Okay, so I decided to make some toy ropes for my dogs. I have two big labs, and they absolutely destroy any toy I buy them within, like, a day. It’s crazy! So, I figured, why not try making some myself? Maybe I can make something tougher, or at least cheaper to replace.
Getting Started
First, I gathered my materials. I went to the local fabric store – actually, it was more like a big warehouse – and looked around. I needed something strong, obviously. I ended up grabbing a bunch of fleece. It’s soft, which is good for their mouths, but it can be pretty tough when it’s braided. I also picked up some tennis balls because, you know, dogs love tennis balls.
The Braiding Process
Back home, I started by cutting the fleece into strips. I made them about two inches wide and, oh boy, as long as I could possibly get them. My cutting was not perfect, by the way. Some were wider, some were skinnier, but it didn’t really matter in the end.
Then came the braiding. I’m no expert braider, let me tell you! I clamped the ends of three strips together to my table to keep them in place. I started braiding, just like you would with hair, I suppose, pulling the strips over and under each other. It took a while, and my hands definitely got tired, but it was kind of relaxing, too.
- Cut fleece into strips.
- Clamp the strips.
- Braid, braid, braid!
Adding the Tennis Ball (The Fun Part!)
Once I had a decent length of braid – maybe three feet long – I took a tennis ball and poked a hole through it. I used a big, sturdy screwdriver for this, and it took some effort. Be careful if you try this at home, okay? Don’t stab yourself!
I wiggled the screwdriver to make the hole a bit bigger, then I threaded one end of the braid through the hole. It was a tight fit, but I managed to get it through. Then I tied a big knot at the end of the braid to keep the ball from sliding off.
Finishing Up
I continued braiding after the tennis ball, making another length of rope, maybe another foot or two. Then, I tied off the very end with another big knot. You really have to pull those knots tight, otherwise, the dogs will undo them in seconds.
I made a couple of these rope toys, using different colors of fleece. They weren’t perfect – the braids weren’t super even, and the knots were a bit lumpy – but hey, the dogs didn’t care! They went absolutely nuts for them, tugging and chewing and shaking them like crazy.
So far, they’re holding up pretty well! It’s definitely been worth the effort, and it’s saved me some money. Plus, it was kind of fun to make something with my own hands. I might even try experimenting with different braiding techniques or adding other things to the ropes next time.
