAT

- Add 6cm | 2.4" to your measurements or template (length + 6cm | 2.4" and width + 6cm | 2.4")

How did I get the measurements for the short straps?

- 9cm | 3.5": 1cm | 0.4" hole width + 1.8cm | 0.7" plywood thickness + 1.7cm | 0.7" (0.7cm | 0.3" seam allowance + 1cm | 0.4" fold) + 4.5cm | 1.8" extra fabric (to overlap)

- 7cm | 2.8": 1.4cm | 0.6" (0.7cm | 0.3" seam allowance each side) + 5.6cm | 2.2" (to fit the hole length)

How did I get these measurements for the long straps?

- 28cm | 11": 23cm | 9.1" distance between holes +1cm | 0.4" hole width + 1.8cm | 0.7" plywood thickness + 1.7cm | 0.7" (0.7cm | 0.3" seam allowance + 1cm | 0.4" fold) + 0.5cm | 0.2" extra fabric

- 7cm | 2.8": 1.4cm | 0.6" (0.7cm | 0.3" seam allowance each side) + 5.6cm | 2.2" (to fit the hole length)

PILLOW BED

- Add 6.5cm | 2.6" to your measurements or template (length + 6.5cm | 2.6" and width + 6.5cm | 2.6")

- Cut the the pieces of fabric for the fabric tubes.

- Place the wrong side of the fabric facing up.

- Fold over 1cm | 0.4" of fabric on one of the shorter sides and press it.

- Now fold the longest side of the fabric in half and press it, as shown in the images.

- Proceed the same way for the other fabric pieces.

- Adjust the stitch length according to your preferences. Use a 90/14 size needle.

- The seam allowance is 0.7cm | 0.3".

- Sew the fabric tubes leaving the folded side of each tube unstitched.

- Trim off the excess fabric and thread from each fabric tube.

- Turn the fabric tubes right side out using your preferred turning tool.

- Press the fabric tubes to make them flat and neat, as shown in the images.

- Cut the fabric and the batting for your quilted sleeping mat.

- Make sure to add 6cm | 2.4" to your measurements or to your template (length + 6cm | 2.4" and width + 6cm | 2.4").

- Mark your quilt lines diagonally, with a heat erasable pen, by starting at one corner of your fabric.

- Use a 45 degree angle or any other angle you prefer.

- Leave a 5cm | 2" space between the quilting lines.

- Then, follow the same procedure as before, starting from the other corner.

- Place the fabric piece on top of the batting with the wrong side facing the batting.

- Adjust the stitch length according to your preferences.

- Use a 90/14 sized needle.

- Quilt the sleeping mat.

- Trim off the excess thread.

- Press the quilted fabric piece to remove the lines of the marking pen.

- Draw an X on your bottom fabric, from corner to corner, using a heat erasable pen.

- Draw your first line, then rotate and draw your second line.

- Place the fabric piece on top of the batting, wrong side facing the batting.

- Adjust the stitch length according to your preferences.

- Use a 90/14 sized needle.

- Sew the lines.

- Trim off the excess thread.

- Press the bottom fabric piece to remove the lines of the marking pen.

- Mark lines that run parallel to the four edges of your bottom fabric: align the ruler with one of the edges and leave a 3cm | 1.2" space between the edge of your fabric and the line you are drawing. Proceed the same way for the other edges.

- Draw the rest of the lines taking into account the shape of your cat tree platform.

- The lines that you just drew will serve as a reference to place the fabric tubes.

- If your cat tree doesn't have holes, you can sew the fabric tubes close to the edge of the fabric.

- Mark a line 1cm | 0.4" away from the unstitched edge of the fabric tubes.

- Then draw an X from corner to corner using a quilting ruler and a heat erasable pen, as shown in the images.

- Now place your fabric tubes on top of the right side of your bottom fabric and make sure they are in the right position, as shown in the images.

- Use a size 110/18 sewing machine needle.

- Sew the fabric tubes in place.

- Press the sewn fabric tubes to remove the lines of the heat erasable pen.

- You can use the cat tree measurements or the template to draw the stitching lines.

- Mark lines that run parallel to the four edges of the bottom fabric.

- Draw the stitching lines taking into account a seam allowance of 3cm | 1.2".

- Draw the rounded corners, as shown in the images.

- Leave an opening of 12cm | 4.7" so you can turn the quilted sleeping mat right side out.

- Now place the right sides of the top and the bottom fabrics facing each other and clip them together.

- Clip the edges, the curves and trim off the excess thread, fabric and batting from the quilted sewing machine mat.

- Turn the quilted sleeping mat right side out and press it.

- Topstitch all the way around 1cm | 0.4" away from the edge of the mat.

- Use a size 110/18 needle.

- Close up the opening with an invisible hand stitching.

- Place the quilted sleeping mat on the cat tree and mark where you're going to install the snap buttons.

