[Laura]

Sorry, I didn't get the tutorial done last night. New boys came home and I got busy playing definitely have to make up a bunch of stuff tonight though. I'll get lots of pics for ya!


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[Laura]

First cut your fabric about 3-4 inches wider than the tray, and about 8-10 inches longer making sure the stretch goes long ways.

Center your tray on the fabric
Fold the edges in on the long sides

Then fold in the short edges and pin

Sew along the long edge to secure the flaps in place. Making sure the stretch goes long ways ensures that the edges will slip over the ends of the tray and stay put!


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[Laura]

I don't have a tray for my cage so I used a broiler pan for the illustration


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[Dinoclor]

So I made my rats a fluffy hideout thingy that I'll put in their cage later today. You will need:

A pair of socks. Odd or matched, it doesn't really matter. I used a pair my brother outgrew.

A strip of fabric. Don't cut this until you have cut the socks. I used fakefur because it's fluffy and I didn't have much else, but you could use fleece or jeans or t-shirt or anything you want, I guess.

Take your socks and lie them flat on the floor. See the top of the sock? You want to cut a line along the top of the sock until you hit the toe of the sock. Do this to both socks.Take your fabric and measure the amount of fabric you will need for it to reach from one cut sock corner to another cut sock corner while touching the entire edge of the sock corner. If this is confusing, look at the pictures and see if you can figure it out. If your fabric has a fluffy side you probably want that facing in. Sew the pieces together using any stitch you like as seen in the photo. Et voila! You now have a fluffy rat hideout/hammock!

The outside

The inside

Inside out

 

[Mitsy]

i just made this hammock for my rats all you need is three squares of any fabric you want to use one 14 inches by 14 inches one 10 inches by 10 inches and one 8 inches by 8 inches. Cut the corners off of the 14x14 square and sew the fabric if you need to I used to layyers and sewwed them together and sew the 10x10 and 8x8 then take the 10x10 and sew the edges of the 14x14 where the corners would be to the sides of the 10x10 square then sew the corners of the 10x10 to the corners of the 8x8 make sure the outside you want seen is face down when you sew the 10x10 and 14x14 together and have the outside of the 8x8 facing upwards once all of it is together add what ever kind of hooks to the sides of the top square and hang sorry if my explaination isn't well I found this on YouTube if anyone's wants to search it there I will post the link if I cab find it

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[Laura]

I previously posted a tossed together tutorial for a Ferret/Critter Nation bottom pan cover. It was bad… But tonight I finally broke down and made a cover for my new DCN bottom tray… so here it is. I didn’t use any actual measurements, I just kinda eyeballed everything. I know… Bad Laura! But anyways, heres the idea

I laid out my fabric on the floor and placed my pan face down on top of it.
MAKE SURE THE STRETCH GOES LONG WAYS!!! <--- I messed this part up

I gave about 5 extra inches on each of the long sides, and then about 8 extra on each of the short sides, and cut out the fabric
Sorry, no pic of that… this tutorial was an after thought…

Then I folded in all of the sides:

Then I started on one corner, and Tee-Pee’d the fabric so the excess was pointing out.

Then I pinned the fabric as close as I could to the tray

Then I cut off the excess, leaving about a ½”seam. Don’t throw away your excess… they make great blankies for your ratties!!!

I repeated the process for each corner

Carefully pull the cover off of the tray, and straight stitch where you pinned…. A zig zag stitch might work out better actually… I’ll have to try that on my next one.

Once you have all 4 corners sewn, turn inside out and place on your tray.
I may add some Velcro for the longer sides once I figure out if my crew is gonna pull on the edges or try to eat the fleece…

 

[tillyouise]

hi i dont suppose your makign these to sell are you , my rats at the moment love to jumo into my dressing gown and have a playful scrap, ouchie! im not good at sewing at all i try and make my rat hammocks thats as far as my skills stretch, id be interested in buying one of these though i think its a fabulous idea , tina

 

[Laura]

I may down the road, but not just yet. I don't quite have the method perfected yet...


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[Actress]

DIY RAT HANGING TOYS! 1. Get some natural yarn/raffia/etc. and cut around 10ish inches. 2. String large wooden (or plastic) bead on the end of the yarn and tie it in a firm knot (this works as a stopper to secure other goodies on the toy from sliding out) 3. String various non-perishable toys/chewables that have small holes in the center on the yarn. I suggest chewable wood blocks (some come with pre-made holes, if not pull out the drill), crumpled paper, cat jingle balls, thick yarn tied in bows, fabrics etc.--BE CREATIVE! 4. Once the yarn is stacked full, tie the remaining yarn to a clip of some sort, and hang the clip to the cage 5. Voila! Your done. Now add rats and let the fun begin!

 

[Heboki]

I made this before I got my rats. It has a knitted yarn core that was sewed to a fleece inside. I then sewed the outside on, which I'm not entirely sure what material it is but if you're making one you can just pick out what you want by feel. I sewed it into its cylindrical shape and then inserted some steel craft rings I found at the hobby store that I cut to make them able to slide right in. Then I hand sewed up the loose ends! I know this design has been done but I thought that mine was interesting due to the knitted yarn core. Its extremely warm and my rats LOVE it!

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[Batman]

I had a large embordery hoop and some left over fleece I cut the fleece so a little would hang over and I cut fringes on the extra fabric. Flip the hoop upside down and connected baby toy plastic links to it and hung it from a cage to make a swing for them to lay in

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[Batman]

Its not all that but this is a little something I made for my boys

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[RattasticRatstache]

I take old winter knitted hats and use "D hooks" to hang them the love it because it's not too stiff and it shapes their body when they are inside it to comfort them and keep them warm. And it can stretch so a few rats can fit inside. Just make sure that your D hooks have a good chunk of fabric threaded on it to ensure that it is secure as only a thin chunk of fabric would most likely tear.


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[Yulrica]

I like reusing the lays chips tubes (blue tubes with yellow lids)as tunnels for my rats, especially cause they have ridges. I cut off the bottom,as smooth as I can. Than out a sock I don't use anymore over the cut end (the bottom) and secure with a hair elastic. They love running in it.

 

[Corazon]

My wife and I make DIY Pinatas. All you need is yarn, paper towels, and some treats. You place the treats in the center of the paper and fold it up like it's in a bag. Then you tie it shut with the yarn and hang it inside the cage. This way they have to chew through the paper to get their treats.

 

[KaylaMichelle]

So glad to have found this forum!!

 

[madihicks4]

I simple hammock idea. Cut a large square piece of fabric (no loose ends). You can poke holes in the corners of the fabric and use twist ties to connect it to the cage. Its not fancy but its cheap and easy.

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[MomToRats]

I just ordered 2 for my rats cage and need to order one more Doctor Foster and Smith has them , check it out just put in critter nation in the search bar

 

[Bruns72]

Wow this is great!

 

[MomToRats]

now that looks really easy I'am going to try that soon next time I buy more fleece that is