Treasures: Tied Fleece Blankets for the Dogs

Tiny handmade tied fleece blanket for my tiny dog Daisy

During a recent trip to a local fabric store, I saw some fleece remnants at deep discount prices. I have always wanted to try to make a tied fleece blanket but previously never followed through. I was afraid to spend the money on materials without feeling like I knew what I was doing. But when I saw these remnants, I felt brave and I purchased the two small pieces of fleece and brought them home to try.

I thought if I begin with the plan of making very small blankets for the dog crates, I won't feel badly if this project turns out ugly and the dogs would still have new blankets. This decreased the intimidation factor of trying something new. Besides, the thought of making dog blankets using a paw print on one side and a cat print on the other side just tickled me. I HAD to try.

How to Make Tied Fleece Blankets

There are many video and written tutorials on the internet about making tied fleece blankets. By looking at a variety of these tutorials, I had decided I wanted to tie my knots in a certain way and I wanted to cut the corners off of the blanket in order to make tying at the corners easier.

With those two decisions made, I began.

Good thing this first blanket is teeny tiny, for my little dog Daisy, because I did make some mistakes. I did not account for the "print" at the very edge of the fleece material. And it clearly shows in the finished project. I think it is distracting and ugly. Fortunately, Daisy can't read. And is probably colorblind. So that turns out to be a good learning opportunity for me - instead of disaster. Also, when I measured to cut out my corner squares, I didn't account for the width of the tape measure. As a result, I ended up with some 4" fringe and some 4 1/2" fringe. I had intended on fringe that was 1" x 4" - before the knot.  The 1" x 4" fringe was incredibly difficult for me to tie (with the knot I had chosen) with my bare hands.

I began using a heavy chopstick to help tied the knots. The chopstick helped me to adjust the knots and grip the material - making more uniform knots. In the future, I will make either longer or thinner strips of fringe for easier tying. Maybe both thinner and longer.

Materials Needed to Make Tied Fleece Blankets

• Two pieces of fleece (I chose contrasting prints)
• A sharp pair of scissors - I love Fiskars
• A tape measure or yardstick
• Optional - chopstick (a crochet hook may have worked)
• Optional - masking tape (for marking the edges to help ensure measurements)

Caution: I have a very small apartment, so I laid the project out on the floor for cutting. With carpet, that was a risky move. Take great care if you make the same choice or you will likely give your carpet a haircut. I highly recommend doing the cutting on a flat, hard surface.

Steps:

1. Lay out the two layers flat and smooth - one on top of the other - "right" sides facing out
2. Measure for the corners - cutting out the corners (measure twice, cut once! Something I neglected to do)
3. Carefully measure and moved down each side, cutting for the thickness of each fringe
4. Begin tying the knots - Beginning with the fringe directly next to each now missing corner. That results in two tied fringe pieces on each side; anchoring the pieces together as they were initially placed together
5. Continue tying the knots until the blanket is complete

That is all there is to it! As I tied the knots, I used the chopstick to adjust them to make them more uniform. And I frequently checked that the material was still lying flat together and hadn't shifted or puckered much.  Please scroll down for the photographs of the steps.

Daisy's finished blanket is approximately 20" x 20" (fringe included) - a similar size of her dog bed. 

Willy - trying to claim the blanket as his own
while I am trying to tie knots

This was a fun project. I am feeling more confident with making tied blankets. After I make a blanket for Willy (as clearly he wants one of his own!) I plan to move on to those adorable "kits" that are printed with cute patterns and make some blankets for the grandbabies.

If you have been considering trying tied fleece blankets, I encourage you to give it a try. Remember to scroll down for the step-by-step photos.

*This article may contain affiliate links. If you shop via one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you. I am very appreciative of every reader who visits my articles. Thank you. 

Tied Fleece Blanket Making: Step-by-step in photos

 

Chesapeake Cozy Cat Trees and Condos

Chesapeake Cozy Cat - Baltimore Co., Maryland

If you are a cat lover and would like to supply your cat with a quality cat tree or cat condo and you are in the Baltimore County area, I have some good information for you.  Both Mittens and I are thrilled about the treasure I acquired yesterday from Chesapeake Cozy Cat.

