Project

Dog Booties

Sew a pair of durable booties to help keep your dog's feet safe, especially when the ground is muddy, wet, or covered in snow.

Photography: Chloe Mackintosh

Source: Martha Stewart

Introduction

This idea comes from our friend Chloe Mackintosh of Boxwood Avenue. "We've talked about it before in our post about homemade paw balm, but I'll say it again: the winter months can be really tough on dog's paws!" she says. "Not only can the ice and snow damage our dog's paws, but the salt on the sidewalk can dry them out. Making booties for your dog to wear during this season can help protect his delicate paw pads and keep them healthy during the winter months." For this project, she uses water-resistant fabric such as faux leather or durable canvas, plus some durable fabric as the patch on the underside of the boot. These pet-friendly accessories are very simple to make for the cost of a few sewing supplies: faux leather, thread, and a sewing machine. The measurements of these booties will depend on the size of your dog's paw: the fabric should be long enough that when folded in half, it fits like a sock around your dog's paw. For a standard size yellow lab, this was about eight inches on the fold.

For more ideas, scroll through our entire collection of pet care projects and dog crafts.

materials

Water-resistant fabric, 1/4 yard (Pictured: Aomry Faux Leather Sheets, 8" x 6", $25 for 24 sheets, amazon.com.)

Durable patching fabric (Pictured: Waterproof Fabric Canvas, 60", $11 per yd., amazon.com.)

Leather sewing needle (Pictured: Tandy Leather Stitching Needles, $4 for 10, tandyleather.com.)

Measuring tape

Fabric scissors

Pinking shears

Elastic trim, 6-15 inches (Pictured: NW Elastic Bands Spool Sewing Band Flat Elastic Cord in White, 3/4", $8 for 12 yd., amazon.com.)

All-purpose thread

Sewing machine and supplies

steps

Measure the width of your dog's paw, adding about an inch of seam allowance. (Note: It's always easier to make this smaller, but once you cut, you can't make it any bigger so be sure to give yourself enough allowance.) Fold faux leather fabric in half, and cut out four strips of fabric following the measurements previously indicated.
Using pinking shears, cut out four small squares or circles from patching fabric. (Note: These will serve as patches on the paw pad so that your dog doesn't slip on ice when wearing the booties.)
Pin the patches into place onto your durable fabric; machine stitch.
Fold and pin 1/2 inch hem on the top of each bootie.
Measure the diameter of your dog's ankle using the elastic strips. Cut the elastic so that it will be snug on the ankle. You want it to be tight enough so that the booties stay on, but not so tight that it cuts off circulation. Fold the elastic in half and pin just below the hem of each bootie, so that it sits on the "right" side of the fabric.
Fold the booties so that the wrong side of the fabric is showing and trim off the corner of the "toe" so that you can sew in a rounded form.
Machine stitch along the perimeter of the bootie, leaving the top open. When you come to the toe, sew in a curved fashion, similar to a sock. (Note: You may want to backstitch over the elastic to add durability.)
Trim off any excess fabric and turn the bootie right-side out.