How to Make a Critter Sack

Today being Thanksgiving I realized how thankful I am to share my home with a variety of wonderful animal companions. So as a tribute to them I thought I'd give everyone who shares their home with a small animal or bird (and who can sew) a present and share the pattern I created to make a critter sack.

The instructions are for a small critter sack, which is the perfect size for finches and small parrots (such as parrotlets, lovebirds, or those of the brotogeris species). It's also the right size for sugar gliders, "pocket pets" like gerbils and hamsters, small lizards and snakes, and single rats. But with the right math (basic geometry) the pattern can be made large enough for ferrets, rabbits, iguanas, and even cats and small dogs.

If you'd like to make this you will need to know two easy stitches: a running stitch (which is also known as a straight stitch; it's usually first stitch you learn to sew) and a basic blanket stitch (you can get fancier if you want, though).

To make this you will need:

A couple of sheets of paper

A pencil

Tape

Scissors (paper and fabric)

A piece of fabric that is at least 7 1/2 inches tall and 19 inches long (I recommend polarfleece) *

Pins

Embroidery floss

Embroidery needle

Optional items include: 

Ribbon

Thread

Regular needle

String


* A note about the fabric: you will want something that is durable, machine washable, fairly thick, and stretchy. Polarfleece is easy to get in the US, comes in over a thousand colors and patterns, and often goes on sale- so it's cheap. Cotton fleece is a wonderful natural alternative- if you can find it, but t-shirt cotton is much too thin for this project.

To start:

1). Using the paper and pencil, draw a circle that is 4 1/2 inches across (I found that a large pumpkin can is 4 in. across, so I used that to make my circle. If you do that, you just have to cut the fabric about 1/4 inches larger than the paper circle, no big deal), then a rectangle that is 7 1/2 inches X 13 3/4 inches (THAT'S where the tape and the extra sheet of paper comes in- if your paper is too small, simply add another piece from a second sheet to make up the difference and tape them together).

2). Cut out the paper pattern and pin to the fabric.

3). Cut  the fabric around the pattern.

4).  Using the embroidery floss and needle, sew the circle to the LONG end of the rectangle with a basic blanket stitch (I double the floss for extra durability). Remember to leave a 1/4 inch at the end of the rectangle when you start sewing; this will enable you to sew the two ends of the rectangle together. If the rectangle is a little too short or two long, don't worry! If it's too long you can trim off the end, and if it's too short you can stretch the fabric to fit, or sew a pleat into the circle if you have to- your pet probably won't care.

5). When you reach the end of the circle, continue stitching up the short ends of the rectangle so that it forms a tube. Tie it off at the top.

6). Cut a hole just large enough for your animal to fit into (for most animals, that's a little larger than their head) at about the center of the tube opposite the seam (so if you lay it flat, cut the folded edge that is NOT sewn, at about the middle of the height of the fold).

7). Now is the time that I like to embellish it. For the sample bag that meant sewing ribbon just above the stitching around the bottom of the tube as well as around the opening of the hole (if the hole stretches while you're sewing, simply gather the ribbon to retain the hole's original size- I thought the gathering was cute, and so I stretched the hole on purpose). If you choose not to add ribbon, you should sew around the hole opening with a blanket stitch to keep the hole from stretching out.

8). Time to shut the tube: Make a running stitch all around the tube about 1/2 inch below the top using large (about 1/3- 1/2 inch) stitches, then pull the fabric along the thread so it's gathered as tight as you can get it (gathering as you go helps). Tie it off.

9). Almost done! Now you need to sew the ties on top so you can hang the bag. For this I used ribbon that was doubled over and sewn shut, but you can use fairly heavy string or strips of the fabric that you used if you'd rather. I cut mine about 5 inches long, but that's just my preference; just remember to make them long enough to go through the bars of your animal's cage (or around a branch or something) and be able to tie the ends together to secure it. Sew them- with the doubled embroidery floss- about halfway between the front and back (between the back seam and the hole) on either side of the top just below the gathered seam. I sewed about a half inch of ribbon to the bag and used a ton of stitches so it was very secure.

Now it's done and ready to use!

You could embroider patterns or a monogram on the outside if you liked before you stitched it together, or you could put a different fabric on the inside (just remember to keep it practical and safe- animal's claws can get caught on loose threads, and don't add any beads or anything that your companion might chew and/or swallow). The beauty of this pattern is that it's really easy to customize to your taste and/or needs.