Buying Local - in Baltimore County, Maryland

I prefer to buy things that are made and sold locally, but it is not always easy to find what you are looking for. It often becomes much easier to mail order items. It is also often less expensive to buy from the big box stores.

One item that I have put off purchasing is a large cat condo. I didn't care for the quality and the prices at the local stores. And I didn't feel like spending that much money on Mittens the Maleficent. Frankly, she is constantly in the top of closets, on top of my kayak (that I store across the top of closet doors - next to the ceiling), and in every other nook and cranny she can find. While I really wanted a large cat tree for her, it wasn't a priority.

However, her knocking things from this shelves and spaces to make room for her napping has grown old. I definitely wanted to have a "high" space dedicated to Mittens.

Years ago I had seen a variety of cat trees and condos being sold yard sale style at the park-and-ride across from Martin State airport. But I hadn't seen this set-up for quite awhile and had given up on being able to shop those items - UNTIL YESTERDAY!

Chesapeake Cozy Cat

The Chesapeake Cozy Cat tent was in front of the park-and-ride in front of Martin State Airport yesterday. I pulled a U-turn and stopped to shop.  I grabbed a card so I could remember to provide the contact information to you.

Chesapeake Cozy Cat official website

The gentleman (I forgot to ask him name in my excitement) said that he doesn't do mail order business yet. He attends local shows and continues to sometimes set up at the location I found him. He builds all of the items himself.

I found that his prices were less expensive than the items at a local pet store I had been window-shopping. And in my opinion, the item I purchased is a higher quality.

Mittens and Her New Tree

Some of my readers occasionally ask about Mittens. She is the cat that I adopted from a local shelter in 2015 and we had adventures before I ever brought her home. In fact, I was a bit worried about whether or not Mittens the Maleficent Kitten would be allowed to come live with me. 

Mittens continues to do well with me. Rather, I continue to do well with her. She is clearly in charge of both myself and the dogs, and the apartment is her apartment. 

As soon as I brought this 42" tall tree into the door, she claimed it. She wasn't quite sure what it was, but she claimed it by laying on the base. 

Later she hopped up into the 1/2 tube beds. When I was making my purchase, I initially thought I should buy the enclosed cat houses, but I am glad I bought the tree with the two 1/2 tube beds. She loves them. Some day, I'd love to buy her one of those HUGE cat trees (on the far left in the intro photograph) but for now, this tree is perfect for Her Highness and a good size for my apartment. 

Maybe you do not live locally. In that case Amazon may be a really good option for you to find a cat tower or condo in the shape and size that you want. Simply click the banner below and shop the pet section for cat towers.




But if you are lucky enough to live local to Baltimore County, and are looking for a quality cat tree, you definitely should contact Chesapeake Cozy Cat. Mittens certainly has given her stamp of approval.

*This article may contain affiliate links. If you shop via one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you. I am very appreciative of every reader who visits my articles. Thank you. 

Sweater and Jacket Choices for Dogs Who Need Them

I grew up on a farm. Dogs needing sweaters did not cross my mind. After all, the outside dogs had a barn or shed, straw, and the warmth of the livestock to protect them from the cold. But things change and so has my thinking. I now live in an apartment with two small dogs. We love being outdoors during all types of weather. And my little Daisy definitely needs a sweater to help keep her warm. Would your dog benefit from a sweater too? 

Protect Your Dog Now That Cold Weather Has Arrived

Any dog that remains outside during cold needs to have a shelter, warm and dry bedding, and plenty of food an water.  But what about my little dogs that live inside. They become accustomed to heat and haven't become acclimated to the elements.

My little Daisy is a Rat Terrier. She is small with very short hair. She is nearly hairless on her belly.  It is because of her thin build and short, sparse coat that I looked for her sweaters and jackets when we went for a hike in the woods today.

Daisy in the woods today - protected from the cold wind

Daisy has two different types of outdoor wear.  She has a sweater and a jacket.  

I think jackets are preferable when we are in the woods, when we are hiking for some distance, and if there is no snow.  The jacket is less likely to pick up burrs than the sweater is. The jacket also provides more ventilation while she is exercising. Sometimes, in the sweaters, she becomes over-heated.

