by Mandi Weems

Created on: January 23, 2007   Last Updated: April 30, 2007

So, you've gotten yourself a toy dog that is so small you're afraid you'll step on it. You want to take him and show him off all over town, but you can't afford one of those fancy, fashion dog carriers that everyone has. Now what? Well, there are some simple and cheap alternatives that you can create in your own home that will allow you to take your new pooch everywhere you go without breaking the bank on some high-priced designer dog carrier.

Look around your home. If you aren't an avid sewer or have extra material laying around to create a soft sided dog carrier out of, check your closet for an old pair of jeans that you don't wear any longer. These jeans can easily be cut and sewn into a great fashion dog carrier for your new pet with little to no effort at all! All you'll need is your old jeans, some scissors, a needle, and some thick thread.

First, measure your pooch. Know how big she will get before you start to cut the jeans. If your breed will stay that size, or not get much bigger, then you are ready to begin work on your personal fashion dog carrier. Cut the legs off of your jeans and turn them inside-out. Next, you will need to sew the legs together, matching the seam with the crotch of the jeans to create a rounded bottom for your soft sided dog carrier. Make sure that you place a very thick seam on the legs of the jeans to ensure that your pet is held safely, without the risk of that seam breaking loose.

After you have the shell of your jean soft sided dog carrier completed, then you can move on to the inner lining of the carrier. Depending on the climate that you live in, and how warm natured your pet is, you should choose a material for the lining of your soft sided carrier that will either allow your pet to stay warm and cozy, or allow air to flow in and out freely. Silk, fleece, cotton, and other sturdy materials are great liners. Sew the liner about inch from the top of the jeans and leave it loose on the bottom to allow it to flex around your pet.

Once you have the bottom seams and liner completed, you are ready to move on to the strap. To create a great strap for your soft sided dog carrier, take on the legs of the jeans and cut a 2-3 inch wide strip down the length of the leg, including the outer seam of the leg. This seam will help to keep the strap from wearing down too quickly. Place the length of the jeans leg over your shoulder and adjust it to where you would like the soft sided carrier to hang. Once you have that length marked off, cut the remaining section of the leg off. Sew the strap together on the loose ends and then sew the ends of the strap to the inside of the main part of the carrier. Turn the soft sided carrier right-side out, and you now have a great, homemade soft sided carrier for your friend!

Learn more about this author, Mandi Weems.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.