- Install the snap buttons.

- Poke a hole, using an awl, where you will position the plastic snap buttons.

- To install one snap button you will need two caps, one socket and a stud.

- The socket part will be assembled the same way as the stud.

For the strap that will be placed on top of the other (the longer one):

- Place the prong of the cap through the hole you made before. Make sure the flat piece will be on the side of the strap that will be facing outside. Then put the socket through the prong from the other side of the strap.

For the strap that will be placed on the bottom of the other (the shorter one):

- Place the prong of the cap through the hole you made before. Make sure the flat piece will be on the side of the strap that will be facing inside (near the cat tree platform). Then put the stud through the prong from the other side of the strap.

- Use your pliers to attach the socket and the cap as well as the socket and the stud. The flat piece of the cap goes inside the divot (black piece) and the other end of the pliers should match the socket or the stud. Make sure it is well placed or the snap may get damaged. Press down the pliers with both hands and squeeze well. The prong will be flattened and it will secure the snap in place.

- The snaps are properly assembled if you hear a clicking sound when you open and close them.

- Pull the fabric tubes through the holes in the tree.

- Attach the finished quilted sleeping mat to your cat tree using the straps and the plastic snap buttons.

- Cut the pieces of fabric for the tubes.

- Fold the longest side of each piece of fabric in half, as shown in the images, and clip.

- Mark a 4cm | 1.6" opening in the center of the fabric piece.

- Proceed the same way for the other pieces of fabric.

- Adjust the stitch length according to your preferences.

- Use a 90/14 size needle.

- Sew with a seam allowance of 0.7cm | 0.3", making sure to leave the opening unstitched to turn the fabric tubes right side out.

- Trim off the excess fabric and thread from each fabric tube.

- Turn the fabric tubes right side out using your preferred turning tool.

- Press the fabric tubes to make them flat and neat.

- Close up the opening with an invisible hand stitching.

- Cut the fabric for your pillow pet bed. Make sure to add 6.5cm | 2.6" to your measurements or template (length + 6.5cm | 2.6" and width + 6.5cm | 2.6").

- Mark lines that run parallel to the four edges of the bottom fabric (on the wrong side of the fabric): align the ruler with one of the edges of your fabric and leave a 1cm | 0.4" space between the edge of your fabric and the line you are drawing. Proceed the same way for the other edges.

- Trace out the curve of each corner using a template or any other tool of your preference.

- If your cat tree doesn't have holes, you can follow a similar procedure as for the quilted sleeping mat. In that case, you will have to make longer straps and sew them close to the edge of the fabric.

- If your cat tree has holes like mine, put your bottom fabric with the right side facing the cat tree platform and mark with a heat erasable pen where the holes are placed. This will serve as a guide to sew the fabric straps in place.

- Fold your fabric tubes in half and mark the center.

- Then draw a line 1cm | 0.4" away from the center to each side.

- Position the fabric tubes on top of the previous marks you draw on the fabric, as shown in the images.

- Sew the fabric tubes in place following these lines.

- Please adapt these procedures taking into account your own cat tree measurements and the holes placement (if it has any).

- Mark lines that run parallel to the four edges of the top fabric (on the right side of the fabric): align the ruler with one of the edges and leave a 12cm | 4.7" space between the edge of your fabric and the line you are drawing. Proceed the same way for the other edges.

- Trace out the curve of each corner using a template or any other tool of your preference.

- Place the right sides of the top and the bottom fabrics facing each other and clip them together.

- Pay attention to the rounded corners to be placed correctly, as shown in the images.

- Trace out the curve of each corner on the stitching line of the bottom fabric (the line that is 1cm | 0.4" away from the edges) using a template or any other tool that you prefer.

- Leave a 12cm | 4.7" opening so you can turn the pillow right side out.

- Adjust the stitch length according to your preferences.

- Use a 90/14 size needle.

- Trim off the excess thread and fabric, as shown in the image.

- Turn the pillow bed right side out and press it.

- Leave an opening of 8cm | 3.1" in the center so you can turn the pillow right side out.

- Follow the marking of your stitching lines as you sew.

- Stuff the center of your pillow with polyester hypoallergenic fiberfill.

- Using your sewing machine, sew the opening closed.

- Press the center of your pillow to remove the marks of the heat erasable pen.

- Stuff the rest of your pillow with polyester hypoallergenic fiberfill.

- Close up the opening with an invisible hand stitching.

- Attach the finished pillow bed to your cat tree.

- Pull the fabric tubes through the holes in the tree.

- Tie a knot close to your cat tree platform using the tails of your fabric tube, as shown in the images. Proceed the same way for the other fabric tubes. This will secure the pillow bed in place.

These pet beds are cat approved! 😻

Zé and Pardinho say hello to everyone! 😺👋

Happy sewing! 🥰🪡