I love my toys, lots of toys. I’m a puppy who plays and naps. I need a place to put all of my toys when I’m not playing. I like to run after balls that are too big to fit in most baskets, so my human decided to just make a custom DIY dog toy basket!
Make your own dog toy basket that fits right where you want to store the toys. This one doesn’t have any handles, so it is easy for me (Lucy the puppy) to get my toys out by myself, and maybe someday, pick them up and put them away, too!
My finished basket is 20″ long and 10″ deep, made out of thick home decorator fabric and thick interfacing. It is very sturdy, and washable! My human measured it so it fits right in a corner near my bed and behind the couch.
DIY Dog Toy Basket
Make your own dog toy basket that is easy for your fur baby to fetch their toys, and make it out of any fabric that will complement its location in your home.
Materials
- 1-1/2 yards thick double sided fusible interfacing, like TimTex
- 1-1/2 yards fabric for the outside of the dog toy box, recommend a heavy weight durable fabric, like denim or upholstery fabric
- Thread
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Rotary cutter
- Cutting mat
- Quilter's ruler
- Iron
- ironing board
Instructions
- Start by cutting three (3) pieces 20" x 10" from very thick double sided fusible interfacing, like TimTex. These are for the sides and bottom.
Cut two (2) pieces 10" x 10" from the TimTex. These are for the ends.
Adjust your pieces, if desired, based on the finished size you'd like your dog toy basket.
- Next, cut six (6) pieces of fabric 11" x 22" and four (4) pieces of fabric 11" x 11". Use a heavy weight durable fabric to help with the stability of the dog toy basket and improve the wear and tear of the finished basket.
- Center each piece of interfacing between two pieces of fabric, with about 1/2" spacing around each edge of interfacing.
- I found if I put one piece of fabric down, center the interfacing, and then lay the other piece of fabric on top, matching the edges, I get a good result. It doesn't need to be perfect, just close. Make sure that none of the fusible is peeking out from the fabric. It will make a mess of your iron and/or ironing board.
- Next, carefully press the heavy weight interfacing between the two pieces of fabric, with right sides out on both sides, according to the directions that come with the interfacing. I use lots of steam and high heat. Turn and press on the other side. Now, you have five (5) pieces of stiff fabric.
- Now it is time to start putting the toy basket together. Sew one long side piece to the bottom piece along the long edge. I just lined them up and sewed right along the edge of the interfacing. There is about a 1/2" seam allowance. Sew the remaining long side to the other long edge of the basket bottom.
- The toy box is beginning to come together! Sew the 11" x 11" end pieces to the base of the basket. Then, sew each side piece to the end pieces to form a box.
- It's time to turn the box inside out and it is not very stable yet, especially since this one is so big. (I'm helping my human with the sewing. It's not going very fast with all of my help!)
- While my human was busy sewing, I took the time to watch the squirrels and birds in my front yard.
- Next step is to make the big fabric box stand up well and be sturdy. Sew 1" tucks in each corner, to give the basket more stability. To finish off the top edges, zigzag stitch around the top edge. The DIY Dog Toy Basket is now done and ready for all of my toys and bones!
My toy basket is right next to my bed, easy for me to grab a bone and look out the back window for more birds and squirrels!
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The great part about making your own DIY dog toy basket is you can make it any size you want! If you have a small dog with small toys, this basket would be waaaay too big! Take the basic directions and make it right for you and your furry friend. This size was perfect under the window and behind a chair for easy access for Lucy, but out of the way in my living room.
Browse through all of the pet projects on Create Whimsy.