DIY Dog Collars

 

 If you have a dog, you know that collars are not cheap and cute collars are hard to come by . . . especially for boy dogs.  The solution . . . make your own!  There are lots of free tutorials out there but I found this one to be the most helpful at Halifax Dogventures.  It looks more complicated than it is and if you have a dog collar already, you can look at how it's assembled to help you.

Here's what you'll need:

• Collar hardware (I purchased these from Amazon. There are ten sets for a cost of only 12.99. Crazy considering you'd pay at least that much for ONE collar.)
• 1/8 yard of fabric
• 1/8 yard of fusible medium weight interfacing
• Sewing machine, thread, etc.

Measure your dog's neck and double that for the length of your fabric.  I cut one piece 20" long by 3" wide to make a 3/4" wide collar.  Cut the interfacing the same width but 1" shorter and center on wrong side of fabric; press. Press piece in half lengthwise then open up.

Press ends in; press each side in toward the center fold. Then fold in half again. Stitch around all edges.

Thread on the tri-buckle piece leaving about 1.5" tail. Stitch close to the buckle as shown in picture 9.

Take the male or pronged piece and thread it on so the prongs are facing the buckle and slide close to the buckle.  Flip over to backside and thread tail back through the tri-buckle. Stitch as shown in pic 11.

Lastly, thread the D-ring on (don't worry about where it's at right now). Next thread the female end of the buckle on.  Stitch as shown in pic 13.  Now slide the D ring as close as possible to the end and stitch to the right of it as shown to secure it in place.

To make a removable bow tie, cut one piece 5X4" and one piece 5X2.5".  Fold larger piece in half right sides together and stitch leaving a small opening to turn.  Turn and press. Stitch close to opening.  For center piece, fold lengthwise, right sides together and stitch along long edge. Turn and press.  Gather the bow portion, lay the center piece on top and stitch to attach to the bow.  Stitch edges of center piece (make sure it's a large enough opening to slip over the hardware and onto the collar).

I know it SEEMS confusing and a lot of work but it REALLY isn't.  The hardware I ordered also came with instructions so between that and looking at how a collar is assembled, it was easy to figure out.  Once you do one or two, you'll have it down and you'll be off to saving a boatload of cash and making lots of custom collars for you pet!

You can't really tell because Hudson REFUSED to look at the camera but he's wearing one with glittery shamrocks on it.

Just think of all the possibilities!  Every season, every holiday, your pup can have a special collar.  And they're washable too! Just wash and hang to dry.

They grow up so fast, don't they????? LOL