I think the sweaters are preferable when it has snowed and we plan on being outside for a shorter period of time. When Daisy's belly is going to be exposed to the snow or when it is bitterly cold, I prefer that she wears her sweater for increased warmth. During snowy weather, I make sure I have two sweaters on hand.  I can put her into a dry sweater while the one that is wet from the snow during a previous walk has time to air-dry.

Both styles can be easy on-off.  Her jacket is an example of straps with velcro that make getting her in and out of it an easy process. Her sweater has long slits (as opposed to actual "sleeves") for her legs. These slits make it easier to get an excited dog in and out of the sweater. I've been very pleased with a variety of dog sweaters and jackets. In my opinion, the most important feature of a good dog sweater is the access opening for the leash.  Sweaters or jackets without those openings are difficult.

Dog Sweaters & Jackets: Things To Consider

These are the things that I keep in mind when purchasing a sweater or jacket for my dog:

• size of my dog
• length and thickness of the dog's hair
• activity level - what will the dog be doing while wearing the sweater or jacket
• how the sweater or jacket fastens
• how thick the sweater or jacket is
• whether or not the sweater/jacket has an opening for the leash
• is the sweater or jacket washable
• health of the dog - old dogs, dogs recovering from illnesses, and other situations that make dogs more vulnerable make a sweater or jacket a worthwhile investment

*graphic design courtesy of FotoJet

The Ultimate Chew Toy for Dogs

Willy - and his teeth!

This is Willy and these are his teeth. Willy is the chewingist dog I've ever met.  He no longer chews items other than what I give him as dog toys - now that he's no longer a pup.  But he has THE strongest and sharpest teeth I've ever seen on a dog.  It has been quite a challenge to find suitable chew toys for him.  I have finally found a perfect toy for him. If you are searching for a safe, durable dog chew toy I think you'll be pleased with the Ultimate Ring. 

Willy the Treeing Feist

I am always asked what breed Willy is.  He's a Treeing Feist. Treeing Feists historically are hunting and farm dogs and their history dates back to the Colonial Period in the US. I hadn't known about Treeing Feists much before I brought Willy home. I did some research and went to take a look at him. You can read more about my decision to bring him home here.

I don't know if all Feists have teeth that are so strong and sharp, but his teeth are amazing. Willy chips hooves into large sharp shards in a matter of days. Stuffed items are unstuffed within an hour of their arrival and completely shredded within a day.

A Busy Dog is a Happy and Healthy Dog

Dog lovers know that a dog who plays or works regularly is a happy and healthy dog. It is important to provide your dog with things to do. But these things must be safe things. And that has been the challenge with my Willy.

The Ultimate Dog ring has been a wonderful find.  I highly recommend it for dogs who chew and who are able to destroy toys very quickly.

Tuffy Ultimate Ring for Dogs

Even though I have seen the advertising video, I have no idea how they create such a durable toy. It is a "soft" toy that Willy hasn't been able to unstuff.  He plays with it on a daily basis - either bringing it to me for a game of fetch or lays contentedly chewing. I can see that he concentrates and tries to find the weak spot so that he can open the seam.  It has been about two months, and he has not been able to open any seams or poke any holes. 

Rather than trying to explain something that I can't fathom, you can see the video on how Tuffy constructs these durable soft toys for dogs. 

Willy and I are both very happy that I chose the Tuffy brand Ultimate Dog ring.

Related Information

More information about Treeing Feists can be found on the American Treeing Feist Association web page.  My Willy is a sweet baby who is also protective and active.  For me, he's the perfect combination of goofey, loving big baby and protector.

I've had some luck with certain brands of rawhide, such as the Oinkies brand. But I'm still concerned about giving them too frequently as I'm worried about the amount of rawhide he ingests.

He loves his Kong brand treat dispensers. But doesn't play with them as much as he works at retrieving the treat.  In other words, once the treat is gone, he's not interested.  Even so, his Kong treat dispensers are an important part of keeping him busy.

Goodbyes

Our little Sugar baby is heading home very soon.  I could not have asked for a better guest and first time foster dog experience. I am a bit sad to see her go but thrilled that a dog will soon be reunited with her human mom and her pack.

I have a ton of photographs of this sweet and elegant girl but when I saw her and Willy laying quietly on the edge of the bed, I just had to snap a few more.  It's so rare that Willy holds still or is in lighting that I can take his photo. And there they were relaxing together in the late afternoon light.

