How to Sew a Cat Bed: Doughnut Pet Bed Tutorial

Sewing a donut-shaped cat bed is super easy! All you need to do is cut two circles, sew them together with a simple method for creating a center ring, and stuff it. Your cat (or small dog) will love this comfy bed.

You can use any kind of fabric for this, but I recommend Minky, which is a fluffy, soft fabric perfect for pet beds. It comes in tons of colors and textures, so the possibilities are endless! I’ve had this project in mind for a while, so when Fabric Wholesale Direct reached out about collaborating on a post, it was the perfect opportunity! They carry a great supply of Minky and tons of other fabric. Here’s the exact Minky fabric that I used for this project. I used the color Light Blue.

Cat Bed Sizes

This pattern includes instructions for two sizes: Chonky & Regular. The Chonky (large) size measures about 24″ across and the Regular measures about 20″ across when finished. As you can probably tell from the photos, I designed the Chonky size for this guy, Mikey. He’s a rescue, and trust me, he’s on a diet.

I am making the larger size for this tutorial. The instructions are the same for sewing the bed regardless of the size you’re making. You will simply cut the circles to a different size if making the smaller bed.

Notions & Materials

• 1 yard Minky fabric (58″ wide)
• Poly-Fil stuffing
• Fabric scissors
• Straight pins and/or quilting clips
• Sewing machine
• Walking foot (even feed foot) is helpful
• Matching thread
• Hand sewing needle
• Heat erasable pen
• Thumbtack or nail
• Non-stretch string or yarn

Making a Circle-Tracing Tool

Cutting out a large circle can be difficult, so I recommend trying this method.

• You need a piece of string or yarn that measures at least 32″ (for the larger size bed).
• Tie one end of the string around the grip of a heat erasable fabric pen.
• Tie the other end around a thumbtack or nail, adjusting it so that the string between the pen and nail measures the correct length:
  • 14″ for the Large size
  • 12″ for the Regular size
• You now have a handy tool for tracing a perfect circle.

Cutting Out the Circles

• Fold your fabric in half, right sides together, so that cut edge of the fabric is lined up (the fuzzy side of the fabric should be inside).
  • You don’t have to fold the fabric exactly in half as long as you have room to draw your circle. For the smaller size, you’ll save on fabric if you fold the fabric only as wide as you need for your circle.
• Smooth out the fabric so that it doesn’t have any big wrinkles.
• Place the nail/thumbtack so that it is a little more than 14″ (Large) or 12″ (Regular) from the edges of the fabric. You should have enough room to draw a circle without going over the edges of the fabric.
• Hold the tip of the nail/tack in place, then stretch the pen on the string towards the edge of the fabric. Pull the pen around in a circle to draw a line, using the string as a guide.
• To make sure it’s a perfect circle, avoid letting the string wrap around the tack/nail. You can trace around a few times if your lines seem off, then cut on the best line.

After tracing your circle, it should measure 28″ across for the large size, and 24″ across for the regular. Lastly, cut through both layers of fabric at once with a sharp pair of scissors. Make sure the fabric doesn’t shift as you’re cutting.

Sewing the Outer Circle

Keeping the circles right sides together, use pins or quilting clips to pin the layers together around the outside. Make sure the raw edges are lined up all the way around the circle.

We will be leaving a gap about 6″ wide so that we can turn the fabric. I like to use distinctive pins at the edges of the gap so that I remember not to sew the gap shut.

Using a 3/8″ seam allowance, sew around the outside of the circle, starting at the left edge of the opening and ending at the other side of the opening.

After sewing around the outside, reach into the gap and turn the circle right side out. You should now be looking at the fuzzy side of the fabric.

Sewing the Inner Circle

After turning the project right side out, you will trace another smaller circle in the middle. This will follow the same method we used for tracing the outer circle. However, you will shorten the string so the circle is smaller.

• For the large size, shorten the string so that it measures 7″
• For the regular size, shorten the string so that it measures 6″

Find the exact center of the fabric circle and place the end of your tack/nail in the center. Holding the tack in place, trace a circle in the middle of the fabric. Because you are now drawing on the fuzzy side, you may need to go around more than once to get the line to show up. Make sure you are using a heat erasable pen, as this is on the outside and you will see it.

The inner circle should measure 14″ across for the large size, and 12″ across for the regular size.

Next, you will place pins around the inner circle to hold both layers of fabric together. Pin around the entire line that you traced. We will also be leaving a gap in the inner circle so that we can stuff it separately. Make sure this gap is aligned with the one on the outer circle. Like we did before, it helps to use distinctive pins to mark the gap so that you don’t sew through it.

Slide the fabric under your presser foot so that you are lined up with the inner circle you drew. Starting at the left edge of the gap, sew directly on the line you traced. Stop when you get to the other edge of the gap.

Stuffing the Inner Circle

After sewing the inner circle, you will lightly stuff it with Poly-Fil stuffing. Avoid over filling it, or the middle of the bed will be too firm and the bed will be flat instead of having comfy walls that come up on the sides.

Push the stuffing to the back of the inner circle, away from the gap. Then return to the sewing machine and sew the gap of the inner circle shut. Reposition the stuffing in the inner circle so that it is fluffy and evenly distributed.

Stuffing the Outer Circle

Finally, we can stuff the outer ring of the cat bed. You’ll start by stuffing the far side of the bed (on the opposite side from the opening) and work your way back towards the opening.

• Grab a handful of stuffing and shove it to the back of the bed on the opposite side of the gap.
• Continue this, stuffing along both sides of the bed, until the outer ring is completely full.
• To make the bed supportive, be sure to stuff the outer ring as firmly as you can. This will ensure that the “walls” have structure and create a comfy ring.

When you finish stuffing the ring, you will fold the edges of the opening under by 3/8″ and use a hand sewing needle and thread to close the gap. I like to use an invisible ladder stitch, as this will be less visible. When done sewing the gap closed, squish the stuffing in the outer ring to make sure it is evenly distributed. And you’re done!

I hope you love this project as much as my cat does. He instantly knew it was for him and stepped into it as soon as I put it in his spot. If you try this project, please leave a comment and tell me how it goes!