Making DIY dog toys is a great way to combine your love of crafting with your love for your furry friend.
And what’s better than making something for your dog?
Making something out of objects that you were thinking of getting rid of anyway.
The DIY tennis ball t-shirt dog toy is made with an old tennis ball and a couple of t-shirts.
So, grab an old t-shirt or two, and let’s dive into the world of recycled crafts for our canine companions.
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How to make a DIY Tennis Ball Toy
Making a DIY tennis ball dog toy, also called the octopus toy, is easy to do.
Materials You Will Need
You will need:
- 2 old t-shirts (the ones without the side seam)
- 1 tennis ball (can be either old or new)
- Pair of scissors
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your DIY Tennis Ball T-Shirt Toy
First, lay the old shirts on a flat surface and cut the hem off of them.
Then cut a strip 10 inches wide from each t-shirt.
Next, cut the strips on one side so the two 10 inch pieces lay flat.
Then, cut a one inch strip from the scraps. This will be used to tie everything together.
After everything is cut, lay the two 10 inch strips out so they make a cross.
Then place the tennis ball in the center of the two strips.
Once the ball is in place, fold the two strips up around the tennis ball and pull tight.
Now, take the one-inch strip and tie it around the large t-shirt strips at the base of the tennis ball.
Make sure to get all of the loose t-shirt material under the tie and tie it tightly with a knot.
Next, cut the wide strips into narrower strips, roughly an inch wide.
You can stop here or continue to the next step to make the fabric strips into more of a rope toy.
Finally, take those long strips and divide them into groups for braiding.
I used six strips in each braid, but you can use as many or as few as you want.
Once you have braided all your strips together and tied tight knots at the bottom, your DIY tennis ball t-shirt toy is ready to be played with.
This toy can give your dog hours of fun with the different ways it can be played with.
You can toss it for your dog to chase and play fetch with, play tug with it, or just let your dog play with it by themselves.
Always supervise your pooch during playtime as no toy is indestructible.
Alternate Method
Instead of tying the t-shirts around the ball, you can cut the shirt first and then tie it around the tennis ball.
To do this lay the shirts in a cross and then cut up to where they meet.
Then lay the tennis ball in the center.
Fold the two t-shirts up around the ball and tie them tight with the 1 inch strip you cut earlier.
You can then stop here or continue on to braiding it as in the original steps.
Notes
The large t-shirt strips need to be 10 inches wide, smaller ones won’t fit around a tennis ball very well.
When I first made this toy, I cut the strip 8 inches wide and it barely fit around the tennis ball when I tied it up.
After just a few minutes of play, Luna had one side of the strip pulled out a little.
Cutting it 10 inches wide makes it harder to pull the t-shirt out.
Also, if your dog loves a good squeaky toy, you can use a squeaky tennis ball to make the toy more fun for them.
All dog toys, even DIY toys, will eventually start to show wear and tear, especially if you have an aggressive chewer.
Once the t-shirts start to wear out, you can cut them off and reuse the tennis ball for another toy.
Or just give your dog the ball by itself.
Of course, if the ball is damaged, it’s time to just throw it away as well.
A homemade dog toy is a great way to get your dog the perfect toy.
You can customize each toy for your dog better than you can with store bought toys.
That said, homemade dog toys are more likely to wear out faster than some store bought toys.
Always keep your dog’s safety in mind and throw away any toy that is no longer in good condition.
This will ensure your dog can have fun with their toys while also staying safe.
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