DIY Small Animal Cube Sewing Tutorial for Ferrets, Rats and More

If you love sewing for your pets, this DIY Small Animal Cube is a must-make project. Whether you are crafting for ferrets, rats, guinea pigs, sugar gliders, or other small animals, this handmade cube bed is cozy, washable, and completely customizable. 

I used to make these cubes for my six ferrets (all of whom have now passed), and they loved curling up inside for a nap or playtime. In honor of them, I am sharing this step-by-step sewing tutorial with all my tips and tricks, including how to use snaps and swivel claps for easy hanging and washing. 

Materials You Will Need for DIY Small Animal Cube

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• Sewing Machine
• Walking Foot (optional, but helpful for thick layers)
• Thread
• Sewing Needle (Stretch needles work well for Minky or Fleece fabrics)
• Quilting Pins or Clips 
• Scissors or Rotary Cutter
• Measuring Tape or Ruler
• Outer Fabric: Cotton or Flannel Fabric - 1.5 yards (cut six 15-inch x 15-inch pieces)
• Inner Fabric: Minky or Fleece Fabric - 1.5 yards (cut six 15-inch x 15-inch pieces)
• Quilt Batting (optional)- 45-inch x 60-inch piece (cut five 15-inch x 15-inch pieces)
• 4 Metal or Plastic Clasps (Rotational/swivel type is ideal)
• 4 sets of KAM snaps (optional)
  • KAM Pliers & Awl (optional)
• 1/2-inch-wide Nylon Webbing: Cut four 3-inch-long strips
  • Alternative tab options:
    • 1/2-inch-wide bias tape, cut into 3-inch pieces
    • OR sew your own tabs from 2-inch x 3-inch fabric pieces folded to 1/2-inch x 3-inch
• Lighter (optional, for sealing webbing ends)

How to Make the Cube Tabs

Step 1: Cut the Webbing

• Cut four 3-inch strips of nylon webbing.

1/2-inch Nylon Webbing

             Alternatively: Cut four 3-inch strips of 1/2-inch wide bias tape or sew your own tabs from 2-inch x 3-inch fabric pieces folded to 1/2-inch x 3-inch

Step 2: Seal the Edges

• Carefully melt the cut edges of the nylon webbing with a lighter to prevent fraying

Step 3: Add Snaps (optional)

Tip: Using snaps lets you easily remove clasps before washing, which helps prevent breakage in the dryer. I've broken a few clasps before figuring out this solution!

• Attach female KAM snaps to each of the nylon strips using the KAM pliers. 

Please note that in both of the photos above, I made a mistake by installing male KAM snaps first. I should have placed female KAMs at the edge of the webbing to make it much easier to remove the clips for washing the hammocks without damaging the clips. 

• Attach male KAM snap approximately 1 inch (center to center) from the female snap 

Alternatively, if you prefer not to use snaps, you can fold the webbing over the clasp and sew it securely. You can also skip the next step of adding clasps and just use the snaps alone to hang the hammock. Choose what you feel is easier and best for you and your fur babies. 

Step 4: Attach Clasps

• Add the clasp to one side and sandwich it between the two snap ends. 

• Secure the clasp by snapping the snaps closed. 

Below is an example of my first hammock I made, where the metal clasp broke after washing the hammock in the washer and dryer. This was the reason I came up with the snap idea. 

Cutting and Pinning the Fabric

Step 1: Cut Fabric Pieces

• Cut six 15-inch X 15-inch (or size you want your cube to be) pieces of the outer and inner fabric.

Step 2: Pin Fabric Together

• Place the inner and outer fabric right sides together, except for one inner and one outer fabric piece, as these will be saved for making the circular entry door for the cube. 
• Pin the fabric pieces together and mark a 3 - 4-inch gap on one side of the panel to help indicate where not to sew later. This gap will be used to turn the fabric inside out. 

• Optional: add quilt batting and place on the wrong side of the inner fabric (see photo below). 

Assembling the Cube Panels

Step 1: Stitch Together

•  Sew around the edges of the layered five panels from the previous step, with a 1/4-inch seam allowance, leaving a 3 to 4-inch gap opening along one of the 18-inch sides for turning.

Step 2: Turn Inside Out

• Carefully turn the fabric right side out through the 3 - 4-inch opening.
  

Step 3: Press Edges (by Hand)

• Flatten the edges using your fingers — avoid ironing Minky fabric with high heat, as it can damage it

Step 4: Edge Stitch

• Sew a 1/8-inch topstitch around each panel to give it a clean finish look and secure the layers. 

Circle Entry Door Hole for Cube

Step 1: Choose a Circular Object to Trace

• Find a circular object, like painter's tape, a small bowl, a lid, or a cup. Aim for about a 3.5-inch to 4-inch diameter.

Step 2: Pin Fabric

• Using the last pieces of inner and outer fabric, place right sides together and pin. 

Step 3: Trace your Circle

• On the wrong side of your outer fabric (cotton/flannel fabric), find the center of the square and trace your circle using your circular object. 

Step 4: Sew Traced Circle

• Using a straight stitch, sew directly on the traced circle. Go slowly to keep the circle even. 

Step 5: Clip Circle

• Carefully clip into the center of the circle (making a small incision with scissors), then cut out the inner circle, leaving about a 1/4-inch seam allowance. 

• Clip the curves around the seam allowance (without snipping into the stitches). This helps the curve lie flat when turned. 

Step 6: Turn the fabric 

• Turn the fabric inside out, pulling the Minky fabric through the circle to the back.

Step 7: Topstitch

• Use your fingers to smooth and shape the circle and pin.

• Topstitch 1/8-inch around the circle's edge to secure it in place and give it a finished look.

Your circle window is now ready! This panel can now be treated like the others when assembling the cube. 

Constructing the Cube

Step 1: Lay Out Cube Panels

•  To help visualize before sewing the cube, I lay out all my cube panels, shown in the picture below. 

• In the picture below, I numbered the panels so you can easily follow the next steps in constructing the cube. 

Step 2: Sew on Nylon Webbing with Clasps

• Take panel #1 and tack sew the nylon webbing with claps 1/8-inch from the seam to each corner on the outside fabric side. See the picture below for placement. 
  • Note: The picture below is from my DIY Ferret Hammock Tutorial, but you will be sewing the webbing on the outside fabric side, not the inner fabric side. The picture is just a reference for placement and orientation when sewing the webbing to panel #1. 

• Here’s how it will look when you sew the panels together with the webbing sewn in.

Step 3: Sewing Panels

Step 4: Turn Inside Out

• Carefully turn the fabric right side out through the circular door opening.
  

Finished Small Animal Cube

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