How to Make an Adjustable Fabric Dog Collar

A dog collar is your pet's lifeline. Not only does it keep its pertinent information on it, such as vaccination tags and license information, but it also allows you to keep control. Using fabric and a few other items, you can make your own dog collar which can be adjusted as the pet grows. This allows you to add a certain degree of personality to your dog's lifeline. These collars can be made from the sturdy fabric of your choice or with stronger nylon webbing decorated with ribbon or fabric.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure
  • Sturdy fabric
  • Scissors
  • Ironing board
  • Fusible interfacing
  • Iron
  • Pressing cloth
  • Sewing machine
  • Thread
  • 1-inch side release buckle (two parts)
  • 1-inch D-ring
  • 1-inch strap adjuster
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Instructions

  1. Make the Fabric Strap

    • 1

      Use a tape measure to measure the circumference of your dog's neck.

    • 2

      Cut a strip of 4-inch-wide strip of fabric that is 6 inches to 8 inches longer than the circumference of your dog's neck. Cut a strip of fusible interfacing that is the same length and slightly thinner than the strip of fabric.

    • 3

      Place your fabric top-side down on an ironing board. Lay the fusible interfacing on the fabric strip. Place a pressing cloth over this and iron with the manufacturer's suggested temperature to fuse the strip with the fabric.

    • 4

      Fold the raw edges of either side of the strip towards the center so they just meet. Then, fold the whole strip in half again and press with the iron.

    • 5

      Use a sewing machine to sew together the edges of the fabric strip. Repeat this on the folded side for an even stitching on both sides of the fabric strip. Finally, sew together the edges of either ends of the strip and cut away any excess fabric.

    Make the Dog Collar

    • 6

      Insert one end of the fabric strap into the connector to the female end (without prongs) of the buckle.

    • 7

      Slide a D-ring onto this end of the strap, then fold the strap over so it covers both the buckle connector and the D-ring.

    • 8

      Double-stitch the end of the fabric strap to itself to secure the D-ring and the female end of the buckle. Make a second double-stitch between the buckle connector and the D-ring to separate them.

    • 9

      Insert the other end of the fabric strap up and down through the strap adjuster. Then, thread it through the connector to the male end (with prongs) of the buckle. Be sure the top side of both pieces of the buckle are facing the same direction on the strap.

    • 10

      Feed the end of the strap up and down again through the strap adjuster, under the rest of the fabric strap. Lay the end of the fabric strap against itself, about 1 inch from the strap adjuster.

    • 11

      Double-stitch the end of the fabric strap to itself to permanently connect it to the middle bar of the strap adjuster. The top part of the fabric strap should easily slide through the adjuster to change the length of the dog collar.