How to Make Pet Tag Silencers

Pet tags can be quite annoying, as they jingle each and every time the dog moves. Jingling pet tags can be disruptive, especially when the dog starts shaking or scratching in the middle of the night. Some pet owners are tempted to remove the pet's collar or the tags from the collar, but this could be troublesome if the pet gets lost---an outdoor cat could be mistaken for a stray and a dog without his tags is less likely to be returned home. Instead of removing the tags or the entire collar, you can make a simple silencer for the pet's tags.

Things You'll Need

  • 1/8-inch-wide elastic
  • 1/4-inch-wide ribbon
  • Scissors
  • Fabric
  • Thread
  • Needle
  • Straight pins
  • Ruler or measuring tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the dog's cluster of tags and use the measurement from the widest tag and the tallest tag. This will determine the dimensions of the pet tag silencer.

    • 2

      Cut a piece of fabric that's twice the height of the tags, plus 1 inch; the width of the fabric should be 1/2 inch wider than the tags. So if the tag cluster dimensions are 1/2-inch tall and 1 inch wide, you'll need a piece of fabric that's 2 inches tall and 1 1/2 inches wide.

    • 3

      Fold the fabric in half lengthwise so that the patterned sides of the fabric are touching. The fold will be the bottom of the pouch.

    • 4

      Pin the two sides of the pouch to hold the fabric in place and sew the two sides of the pouch using a backstitch. The two rows of stitches should be just less than 1/4-inch in from the vertical edges of the fabric. If you're holding the folded piece of fabric with the fold on the bottom, the two rows of stitches will be vertical on either side of the fabric.

    • 5

      Cut a piece of 1/8-inch-wide elastic that's just more than half the width of the pouch. If the pouch is 1 1/2 inches wide, the piece of elastic should be just over 3/4-inch long.

    • 6

      Overlap the ends of the elastic slightly and insert a couple stitches to sew the elastic into a loop.

    • 7

      Place the elastic loop over the open end of the fabric pouch and fold the fabric over the elastic to create what will be a sleeve around the elastic loop, which will be at the opening of the pouch. Sew the sleeve closed using a backstitch around the circumference of the pouch opening. While sewing, it helps to hold the elastic loop "open" and taught with your other hand.

    • 8

      Sew two 4-inch lengths of ribbon onto the pouch while it's still inside out. Attach the ribbons at the top of the pouch, in the center of the front side of the pouch and at the center of the back side of the pouch.

    • 9

      Turn the pouch right-side out and place the dog's tags inside the pouch, which will hold the tags together, preventing them from jingling. Thread the ribbons through the collar's metal ring and tie the ribbons. If desired, cut off some of the excess ribbon.