Today we’re sharing an easy twist (literally) on the basic box knot tug toy. Let’s look at weaving methods for making simple fleece DIY spiral dog tug toys, including pictures, diagrams, instructions, and comparisons between weaving options.
As part of our move to the new website, this post has been refreshed and updated. It now consolidates spiral tug toy instructions from several different old posts into a single all-in-one post. Hopefully this makes things easier for our readers to find info and make tugs. Woofs!
Spiral Tug Toy Making Supplies and Materials
The materials and craft supplies used in making the DIY spiral dog tug toys shown in this post are polar fleece fabric and scissors. No fancy tool or equipment required.
- Polar fleece
- Scissors
Polar fleece is sturdy (as fabrics go), has a nice touch of stretchiness when playing, and can be easily machine washed for a drool refresh.
Simple Square Tugs vs. Simple Spiral Tugs
A basic square (box) knot dog tug toy is simple, sturdy, and good looking. If you weave evenly, the toy will be squarish, as you would expect from a straight box knot, with uniform bands of colour down the sides. These bands (if you are using different colours) come from your chosen four fabric strips, with left/right alternating beside top/bottom throughout the length of the toy.
Simple spirals, in whichever weaving method you choose, rotate the position of the strands. As the layers of the tug build up, this creates either a spiral appearance (four strands, two alternating pairs of the same colour) or a uniform speckle (four strands of different colours). The body of the tug also has a rounder shape rather than square. The corner-to-corner spiral is great just for tug toy making on its own, but it’s also a good technique to learn as a building block for moving on to more complex multi-strand weaving patterns.
Weaving Methods for Making DIY Spiral Dog Tug Toys
To create a simple DIY spiral dog tug toy, you can alter the weaving pattern (circle twist or corner-to-corner method) or alter the movement of the strands in a basic box knot (twisted box knot). I’ll briefly summarise both methods so you have the option to pick your preferred method. Arguably, if done with care, the results of both methods look very similar. However, I recommend learning and using the corner-to-corner altered weaving pattern for DIY spiral dog tug toys. I’ll explain why at the end of the post, after you’ve seen both methods.
Corner-To-Corner Circle Twist Spiral Tug Toys (Altered Weaving Method)
Altering the Weaving Pattern to Corner-To Corner
In this method, you alter the knotting pattern to weave on a diagonal corner-to-corner instead of straight as you would for a square box knot tug toy. You can start with the corner-to-corner weave or, if you prefer, tie a single box knot to establish positions before switching methods.
Corner-To-Corner Spiral Weaving Pattern
If your starting configuration is top strand left (as shown in the diagram) as you prepare to tie the loops, top left bends to bottom right, bottom right bends to top left, then left bottom weaves to the top right (over then under) and right top weaves to the bottom left (over then under). Repeat the exact same sequence to weave the tug.
Alternatively, if your starting configuration position is top strand right (as shown in the photo collage) it’s the opposite sequence. As you prepare to tie the loops, top right bends to bottom left, bottom left bends to top right, then left top weaves to the bottom right (over then under) and right bottom weaves to the top left (over then under). Repeat the exact same sequence to weave the tug.
Twisted Box Knot Spiral Tug Toys (Altered Strand Movement)
Caution: This is an option to create a cheater’s spiral using the box knot, but control is essential for a tidy pattern. Keeping your tug steady and secure as you weave is vital for this method since you’re capturing the strand movement in your knot without actually altering the knot. Strand position is actually one of the common sources of accidental pattern errors in woven tug toys. I’ve included it here for awareness and completeness, but I highly recommend learning the corner-to-corner weaving pattern instead of using the cheat.
In the Twisted Box Knot method, you are altering the movement of the strands but maintaining a modified square knot weaving pattern. Instead of straight weaving, you rotate each strand a quarter turn each time, then weave the basic box knot. Side strands become the top/bottom strands, and the top/bottom strands become the sides, as shown below.
As you then tie with the same method as a basic box knot, each layer includes a quarter twist along with the box knot. This quarter turn rotates the colours on a diagonal, which makes for a pretty multi-coloured toy with four strands or a diagonal stripe when made with two colours. It also softens out the square box knot into a more rounded tug toy.
Why I Recommend Learning the Corner-to-Corner Method
What’s the Difference?
For a basic four-strand tug toy, I’ve done side-by-side tests and find it makes no difference to the look, style, or quality. Personally, although the twisted box knot method is easy for someone like me who is very used to the square knot, it’s not “set and forget”. You need to be careful not to accidentally create unwanted movement errors in the strands and pattern. The corner-to-corner method is much easier, once you learn and get comfortable with the sequence of weaving. Learning how to weave a spiral this way also sets you up well for tackling other patterns.
When Does the Method Matter for DIY Spiral Dog Tug Toys?
Arguably, corner-to-corner is the right method. The cheaters method doesn’t always work. If you’re weaving with a less cooperative material, the circle twist is better for making DIY spiral dog tug toys. You might not be able to capture the natural twisting while you knot as you can with fleece when using the twisted box knot method. Even with cooperative fleece, weaving corner-to-corner is an easier way to create a consistent pattern when making DIY spiral dog tug toys. It’s also a solid foundation skill for learning more complex patterns.
Why Learn the Corner-to-Corner Method?
Don’t worry, corner-to-corner is a really easy pattern to learn. I recommend learning the corner-to-corner circle twist method for making DIY spiral dog tug toys. Both for consistency and so that you more easily move on to other more complex methods later, if you wish. I have some fancier tugs in the pending post pipeline to share with you that use the circle twist method to weave interlocked spirals. It’s easier if you to see the method in its simplest form and (if you’d like) try it out on the basic four strand style of tug toy before graduating to the fancy stuff.
I used both methods in a side-by-side test to take photos for this post. And blog dog Humphrey’s expert assessment of the two different DIY spiral dog tug toys? Equally fun and impossible to tell the difference! Why choose one tug toy when you can have and hog both?
Additional DIY Dog Tug Toy Making Help and Information
Helpful information is also available in our tug toy FAQs, tips, and troubleshooting mini-series:
Safety first, furfriends! Remember, no matter what a toy is made of or how it’s made, toys are meant for supervised interactive play. Know your dog before giving him or her any new toy. Some dogs try to eat toys or parts (whether bought or handmade) and that’s doggine dangerous. Toys are for playing, and playtime is always safer (and more fun!) with you involved. You can read more in our dog toy safety post, including tips and helpful links for safer playtime. Have fun and play safe!
