Bedding Fleece sewn to towels... - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**angiekay** · #1 09-01-09, 10:58 am

I am thinking of a mattress pad/towels sewn to the fleece, as it would be much easier having the fleece, towels and maybe a mattress pad also all attached in one piece. I have a local semtress that I could take them to, she's really reasonable on prices, so I'm sure it wouldn't cost that much. Yes, I have seen the "guinea pig bed spreads" and they are very pricey, same idea, but would like to have them made myself. I buy my fleeces from my local Big Lots 50" X 60" for $4.

Having said that, what are your suggestions on the order and what to have sewn together that would work best? Fleece, towels, then mattress pad? Or would fleece, 2 layers of towels be sufficient? These layers being sewn together. Right now, I'm using a layer of newspapers, covered in towels, then covered in my fleece.

Sorry for the new thread, but my other post in someone else's thread I think got lost. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

**stafishtaylz** · #2 09-01-09, 11:23 am

Just my two cents, I had 2 piggybedspreads that I bought for my 2x3 cage. I used each one twice (a month or rotating on and off week to week). They washed and 'wore' great, anf it like a glove.

Over the weekend I upgraded my cage to a 2x4 since I rececntly adopted a new pig, and after her quarantine, she will be housed with my other female. And, since both pigs had been housed with males, I'm assuming we may end up with babies and need more room than a 2x3. So, after trying to figure out a zillion ways to continue to use my 2x3 bedspreads in a 2x4 cage I gave up. I purchased some fleece from Job Lot for 4 $, 2 towels for 4$ each and 2 mattress pads for 5$. So, for 17$ per cage I would have 2 new sets of bedding.

I must also add, that I have been sewing for years, and my grandmother was a seamstress. I sew every morning before work, and every night before bed. I have an expensive machine, serger, embroidery machine, etc. Its my hobby as well as additional income. I could easily make my own 'bedspreads.'

Yesterday I cut and pinned all my pieces and started to quilt them and put them together. It was nightmare. The bedding was so bulky and heavy it was very difficult to get under the machine. I broke several needles, and I'm pretty sure I've ruined my serger permenantly. I got one set done, but its not nearly as nice as the bespreads I had purchased. I think I'm going to skip out on the making the second.

Although the piggy bedspreads are what I consider to be quite over priced (especially since I sew), I think I'm going to save myself the hassle and just buy a second set. However, if I did try this project again in the future or were giving anyone advice to do so, I would not try this again with 2 towels in the middle. Maybe just one, or find some alternate absorbant layer to put in the middle. Maybe some kind of sham wow? Cotton batting perhaps?

Again, just my 2 cents, and my experience. Hope it helps!

**angiekay** · #3 09-01-09, 11:32 am

Thank you so much! That really does help! I will see if I can find a 1/2" or 1" mattress padding that's flat, not fitted and see if that would work maybe, with one towel in between.

Regarding the piggie bed spreads, when hubby built my cage, may I say I was at work, and when I get home, he's got it almost done and the coro is only 2" on the front and the sides! I pitched a fit, he says it will be fine, and they do not try to climb over it or nothing, he thought it would be fine, whatever right? I mean men, I told him 6"; however, the bedspreads wouldn't work for that 2" of coro like a "fitted" sheet type thing for me like everyone else is what I'm trying to say. Plus, I see what you are saying if you decide later on to expand, then the bedspread was a waste of money type thing. I appreciate it, I'm going to work on this and try to figure something out.

**Ly&Pigs** · #4 09-01-09, 11:51 am

I would have them sewn in this order- bottom towel, middle mattress pad, top 1 layer of fleece. Or bottom towel, middle quilt batting, top 1 layer of fleece.

**angiekay** · #5 09-01-09, 11:59 am

Thanks LY! I am definetly going to give this a go. One thing too, I won't need to place the newspapers down at the bottom before placing in my one piece sewn together padding/bedding, right? That's the whole idea, having just one pice to throw in there, easy clean up, and less with having to "make" the layers all nice a neat, it takes me awhile to get the towels right before placing the fleece on them.

**akstrohm** · #6 09-01-09, 12:18 pm

You don't need newspaper at all, even if the layers are not sewn together.

**angiekay** · #7 09-01-09, 12:42 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by akstrohm

You don't need newspaper at all, even if the layers are not sewn together.

OK, well that's what I've been doing. One layer (2/3 sheets) newspaper, then the towels (one layer), then fleece. The newspaper does get alot of the wee as they like going in the same places. Right beside thier litter/hay boxes, ugh! Anyways, I just thought with the newspaper it would help keep the coro cleaner, and it helps from the towels "sliding" all around? I haven't tried it without the newspapers.

**luvmycavies** · #8 09-01-09, 01:29 pm

I use a mattress pad, 2 layers of towels then fleece and then near the kitchen area I have an extra towel/fleece pad that I change out after 2 days. I only have to do a cage cleaning once a week and I have a 2X5 cage.

**angiekay** · #9 09-01-09, 01:35 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvmycavies

I use a mattress pad, 2 layers of towels then fleece and then near the kitchen area I have an extra towel/fleece pad that I change out after 2 days. I only have to do a cage cleaning once a week and I have a 2X5 cage.

