Charlie's Clues: How to Make a Dog Sleeping Bag

Today's Charlie's Clues includes a fun DIY project, a dog sleeping bag.  Since Charlie is a service dog and goes with me everywhere I have to bring a blanket for him with me for 2 reasons.

1.  The dog training organization said it is important to bring a blanket to a place of business such as a restaurant so that the dog hair stays contained on your mat and you bring the dog hair with you when you leave the business.

2. Charlie doesn't have an undercoat so he is always freezing.

Charlie loves my puffy coat and like to crawl inside and I had a genius idea, what if Charlie had his own sleeping bag to crawl into when we go places.

I found this children's coat size XL at Old Navy for only $10 (good time to buy as all coats are on clearance right now).  I imagine using a puffy vest would even be more genius.

First I turned the coat inside out and sewed the bottom shut like so

Then I sewed the arms shut about one to two inches off of the seem where the sleeve meets the body of the coat

Cut off the left over sleeve

Flipped it right side out and Voila!

Charlie's new Dog Sleeping Bag.  I decided to keep the hood on so Charlie can lay his sweet little head on it.

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Make Glove Animals as Pet Gifts

Okay, on to better things and cute Christmas gift ideas. How would you like to make a cute gift using only a sock and a glove?  Try these little creatures out. I think they are adorable.  Tutorial HERE.
 Have a HAPPY Weekend.
image and tute by Martha Stewart

Christmas Weddings

It seems like there are a lot of weddings this time of year.  Charlie Pants is a pro at going to weddings and being the talk of the show (don't worry he tries real hard to not up show the bride).  Check Charlie out at this wedding and this wedding and here stealing ice cream at this wedding.

I wanted to show you how I made Charlie's bow-tie for his weddings in case you are going to be getting married this month and want your dog to be a part of the ceremony.

PS. I love this Pug in a bow-tie

Wool Cardigan Dog Coat

• • 

   
  From the infamous Martha Stewart site shared by Joanna Osborne and Sally Muir, authors of "Pet Projects: Animal Knits Bible," for sharing this lovely craft. Check out more of their designs in the adorable dog fashion 
   
  Click HERE for a tutorial video 
   
  Transform a wool cardigan into a charming dog coat 
  -- your furry friend will enjoy the extra warmth.
  Tools and MaterialsFelted cardigan (For instructions on felting a sweater, take a look at this felted hat craft.)
  Scissors
  Tailor's chalk
  Sewing pins
  Sewing machine
  Thread
  Blunt-ended tapestry needle
  Black wool yarn
  Optional: pearl or crystal beads
  
  Wool Cardigan Dog Coat How-To1. Before making the coat, measure your dog to make sure the felted cardigan is big enough to be cut down to fit. Turn cardigan inside out.
  
  2. Mark sweater with tailor's chalk in two places: 1) In a straight line from the underarm, and perpendicular to the sleeve seam, so that the sleeve forms a cap. 2) Right above the ribs of the cuff (save cuffs). Cut where marked.
  3. Put cardigan on dog, inside out.
  
  4. Pin a dart from the neck down the shoulder and onto the cap sleeve. (This reduces the width of the armhole.) You may need to remove 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches of knitted fabric. Pin along dog's chest and stomach, taking up most of the excess knitted fabric.
  5. Carefully remove cardigan from the dog. On a sewing machine, stitch down where pinned (along shoulder and back of cardigan), and then trim the excess.
  
  6. Slip the cuff inside the end of the sleeve and sew the cuff on, using a tapestry needle with a blunt end, black wool yarn, and decorative running stitches.
  
  7. For added decorative detail, sew pearls or crystals to the neck along the base of the neck ribbing, starting at the button band. For decorative effect, make one running stitch in between each pearl.

Dog Potty for Patio: Build Your Own

Well as mentioned in the previous post Jack had emergency surgery.  He can't do stairs for the next 2 weeks while he recovers.  We live in a 3 floor townhouse so this poses quite a problem.  We went to the hardware store and bought supplies to make our own potty spot on our back deck. I had blogged about other patio potties I had seen online, but ours was much cheaper to make and uses real grass.

This is what you need

 1 4'x4' peg board  (about $13)                       

2   2"x4"x96" ($2.12 a piece)
plastic sheeting (we used durable plastic leaf bags)
2 bags of potting soil ($2 a bag)
2 rolls of sod ($5 a roll)


Here is what you do.  

Lay the peg board down on the deck and cover it with the plastic sheeting or bags. Staple gun it or secure it under the peg board so the sheeting doesn't slip.  Create a trim around the board using the 2x4's and secure in place.  Empty the two bags of potting soil on top of the plastic cover peg board.

Roll the 2 strips of sod down. You will have a little extra that you will need to cut off.

Since Jack is a boy dog we bought a little plant for him to aim at to ensure he will pee on the grass.  We also bought a hose attachment for our sink so we can spray off the grass and water it daily to make sure it doesn't die.

Going to the Chapel and I'm Gonna Get Married

Charlie and I will be flying to Utah this Friday to attend the wedding of our dear friends Sam and Anna. I figure that since Charlie will be the only dog at the ceremony, he should look like he dressed up for the occasion. My friend's wedding colors are light pink, fuchsia, beige and sage green. I found this light pink ribbon in my craft supplies and rigged him up a bow tie.

I adjusted the size of the bowtie by folding the ribbon over so it was snug on Charlie's neck and then fastened the ribbon together with these scrapbook brads.

I think Charlie is a little embarrassed. He hates it when mom decides to play dress-up

.
Thanks Lucky Levanson from South Carolina for this great tutorial on how to tie a bow tie.