Kiwibird
Well-known member
- Jul 12, 2012
- 9,539
- 111
- Parrots
- 1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
So, I finished Kiwi's new washable cage liners over the weekend! I ended up making 4 washable cage liners, 2 play-tree liners, 1 liner for his bird backpack and some rags specifically for cleaning up parrot poo out of the remnants
I'm not the *best* at writing instructions, but hopefully anyone interested in trying these will be able to figure out what the heck I'm talking about. To make these, you do need a sewing machine and know basic sewing terminology/skills
***PRE-WASH+DRY FLANNEL AND RIPSTOP NYLON/PUL (as-per washing directions) TO prevent shrinkage/bunching from subsequent washings!!!***
1. Measure the INSIDE dimensions of the tray you plan to line. Write down measurements and add seam allowance (standard is 5/8", but I prefer 1/2" personally because it's easier!). For those of you not familiar with making patterns, seam allowance should be added to all 4 sides. FOR EXAMPLE, if you need a 20X30" square and use a 1/2" seam allowance, you would want to cut your fabric 21X31" (1/2" extra on each side, or 1" total addition to each width and length measurement).
2. Once you have your measurements, calculate how many liners you would like to make and how much fabric you will need.
3. Purchase fabrics/batting in equal amounts (i.e. you need 1 yd, buy 1yd of each fabric). For my project, I used different prints for the flannel tops, but you could do all the same color/print.
DON'T FORGET COORDINATING THREAD!
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION
1. Cut fabric (remember to add the seam allowance!)
2. When you pin together- right sides of flannel and ripstop nylon/PUL, with batting on the BACK (see photo)
*This ensures when you turn the liner right-side out after sewing, the batting ends up on the INSIDE
3. Before stitching, be sure to mark opening to turn liner right-side out
4. Stitch together, back-stitching at the opening
5. Clip threads and turn right-side out
6. Iron flat, being sure to turn in raw edges from gap. Pin gap shut.
7. Top-stitch close to edge (I suggest a wide zig-zag) and around whole liner, and do another round of stitching 1-1.5" in (will keep batting from shifting during washing)
8. Clip threads, iron if needed and your DONE!
FINISHED (cage liner is the apple print):
***You can use your larger flannel remnants to make parrot-poo cleaning rags***
(This is a little more difficult/advanced that a square/rectangle liner)
1. Measure tray to line same as above
2. Measure distance in from top and side to "obstacle" and measure diameter
3. Mark and cut fabrics to accommodate "obstacle" with measurements made
4. Sew same as above, including leaving gap to turn right-side out
7. Clip around curves to allow for fabric to sit flat when turned right-side out
6. Turn, iron and topstitch same as above
7. Using small remnant, make tab for closure (see photo)
8. BEFORE stitching tab on, set "male" snap on INSIDE of tab to lessen the ability of a curious beak pulling it off. Top-stitch around snap for stability (see photo)
9. Stitch tab onto side, and set "female" snap on opposite side so tab can snap close so liner is held in-place around "obstacle"
So heres the COMPLETE set of what I made:
The liner IN his cage:
I also set some snaps into the plastic "sheet" on the bottom of his bird backpack and did a snap-in liner for that too, which will be much easier:
As for CARE INSTRUCTIONS, as I just got these done yesterday, I won't be able to wash until tomorrow (when I change the cage liner), HOWEVER, I can pretty much guarantee it'll be a matter of shaking outside, scraping off the "big chunks" of poo/fruit, spraying with bac-out and tossing in the wash. Having use these materials and similar construction in other washable items, I would recommend LINE-DRYING or only tumble-drying on the air setting (no heat) and WILL update after I wash them. Hope this tutorial is more helpful than confusing!
I'm not the *best* at writing instructions, but hopefully anyone interested in trying these will be able to figure out what the heck I'm talking about. To make these, you do need a sewing machine and know basic sewing terminology/skills
WASHABLE PARROT CAGE-LINERS, HOW-TO
PROJECT PREP/WHAT YOU NEED:
Materials:PROJECT PREP/WHAT YOU NEED:
- Flannel
- Quilt Batting (lightweight)
- Ripstop Nylon OR PUL (for waterproof backing)
- Coordinating thread
***PRE-WASH+DRY FLANNEL AND RIPSTOP NYLON/PUL (as-per washing directions) TO prevent shrinkage/bunching from subsequent washings!!!***
1. Measure the INSIDE dimensions of the tray you plan to line. Write down measurements and add seam allowance (standard is 5/8", but I prefer 1/2" personally because it's easier!). For those of you not familiar with making patterns, seam allowance should be added to all 4 sides. FOR EXAMPLE, if you need a 20X30" square and use a 1/2" seam allowance, you would want to cut your fabric 21X31" (1/2" extra on each side, or 1" total addition to each width and length measurement).
2. Once you have your measurements, calculate how many liners you would like to make and how much fabric you will need.
3. Purchase fabrics/batting in equal amounts (i.e. you need 1 yd, buy 1yd of each fabric). For my project, I used different prints for the flannel tops, but you could do all the same color/print.
DON'T FORGET COORDINATING THREAD!
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION
1. Cut fabric (remember to add the seam allowance!)
2. When you pin together- right sides of flannel and ripstop nylon/PUL, with batting on the BACK (see photo)
*This ensures when you turn the liner right-side out after sewing, the batting ends up on the INSIDE
3. Before stitching, be sure to mark opening to turn liner right-side out
4. Stitch together, back-stitching at the opening
5. Clip threads and turn right-side out
6. Iron flat, being sure to turn in raw edges from gap. Pin gap shut.
7. Top-stitch close to edge (I suggest a wide zig-zag) and around whole liner, and do another round of stitching 1-1.5" in (will keep batting from shifting during washing)
8. Clip threads, iron if needed and your DONE!
FINISHED (cage liner is the apple print):
***You can use your larger flannel remnants to make parrot-poo cleaning rags***
ALTERING FOR A PLAY-STAND, T-perch or other item that would require a hole and wrapping around:
(This is a little more difficult/advanced that a square/rectangle liner)
1. Measure tray to line same as above
2. Measure distance in from top and side to "obstacle" and measure diameter
3. Mark and cut fabrics to accommodate "obstacle" with measurements made
4. Sew same as above, including leaving gap to turn right-side out
7. Clip around curves to allow for fabric to sit flat when turned right-side out
6. Turn, iron and topstitch same as above
7. Using small remnant, make tab for closure (see photo)
8. BEFORE stitching tab on, set "male" snap on INSIDE of tab to lessen the ability of a curious beak pulling it off. Top-stitch around snap for stability (see photo)
9. Stitch tab onto side, and set "female" snap on opposite side so tab can snap close so liner is held in-place around "obstacle"
So heres the COMPLETE set of what I made:
The liner IN his cage:
I also set some snaps into the plastic "sheet" on the bottom of his bird backpack and did a snap-in liner for that too, which will be much easier:
As for CARE INSTRUCTIONS, as I just got these done yesterday, I won't be able to wash until tomorrow (when I change the cage liner), HOWEVER, I can pretty much guarantee it'll be a matter of shaking outside, scraping off the "big chunks" of poo/fruit, spraying with bac-out and tossing in the wash. Having use these materials and similar construction in other washable items, I would recommend LINE-DRYING or only tumble-drying on the air setting (no heat) and WILL update after I wash them. Hope this tutorial is more helpful than confusing!
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