Just as I began to think my photo-taking was becoming excessive, I felt a horrible pulling of my hair. I was reminded of my childhood and my mom struggling to get the snarls out. I have forgotten how tender-headed I am!

For those of you who have wondered how Mittens the Maleficent has settled it... well... she's the Queen.  I don't believe I've ever met a more naughty kitten. But I adore her. She and Willy play together, chasing each other through the apartment.  Sugar isn't afraid of her but is far too dignified to be bothered with the kitty shenanigans.

The photo session ended with Mittens combing my hair to get my attention.

My little family will soon number three again. Willy the dog, Mittens the kitten, and me... her grey twin!

Thank you so much to the owner of Sugar, for allowing her to come visit and to add to our lives. I will not forget her adorable dances to get treats, finding her burrowed inside of my pillowcase, and the way she sits watching everything that's going on.

Dogs Begging for Bones

There is excitement at my place after work each day. A sort of doggie drama.  If you are a dog lover, there's a good chance you know what I'm referring too. That period of time when you arrive home and there is frantic doggie walking, kissing, hugging, and begging for those before-dinner treats. Recently, Willy and Sugar have been extra ecstatic, performing all sorts of attention-seeking maneuvers for their bones. Even my picky eating Willy dances and begs for the newest flavor of Milk Bones I brought home. However, he can't hold a candle to Sugar's adorable dance moves.

 Oh, look Willy! I think she's reaching for the yummies. Can you see?

Ah, yup.  It looks like it.

If I look pretty, maybe she'll hurry.

Geez Sugar. Like she hasn't seen that a billion times. Even I can do that.

But you can't do this!  Special dance, special dance, super fast special dance.

Here she comes!

Sorry, I didn't snap a photograph of them devouring the gravy bones. I used that opportunity to check my emails. It is just about the only time I have without them on my lap or doing the special dance for treats.

Gravy Bones 

A Foster Dog and Her Sporn Harness

The Adorable Sugar 

Sugar, a wonderful dog I am fostering, is visiting us and getting settled in nicely. Her thoughtful owner sent her with a Sporn Harness. The harness has been amazingly easy to use and works so well that I'm considering getting one for my dog, Willy. If you are shopping for a harness for your dog, I highly recommend the Sporn by Yuppie Puppy.

Sporn Non Pull Mesh Harness Review

I've walked dogs with harnesses on occasion before. For example, my daughter-in-law used a harness for her small dog.  I don't know why, but I had a mental block with that particular harness and had trouble getting it on and off the dog. It was very frustrating to me and furthered my belief that dog harnesses are unnecessary.  But I don't have that problem with the Sporn harness at all. For some reason - perhaps the fleece covered straps - it is extremely easy to put on and take off the dog. The harness slips right on and the cord pulls tight to secure it.

Sporn Harness by Yuppie Puppy

It seems very well made and very comfortable for the dog. Two or three times Sugar suddenly decided she didn't like being attached to me and she fought against the harness very briefly. It stayed put and I was immediately relieved that she was not going to slip out and run away.

Why Use a Dog Harness?

I have never been a fan of the dog harness.  But now I see the benefit of using a harness. Especially with dogs like Willy (Treeing Feist) and Sugar (Rat Terrier).  With Feists, my concern has always been that their heads are very small. That makes backing out of a collar or slipping out and running away very easy.  I have used "choker chains" in the past, but they definitely aren't my preference.  

I currently use a PetSafe webbed collar that pulls tight on Willy without being a choker. It works very well for him most of the time. It tightens when he pulls so there's no chance of him slipping out of if if he were to fight against the collar. And when he's not pulling, it hangs loosely.  It has been an extremely good collar for him.

PetSafe Premiere Quick Snap Collar

The only time I have had seconds thoughts about using a collar with him is when we are in the woods when squirrels are running around.  He's a squirrel dog. He wants to chase squirrels. I'd love to let him every time. But I cannot let him off-leash at the local wooded areas.  Now that I've had experience with the Sporn Non Pull Harness, I think I'll get one for him for our walks in the woods to protect his poor neck.

