Cavy Cozies

[Treen]

I'm not a super sewer but I've managed to knock up a few cozies for my pigs. Definitely a favourite - there's much frustration if it falls flat and they can't headbutt their way back in! And if queueing up to wait for their turn doesn't work, the shoehorn manouevre is often used to turf another pig out!

[Piglet]

they look great! which material did you use for the inside?

[Treen]

It's a fleece material - I got it from a material stall. I'm not sure what it's made of exactly, but I explained what it was for and they said it would be good for that, and not too easy to chew to bits (which thankfully they don't seem bothered to do anyway)!

[My Baby Mu]

How did you make the cozies?

[Treen]

Due to my impatient nature, I didn't really have a pattern or plan - I just sat down at the sewing machine with a bit of material and a bit of fleece, made the two pouches and cobbed them together.

Have a look at this page http://www.guineapigfun.com/id75.html - several people have written instructions for how they made theirs!

[Piglet]

I made a few a while back out of an old fleece jumper. Got two pieces of rectangles, sewed up three of the edges, and then turned it inside out to neaten up the edges. To make the opening a little stronger I rolled back the fleece two times.

[loves2travel]

for all the nonsewers here, would fabric glue be ok instead of thread. I'm afraid about the chemicals used in it though. What do you all say?

[Piglet]

Um, I was going to use the glue because I thought I sucked at sewing, but trust me, its really easy. I didn't use a machine (I can't thread it up and nor can my mum!), I just stiched it by hand with some thick string. Only took me about 15 minutes.

[Denise]

I made some "cozies" by using a hat pattern I used to make winter hats for my twin daughters. It worked pretty good.

[mncavylover]

Those cozies look great! Unfortunately, I just sewed two of the kind that will fall flat. Oh, well. Thanks for the idea!

[Sierra]

I was thinking.....couldn't you stiffen them to make sure they didn't fall flat by putting a piece of bent coroplast in there?

[TinaFabulous]

Why would you want to do that? The idea behind cozies are that your piggie has something soft to cuddle in. If its no longer soft but hard, then whats the purpose other then to look nice? If you wanted to make fleese bags they are much easier.

Just cut your material into 4 rectangles of the same 2 pieces of inner material and 2 for outer material. take one inner and one outer piece. Lay good sides out. Sew just one of the shorter sides, repete this with the other two pieces. Then put them on top of eachother (lining up the sewn edge) with the outer material on the inside. Then sew the other three edges together leaving the one you did earlier the way it is (do not sew it again). Then turn it inside out and you have a cuddle bag.

[Sierra]

I meant to make the back of it (you know, a circle cushion with a back to it).

[TinaFabulous]

you could just use material, or just use the bag directions, they are great... The coroplast might work, i donno

[loves2travel]

if you use thick fleece, it will stay up on its own and not flop over. i just made two by sewing big rectangles together, and they work great!

[My Baby Mu]

I wouldn't put the coroplast in there it wouldn't be like a cozy. If you sew 2 (if you fold them over otherwise 4) peices of fleece they won't fall over even more. Mine are one layer and I roll down the tops and they stay open.

[loves2travel]

yes, the entrance of my cozy is reinforced like my baby mu's with extra layers of fleece strips. seems like it will work ok.

[Sierra]

Okay, thanks for the tips!