Did you just cut the mattress pad to fit in your 2 X 5 area? I'm going to have a 3 X 4 total, and I'm going to start using one as soon as soon as I find a flat one, not fitted. And if you did cut it, does it fray on the ends where it was cut? Just want to be prepared. Thanks.

**luvmycavies** · #10 09-01-09, 01:55 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by angiekay

Did you just cut the mattress pad to fit in your 2 X 5 area? I'm going to have a 3 X 4 total, and I'm going to start using one as soon as soon as I find a flat one, not fitted. And if you did cut it, does it fray on the ends where it was cut? Just want to be prepared. Thanks.

Actually a twin fitted mattress pad fit my 2X5 just right...I just cut off the fitted area. Another suggestion is to do what I do for my loft areas. I have a 2X1 and an "L" shaped 2X1 and 1/2 cube run on my second floor. In those areas I use waterproof crib pads under one towel and fleece.....it works wonderfully. Check the baby aisles you will find something that works!

**angiekay** · #11 09-01-09, 02:00 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvmycavies

Actually a twin fitted mattress pad fit my 2X5 just right...I just cut off the fitted area. Another suggestion is to do what I do for my loft areas. I have a 2X1 and an "L" shaped 2X1 and 1/2 cube run on my second floor. In those areas I use waterproof crib pads under one towel and fleece.....it works wonderfully. Check the baby aisles you will find something that works!

Thank you so much!

Although I can't go to a 2 X 5 for lower level due to the corner my cage is in, I will have to stick to the 3 X 4, and try to find one to fit that. Thanks again for the tips.

**MapleOwl18** · #12 09-01-09, 02:19 pm

From my experience the newspaper just ends up smelling and degrading. It doesn't add any actual absorbancy.

That's why I stopped using it as a cage liner. Its been a lot easier to clean just straight towels and fleece, without the newspaper flaking all over the bottom.

**angiekay** · #13 09-01-09, 02:24 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MapleOwl18

From my experience the newspaper just ends up smelling and degrading. It doesn't add any actual absorbancy.

That's why I stopped using it as a cage liner. Its been a lot easier to clean just straight towels and fleece, without the newspaper flaking all over the bottom.

Again, thank you.

This may be why I'm having to do total cage cleaning in 4-5 days instead of every 7 days! I've read that boars are a little more "smelly" anyway, so I just thought it was because I have boars.

**MapleOwl18** · #14 09-01-09, 02:32 pm

Hehehe, my two crazy piggies are boars too, but they don't smell that bad. My Dad who used to clean the cage when we kept them on wood chips and newspaper was so amazed by how nice my cage smelled. He's like you know I thought the fleece idea was crazy, but keep it up you must be doing something right.

**angiekay** · #15 09-01-09, 04:12 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MapleOwl18

Hehehe, my two crazy piggies are boars too, but they don't smell that bad. My Dad who used to clean the cage when we kept them on wood chips and newspaper was so amazed by how nice my cage smelled. He's like you know I thought the fleece idea was crazy, but keep it up you must be doing something right.

Well, it's got to be the newspaper then, even with one more boar than you, it can't make that much difference, thanks for sharing your info!

**Geegi63** · #16 09-02-09, 12:45 pm

I've hardly ever sewn in my lifetime , so I'm not sure about this- could you sew a shower curtain, then 1 or 2 towels, then fleece, or would it be too thick?

**Rnd210** · #17 09-02-09, 01:03 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by angiekay

Thank you so much!

Although I can't go to a 2 X 5 for lower level due to the corner my cage is in, I will have to stick to the 3 X 4, and try to find one to fit that. Thanks again for the tips.

A full size mattress pad should fit and if you buy the Cotton rich mattress pad bottom and 1-2 layers of flannel for middle fleece for the top it should make a good mattress pad for the cage. That is with it all being sewn together and just cut the fitted part of the mattress pad.

**angiekay** · #18 09-02-09, 01:07 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rnd210

A full size mattress pad should fit and if you buy the Cotton rich mattress pad bottom and 1-2 layers of flannel for middle fleece for the top it should make a good mattress pad for the cage. That is with it all being sewn together and just cut the fitted part of the mattress pad.

Hmmm, so you are thinking that a full mattress pad will fit without cutting the actual pad, just the "fitted" part in my 3 X 4?

I found some for $7.50 today, but didn't get one unsure, wanting to measure my cage again. Also, I found 50" X 60" fleece for $2.50 today, I was totally thrilled

, and they had so many of them, it was so hard to chose!

**Rnd210** · #19 09-02-09, 01:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by angiekay

Hmmm, so you are thinking that a full mattress pad will fit without cutting the actual pad, just the "fitted" part in my 3 X 4?

I found some for $7.50 today, but didn't get one unsure, wanting to measure my cage again. Also, I found 50" X 60" fleece for $2.50 today, I was totally thrilled

, and they had so many of them, it was so hard to chose!

Yes, I think a full size should fit since a rough measurement of 3x4 cage is 42 inches by 56 inches and a full size bed is a little longer but the width is about the same.

**angiekay** · #20 09-02-09, 02:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rnd210

Yes, I think a full size should fit since a rough measurement of 3x4 cage is 42 inches by 56 inches and a full size bed is a little longer but the width is about the same.

Thank you so much! I will def go back and get a full sized pad then, they were only 10 bucks.