I'll leave it to the experts to demonstrate the Sporn Harness. If you have a dog that pulls, or want an easy and reliable harness, check out what Yuppie Puppy has to offer. 

Sugar - Our Temporary Treasure

Car Magnet

Have you ever considered fostering a dog? 
I have. And this weekend Sugar has joined our family. She is my first foster. Her family has relocated and is in the process of settling in. So she has come to visit Willy, Mittens the spirited kitten, and I while her family gets settled.  We are thrilled to have her here.

Rat Terriers

I truly believe that not every person should be an owner of a Rat Terrier but that every owner of a Rat Terrier knows how amazing these dogs truly are.  Ratties are typically extremely smart, energetic, and an indescribable balance of independent and exceedingly loyal. 

True Statement 

Sugar is a rat terrier. I am super thrilled to have a rattie back in my home. And she is a wonderful dog. She's an adult and a bit shy. But frankly, who wouldn't be shy around my young and energetic Willy and my kitten who seriously think she rules the place?  Those two are enough to wear anyone out - human or animal.

Sugar - my foster dog

Someday, when the day is right, I will bring my own Rat Terrier puppy home. But until then, I am going to enjoy Sugar's sweet kisses and hugs while she's here.

Wordless Wednesday - Entitlement

Mittens. The lovely, rescued, "spirited" kitten. 

I've never met such a naughty cat. She has knocked things off of every shelf in my house. She has shredded entire rolls of toilet paper. I search for things for days only to find that she's carried them off and left them in odd places.



Mostly, she just goes where she wants, when she wants, brushing barriers aside. I've adopted Mittens. I'm hoping to be able to adopt her philosophy.

Chew Treats for Finicky Dogs

I have never had a dog that was a fussy eater. Until now. Willy is choosy with his food and his treats. I know that a happy dog is one that gets plenty of playtime and exercise but it has been a challenge to find appropriate chew toys for him. Then I found Hartz Oinkies and one problem is solved.

Dog toys that are too soft

Willy LOVES to chew. He loves to shred things. If I don't keep him occupied, he will chew my socks, underwear, or towels.  He especially loves to shred towels.  I would give him old towels to play with but he ingests the strings. I am concerned that he will have digestive problems if he eats the strings. 

There are dog toys that he shreds in a similar manner. I've had dogs that can peel tennis balls or shred the tug ropes, but not as quickly as he can.  I've stopped giving him tug ropes due to the same concern I have about the strings from towels. 

Dog toys that are too hard

Willy's teeth are incredibly sharp and strong. I have never met a dog with such sharp teeth. He can bite through a thin leash in just a few moments.  Because of my concerns with soft toys, I opted to give him very hard toys. I've given him antlers, rib bones, and hooves.  He loves them!  But it doesn't take long until he is somehow chiseling off very sharp pieces.  I can't imagine that ingesting the bone or hoof shards is good for his digestive tract either.  So I give bones or hooves to him only when I'm supervising.

Treat dispensers

He likes large rubber treat dispensers and they like him. But finding a treat that keeps his interest, to put in the treat dispenser, is the problem. I have purchased bags of treats that he won't even eat from my hand.  Have I mentioned that he's a fussy dog?

Chew treats that are just right

Hartz Oinkies

Rejoice!  I have finally found a chew treat that seems to be just right. The Hartz Oinkies have a flavor that interests him (a rare thing).  He does chew and eventually eat the Oinkies pig skins, but he does so slowly. And unlike some rawhides, they don't seem to irritate his stomach.  

I was very hesitant about giving him yet another rawhide, since he has thrown up after eating previous rawhides. But for whatever reason, the Oinkies don't come back up.

If you are looking for a chew toy for a finicky dog, I highly recommend the Hartz Oinkies. 





Disclaimer: In affiliation with Amazon.com, Dawn Rae is a content writer who may earn compensation from the sale of these products

Wordless Wednesday - Do You See What I see

BlogPaws Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop

Solving Litter Box Woes

Cat Box Furniture

My dear Mittens the kitten was adopted and moved in with us a month ago today. There was a bit of
excitement that delayed her adoption and I knew that she was going to be a challenging kitten.  I knew that she may cause some excitement in my home. And she has. The first problem I've had to address is the disgusting litter box problem.

