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DIY Dog Bone Toy Out of Jeans

If you love dogs or have friends who love dogs this is a great project. The denim dog bone toy is a winner on a number of fronts. It recycles old jeans which would otherwise end up in landfill – bonus number one. Then it provides hours of fun for doggies when you throw the toy for them to fetch, or they can simply sit and chew on it – bonus number two. It saves you plenty of money as dog toys can be quite expensive – bonus number three. And bonus number four is that it takes around 15 minutes to make. I would suggest making a few of these DIY squeaky dog toys from an old pair of jeans. Your own dogs will want one each, and you need to have backup toys in case one gets left at a park or gets chewed up. Then from the smaller, or larger remnants, depending on the size of your dog, make some extra denim dog bone toys for the fur babies that belong to family and friends and to give to animal shelters.

diy dog bone toys with pattern

Below you will find my step by step written tutorial with VIDEO instructions for all the visual learners.

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How to make a Dog Bone toy

sewing dog toys

Supplies and tools

dog bone pattern and supplies

DOWNLOAD: dog toy pattern (Free PDF file)

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How to Sew a Dog Bone Toy

Watch the diy squeaky dog toy video first and then follow the written step by step instructions below.
Please enjoy and don’t forget to Like and SUBSCRIBE over on YouTube to be kept up to date with new videos as they come out.

Dog toy VIDEO TUTORIAL

Squeaky dog toy INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1: Prepare the dog bone toy template

Download the free pattern and cut it out – note that it is placed on a fold in the middle, which makes getting both sides equal a bit easier. You will need to cut two. You can scale the pattern size up or down depending on the size of the dog.

free dog bone toy pattern

STEP 2: Cut fabric

Open out the side seam of the jeans you are going to recycle and place the pattern on the fold, pin, then cut 2.

dog bone fabric pieces

To add interest to the dog toy, use parts of the jeans with pockets and seams

cutting out the dog bone pattern out of jeans

STEP 3: Pin

Unfold the two pieces you have cut and place them with right sides facing each other, line up neatly and pin into place.

STEP 4: Sew around the toy

Stitch around the edge of the dog toy ¼ inch form the edge, leaving a gap of around 3 inches in the center point of the shank of the bone. The larger the bone you are making the more material there will be to pull through, so make the gap larger or smaller depending on the size of the dog bone toy.

sew the dog bone

STEP 5: Finish the raw edge

If you have a serger ( called an overlocker in countries other than the US) stitch around the edges to ensure they are firm and won’t fray. The other option is to do a zig-zag stitch around the edges.

dog bone toy zig zagged edges

STEP 6: Turn around

Pull the fabric through the gap in the bone shank, then use a knitting needle or turning tool to push out the edges so the dog bone toy is nicely shaped. Iron flat

turn around the dog bone toy

STEP 7: Stuff

When it comes to the stuffing you will adjust this to the type of dog – a small dog without razor sharp teeth, like a pug or French bulldog, may not fling its head around shaking the toy and dislodging stuffing, so it needn’t be as tight as say for dogs with sharper teeth that like to shake things – I’m thinking of terriers. In this case stuff the dog bone toy with the cotton stuffing as tightly as possible, making sure it is pushed well into the ends of the bone and that the shank is firmly padded too.

stuffing the dog bone toy

STEP 8: Stitch the turning gap

To close the gap for a tightly stuffed dog bone toy you will probably be best off using a strong thread doubled up to stitch the opening closed, using a ladder stitch to provide an invisible closure. If the toy is more loosely stuffed you may be able to push the stuffing aside to enable you to fold in the edges, and run a line of machine stitching across the gap.

 

That’s it your dog bone toy ready!

easy dog toy

DOG BONE TOY FAQs, Tips and Troubleshooting:

Q: Can I cut across seams, like for the yoke and pockets of the jeans and include those?

A: Yes, you can – you might need a heavy-duty pair of scissors but the seams add so much interest to the toy, rather than just the plain denim, so go ahead and cut across seams – it makes for an even tougher toy. You may need to use a heavier needle on your machine, to get through the seams.

Q: Can you use other fabric types for this project?

A: As long as it is a heavy cotton or wool based fabric, rather than a synthetic, you can use any old pants or skirts to recycle into these toys. You can use offcuts of new fabric to make the toys too.

This project is super simple and will provide hours of fun for your furry friends. If left alone with the dog bone toy and no one home you may arrive home to a fluffy deconstructed toy. Well at least the dog had fun while you were out! Dogs in shelters need toys – and this is a super inexpensive one to make for them to enjoy while they wait for their forever homes, or at least give them something to chew on until their kill day comes. That is the harsh reality of shelters if no one adopts them, so please if you can, give a shelter dog a home. If you liked this tutorial then please subscribe to have other fun projects sent straight to your inbox.

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Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 22 comments
Terri - November 17, 2021

Great idea! I am not seeing the pattern. How do I download it?

Reply
    rem - November 26, 2021

    Its under supplies

    Reply
    Helen - January 22, 2022

    It’s just under supplies/tools section. Click the download link and enter your name/email combo. The pattern is free for our email subscribers

    Reply
PATRICIA SKINNER - November 17, 2021

I am not seeing the link for the pattern

Reply
    Helen - January 22, 2022

    It works on my end. It’s in “Supplies/Tools”

    Reply
kathy deutscher - November 17, 2021

cannot find the link to the dog bone download.

Reply
    Helen - January 22, 2022

    Check under supplies, link says “dog toy pattern (Free PDF file)”

    Reply
Bonnie - November 17, 2021

I cannot find the template for the dog squeaky bone toy. How do I find it.

Reply
    Helen - January 22, 2022

    You can download it above – it’s right between supplies/tools and the Video

    Reply
nancy - November 18, 2021

I want the pattern but no where to download or print.

Reply
    Helen - January 22, 2022

    It’s under supplies/tools. Just above the video tutorial

    Reply
Carol - January 25, 2022

This looks like a genius way to up-cycle old jeans. I can see how dogs would love chewing on the thick material. Great idea!

Reply
    Helen - January 25, 2022

    You’re welcome, Carol! I’m all about reusing and repurposing, and I have a large pile of old jeans that just beg to be turned into something useful 🙂
    Thanks for sharing your wonderful review!

    Reply
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook - January 26, 2022

One of my besties would love this. Thank you for sharing at Fiesta Friday party!

Reply
    Helen - January 26, 2022

    Awesome – you can make her happy 🙂

    Reply
Margo - January 27, 2022

What a cute project! We both post sewing for dogs this week. I made a new coat for my dog. Seeing your post made me want to make one or two for my dog. Thank you for sharing.

Reply
Michelle - January 28, 2022

What a great idea!

Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com

Reply
Jayne @ Sticky Mud and Belly Laughs - January 30, 2022

What a great idea! This would be perfect for our Staffy boy! He tends to ruin toys in seconds.
Fab that it recycles old clothes too. 🙂 #MMBC

Reply
    Helen - February 1, 2022

    Hi Jayne, I believe your staffy boy would love a new toy! Let me know how he liked it 🙂

    Reply
Donna @ Modern on Monticello - February 2, 2022

Cute project and such a great way to reuse an old pair of jeans. Looks to be such an easy pattern to follow too. I always enjoy the projects you share. #HomeMattersParty

Reply
Carol - February 3, 2022

LOVE this. I have a big dog (Newfoundland) who goes through soft toys like butter. This might work for her and featuring when my party opens tonight. Thanks for sharing!

Reply
Stephanie 139a - February 3, 2022

That’s great use of jeans – now to get a dog! Thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo

Reply

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