Tutorial: Ruff-Ruffle Dog Collar Embellishment

I was getting bored with felt flowers and bandanas for my dog's collar, so I dreamed up this slide-over-the-collar ruffle embellishment.

 And guess what?  Today you get to learn how to make one, too!  It's really easy and super cute, so click "read more" to get the tutorial. :)

Here's what you'll need:

• Long, rectangular scrap fabric
• Scrap elastic (width is unimportant but be sure the length is the length you want your finished product)
• Scrap felt
• Hot glue gun
• Sewing machine and sewing paraphernalia 

Step 1: Cutting the Supplies

Use pinking sheers (or serge/zig-zag the edges after cutting if you have no pinking sheers) to cut your main fabric in a long rectangle.  The exact size of the rectangle is not important, but it should be about twice the length of your scrap elastic.

Also cut your scrap of felt.  For the length, use the length of your elastic.  For the width, multiply your dog collar's width times two and add 1/2 to 3/4 and inch. (Dog collar width x 2 + 1/2inch = felt width).

Step 2: Making the Ruffle 

Now, there are several ways to make ruffles and I tried all of them for the collar, but the elastic method worked best, so that's what we'll use here.

To get started, take your elastic and center it vertically on the back side of your main fabric.  We're going to sew it on, but the key to making the fabric gather is to stretch the elastic as you sew.  (I hope this makes sense!  See the pictures below.)

Now you should have a ruffle.

Step 3: Making the Ruffle Dog-Collar-Accessible

To get the ruffle to slide over the collar we're going to make a tube out of the felt and then hot glue that to the back of the ruffle.  To make the tube, fold your felt in half length-wise and sew down the edge with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  (I didn't bother to flip my tube since it was such a little width and you won't be able to see it, anyway.)

Next, put a line of hot glue on the back of the elastic and press the felt tube to the hot glue.  Be careful not to burn yourself!  Also note, I glued the seam side down so that you couldn't see I didn't flip the tube. :)

 And you're done!

See?  I told you it was easy!  Now put it on your pooch and be proud of your cutifying abilities!

My dog is saying, "I'm much too sleepy for this!"

Until next time, happy crafting!

--CC

Note: This post has been linked up here.