Mittens, despite all of her extreme naughtiness, is great with the litter box.  There have been no accidents. And even though I have moved the box several times during this month - which is not something I wanted to do - she doesn't hesitate to use it. Thank goodness for that small favor!

The problem is the dog. Willy, my young dog, used the litter box as a snack buffet at the very first opportunity. There are two things I cannot stomach about being a cat owner. One is the cat walking on the counter where I prepare food (all I can imagine are dirty litter box footprints) and dogs snacking in the box. So Willy's sneakiness has to be the very first thing I address. 

Mittens and Willy getting acquainted

Small Living Limits Litter Box Placement

I live in very small apartment with little extra space. And no extra room or closet to turn into the "cat" room. All of my past options are not an option in this small space. 

• Bedroom - In days gone by, I would use a baby gate and block one room off from the dogs, and place the litter box in that spare room. But I don't have that luxury here. 
• Closet - Due to creative space-saving issues for my belongings, my bedroom closet doors are permanently open, so keeping the litter box in the closet, behind a partially open closet door is not an option either. 
• Bathroom - My bathroom is barely big enough for me. Not an option.  

Litter Box in a Crate

Dog Crate with Side Door

On the first evening that Mittens was out of her crate and roaming the house, Willy was found in the crate helping himself.  We had transitioned Mittens slowly, letting her out of the crate for small periods of time and she was doing well settling in. I didn't want to move backwards by keeping her crated more in order to guard the litter box.  A very good friend suggested that I turn the crate so that the door opens from the top of the cage.

I did exactly that. I turned the crate so that the side door opened on the top side of the crate. Mittens, the spirited kitten, had no qualms about entering the crate and accessing the litter box through the top. Because it is a dog crate, it was solid and held her weight. I just placed a towel on top to protect her little feet. The crate kept the litter box safe from the dog. However, that left a large crate in the middle of my bedroom. A perfect way to break a toe in the middle of the night and a complete eyesore.  It was a fantastic temporary solution but clearly not a good permanent solution.

Cat Bathroom Furniture

Are you aware that furniture is made specifically for hiding a litter box? Until I had started looking for solutions I had not known this bit if information. There are very beautiful pieces of furniture than can be used to hide the litter box. I looked at them all.  The only problem with the pre-built furniture was that it all looked as though the entry hole for the cats would also be large enough for Willy's head. It seemed unlikely that the cabinets would be dog-proof.     

I also found a wonderful article, with step-by-step photographs, about building your own furniture to hide the litter box. So I had decided to make my own.  I planned on going to used furniture stores to find the perfect end table to re-purpose.

Cat Box Furniture in Brown or White

Thump Thump Thump

As the days passed and I was stubbing my toe on the crate in the middle of my tiny bedroom, I was waiting for the opportunity to go to the used furniture stores, and wondering who I'd borrow a saw from, I realized the answer was right before my eyes.  Thump, thump, as the kitten was playing in the aquarium stand and was batting the door open.  Our aquarium, sits on a stand that is backless, but wooden, with a hinged door. Viola, the perfect solution to the cat bathroom problem.  Mittens clearly already entered and exited this cabinet freely.

Bowfront Aquarium and Stand

I moved the empty Aqueon brand aquarium and stand (I haven't had fish in it since moving to this apartment) to the bedroom. I will be using the aquarium as a miniature seed starting greenhouse. The lid on it will keep that cat from spilling the tiny plants. The cabinet is backless, so she enters it easily but it is close enough to the wall that the dog can't get in. And the large front door of the cabinet makes cleaning the litter box easy. 

If you have a cat and are looking for a litter box solution, I highly recommend that you get a cat litter box piece of furniture. Whether you buy one or re-purpose an existing piece of furniture, it is a great way to store that litter box.  Now, on to solving the other Mittens issues!

Disclaimer: In affiliation with Amazon.com, Dawn Rae is a content writer who may earn compensation from the sale of these products - at no additional cost to you. 

Wordless Wednesday - The Takeover

When you feel like you are no longer in control

This is my chair now.  Go ahead, move me. I dare you.

Sock? What sock?  I don't see no sock? Your sock? Nah, it's my sock now.  C'mon, chase me.

Blog Paws WW Blog Hop