2 pieces of foam (1ft x 2 ft x 1inch = 30cm x 60cm x 2.5cm)

4 pieces of washable fabric 39 cm x 69 cm) two of these pieces should have a pile if possible for extra comfort - no need for large expense, an old towel is fine, or cut up an old coat. The other two pieces, for the outside, should have a design you can live with. For the illustrated cat bed, fur fabric left over from another project and an old curtain were used.

1. Place one piece of foam (A) on a flat surface. Take the second piece (B) and bend it around the 30cm end of piece A, forming a curve, so that the top meets the middle point of the 30cm edge (see fig1).

2. Draw around the curve you make by holding piece B onto piece A (you may need someone to help hold piece B while you draw the curve. Try to make sure it is a nice, even shape.

3. Cut the foam along the curve you have drawn (fig 2). It should curve down to about 24cm down the 60cm sides.

4. Take one of each of the pieces of fabric and place them right-sides together. Tack and then back stitch or machine (2cm in from fabric edge) three sides together leaving one end open (fig 3).

5. Take the remaining two pieces of fabric and place them face sides together. Position piece of foam A on top of the two pieces of fabric, lining up the straight 30 cm edge of the the foam with one of the shorter edges on the fabric. Draw round the foam. Then draw a second line 3.5cm out from the first. Cut along the outer line (fig 4).

6. Turn the fabric face out and put the foam pieces into their corresponding cases. Turn in the open edges and oversew.

7. With a large needle and strong thread sew the pieces together as follows:

Bend piece B to form an arch over piece A
Sew piece A to piece B along the edges between W- X and Z - Y (fig 6).

8. Lift the curved end of piece A and fit it intothe arch made by piece B. Sew in place (fig 7)

9. Lift the lip left at the other end of piece A and sew the sides onto piece B. Add a few extra strengthening stitches.

10. Now the igloo is complete and can be machine washed when required (illustrated at top of page).