DIY Dog Bowl Mat • Heather Handmade

Learn how to make a DIY dog bowl mat with a free sewing pattern. Keep the floor clean and dry with this beginner sewing project.

Having a dog is the best, but dogs are messy eaters and drinkers. We have a dog that needs to be groomed regularly and if he has any sort of beard/mustache, he often has water dripping off. Besides that my kids often accidentally bump the water bowl and water drips over the side of the bowl.

We have wood floors in our kitchen, and I always worry about the wood getting ruined. I hated picking up the bowls and wiping underneath over and over again everyday. I made a DIY dog bowl mat (with a free sewing pattern!) to catch the crumbs and water. It’s absorbant and the bottom is waterproof so moisture can’t get through.

What fabric and material should I use for a DIY dog bowl mat?

The best top fabric for a dog bowl is cotton canvas. It is sturdy, absorbant, and easy to find in lots of different colors and prints. The best in between layers is one layer of lightweight fusible interfacing (for strength) and one layer of fusible fleece (for absorbancy).

The best bottom layer is something waterproof light laminated cotton, vinyl, pleather, or oilcloth. I used vinyl for mine, but anything waterproof will work.

What is a PDF sewing pattern?

A PDF pattern is a sewing pattern designed on the computer and organized so that it can be printed on several letter or A4 size pieces of paper.

I love using PDF sewing patterns because if the pattern gets ruined or if my children or I changed sizes, I can always print it again. It’ll never be destroyed since I have a digital version!

How do you use a PDF sewing pattern?

Open the PDF on a computer and click print. When printing make sure that the scaling is set to 100% or no scaling so that the pattern prints at the correct size. Learn how to use PDF sewing patterns.

Do you love to sew? Try one of these fun sewing projects:

How to Make a DIY Dog Bow Mat

Supplies

Free DIY dog bowl mat sewing pattern – get it at the end of the post
- This pattern was designed for two 8 inch diameter bowls to sit comfortably next to each other
1/3 yard cotton canvas
1/3 yard fusible interfacing
1/3 yard fusible fleece
1/3 yard vinyl, oilcloth, laminated cotton, or pleather
sewing tools
sewing machine

Do you just want the pattern and tutorial as a PDF? Get the pattern and tutorial for just $5. You won’t need to access the internet every time you want to make it. Or get the Pattern Bundle with ALL the PDF tutorials!

Use the sewing pattern to cut out one piece from canvas, waterproof fabric, fusible interfacing, and fusible fleece.

Apply the interfacing to the back of the canvas fabric. Apply the fusible fleece to the interfacing so there are three layers all fused together.

apply interfacing and fusible fleece to fabric

Place the canvas fabric right sides together with the waterproof piece. Clip around the outside.

place fabric and vinyl right sides together

Sew around the piece with a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Leave a 4 inch hole for turning and backstitch when you start and when you stop.

Trim the vinyl down to 1/4 inch seam allowance. Notch or pink the rounded corners to reduce the bulk.

Carefully turn the piece right side out. The waterproof material can be prone to ripping when put under this kind of stress so be extra careful.

Lightly press the canvas flat so that the edges are crisp. Be careful not to melt the waterproof material.

Edgestitch around the mat 1/8 inch from the edge and close the hole.

You finished!

Get the Free Sewing Pattern here!

If you make something using this sewing project, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!