Sew a Bandana for a Dog Collar
Are you looking for a way to "dress up" a dog or make your dog noticeable in a crowd? A dog collar bandanna may be just the thing you are looking for. It is simple to sew and infinitely customizable.
Steps
- Obtain fabric. If you sew, you probably already have plenty of material available in your scrap pile, but you could purchase fabric specifically for this project if you wish. You will need a square of fabric approximately {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} square for a large dog and as small as {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} square for a bandanna for a smaller dog.
- Cut the fabric into a square. The diagonal of the square will be two times the length of the bandana, so if you want a {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} long bandana, cut a square with a diagonal length of {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}. (two x five inches + one inch to allow for the sewing seams)
- Place the square with printed side down on a flat surface.
- Fold two opposite corners in approximately {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} in toward the center. This should leave a folded edge of approximately {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} long at the corner. Pin in place.
- Stitch the folded corners down close to their raw edges.
- Fold the bandana diagonally with printed sides facing each other and unsewn corners together. This should line up your raw edges and leave the previously folded and sewn corners opposite each other. Pin and sew the raw edges together to form the point of the bandana. DO NOT sew the folded corners closed.
- Trim the seam and miter the point of the bandana to make turning the point "right side out" easier.
- Turn the printed side of the bandana to the outside and iron flat if needed.
- Top stitch the edges of the bandana down and around the point.
- Stitch the long edge (hypotenuse) approximately an inch and a half from the folded edge, leaving a tube or "casing" to slide your dog's collar through.
- Trim away threads as needed.
- Decorate as you please.
- Slide your dog's collar through the casing and then reattach the collar to your dog for display, identification, decoration, or just for fun.
Tips
- Dog rescue groups sometimes use these bandannas to draw attention to their available animals at places like animal shelters and dog adoption events.
- This is a great way to use up the smaller pieces of fabric left over from other projects.
Warnings
- Take appropriate care when using a sewing machine or edged tools.
Things You'll Need
- Sewing machine
- Fabric pieces measuring 14 x 14 inches or so
- Scissor
