Corralling the Cuteness: a Quick and Easy DIY Alternative to an Ugly Plastic Gate

So I can't believe it's been since February that I blogged! Wow! A lot has happened since then: my youngest son graduated from high school, my oldest son moved back home from college for the summer, my husband started a new and awesome job, I bought a sewing machine (lol) AND we got a new puppy, Jaxson!

Jaxson, the Morkie

With a new puppy came potty training, obedience training and an adjustment period for Bentley and Otto, the two resident dog kings of the house. Because my home has a fairly open concept I struggled to come up with a way to keep Jaxson confined. I was of course going to use a crate when I wasn't home, but most times I wanted him loose with the rest of us. Loose to a point, not free range, until he was fully potty trained. 

I thought about getting a baby gate, but I didn't want a huge plastic monstrosity in my dining room. It would have been an ugly eyesore as soon as you entered my home. I also wanted something high enough to block Jaxson but low enough that Bentley and Otto could jump it when they needed a break from the high energy puppy.

Here's what I came up with (it was super easy and I did it myself):

Cute, easy, and cheap alternative to a plastic baby gate

Here's what I used:

• A bed sheet  (or any fabric)
• 2 tension rods that fit your space

Here's what I did:

Bed sheet
It's a really cute gray with white dots

1. Spread out the bed sheet and trim if it's too big. 

Bust out the sewing machine

    2. Hem all sides that need it, you want to have a neatly finished side, top, and bottom.

    3. Fold sheet in half long ways and sew a seam at top and bottom. 

        I sewed mine about an inch to an inch and a half from the top and bottom.

        It depends on the diameter of your tension rods.

    

    4. Feed the rods through the pockets you made in the fabric.

    5. Shirr the fabric and hang rods. BOOM! Done and cute at the same time!

And speaking of cute... look at this face!

Until next time ~ XOXO jules

UPDATE: I ended up shortening the height. Now it works perfectly!