Learn how to sew a dog toy from fabric scraps, including an easy way to add crinkle sounds.
Hey y’all, today I have a super easy tutorial to make a cheap DIY dog toy from fabric scraps and, well, trash. I sew these DIY dog toys from left over fleece, and my poodle loves them. He thinks they’re a great dog treat, then promptly destroys them, lol! But I’d much rather he destroy these scrap fabric dog treats that cost me nothing than have to constantly buy him toys at the pet store.
The great thing about dogs is that they generally don’t care if the toys they get are perfectly cut or sewn. I make them rectangular-ish, but you could make them bone shaped, circular, or any other shape you can cut out. The shape isn’t what seems to engage my dog’s mind, instead it’s the texture of the fabric and the challenge of getting the crinkle out.
My pup will find these even if I hide them, which is a fun game for him. He also likes to play fetch with these a few times before he settles down to chew holes in it. Sometimes I get a good grip on it and we play tug of war. But mostly my pooch loves the mental stimulation of tearing things apart. He likes to take the cover off a tennis ball, and he loves to pull stuffing out of toys from . So these are a good alternative for us since I always have scrap fabric for them. But, hopefully this goes without saying, you should always watch your pooch with any toy, including a diy toy. You don’t want them to ingest small pieces of the toy as they tear it.
Pet Toy Supplies
To make your own pet toy like this you’ll need:
- Scrap fabric. My dog seems to prefer fleece type fabrics, but you could try denim, old t-shirts, etc. I would caution against old socks if you have a sock snatcher like my dog. That could make it hard for them to distinguish which socks they’re allowed to chew and which they’re not.
- Potato chip bag – this is what I cut up to make the crinkling noise. I don’t wash the bag, and I use a pair of scissors separate from my fabric scissors to cut it.
- Sewing machine, thread, etc. I don’t recommend hand sewing these if your dog is destructive like mine, hand stitching seems much easier for them to rip out in longer pieces of thread.
How To Make A Dog Toy
To make your own dog toy, watch the video below or on YouTube here.
Written Instructions
Time needed: 10 minutes
How to sew a DIY Dog Toy
- Cut out fabric
I cut two pieces that are about a 6 inch by 8 inch rectangle, but proportions and shape can vary.
- Cut out crinkle material
I use an empty potato chip bag for this, and cut it so that it barely extends into the seam allowances of the toy. I use half inch seam allowances.
- Sew the toy
Place the fabric pieces right sides together and add a layer of potato chip bag material. Stitch around the edges, leaving a gap to turn the toy. Sometimes I double stitch 1/8 inch in from the first line.
- Finish the toy
Turn the toy right side out and fold the raw edges at the gap to the inside. Stitch the gap closed on the machine.
And when you’re done sewing these toys, you can also check out the dog sewing tutorials below to see how to make a dog bed and how to sew a dog bow tie.
Molly Pitts
Oh my goodness! I love this project. I have a Standard Poodle as well and he’s my first. I’ll never get another breed (unless I adopt a shelter dog that grabs my heart). I knew you were from Texas (I’m in South Austin) but it still made me happy to see the HEB chip bag. I love their chips. So this is a win win for me all the way around.
Thank you!
Molly