DIY Leather Pet Collar Instructions

1. Check you have everything in your Dog Collar craft kit:

1. 1 x Pre-cut and Punched Leather Piece
2. 3 x Canvas Cloth for burnishing & protecting
3. 2 x Binder Clips to help you stitch
4. 2 x Colours of Handmade Waxed Thread
5. 1x D-ring
6. 1 x Keyring Loop
7. 2 x Sewing Needles

You will also need:

• Small pair of scissors
• A little pot of water
• Your quality time, ½ - 1 hours

2. Measure the thread.

Your Pet Collar has 3 stitching sections, so you will need to cut 3 x 26cm lengths of thread for each holder. Start by choosing the thread colour that you would like to stitch with, then measure and cut the pieces of wax thread to length.

3. Burnish the edges.

Burnish the outer edges of the collar. Do this by dipping your finger in a little bit of water and wiping it along the edge. Be careful not to get any liquid on the leather surface. Using one of the canvas cloths provided, rub the outer edges until smooth and shiny.

-Top Tip-

Use a cotton bud for extra precision when wetting the edge so as not to damage the leather surface.

4. Thread the needles.

• A. Thread the eye of the needle with the 26cm piece of thread. 

• B. Pull through 6-8cm of thread and then pierce the thread.

• C. Pierce the thread again at 1cm distance along the long piece of thread.

• D. Holding the needle tip, pull down the entire thread. This is called locking the needle.

• E. Follow steps A-D with the other end of the thread and second needle.

5. Attach the buckle.

Following the steps in the photos above, thread the end of the leather strip (with the punched lines of holes) through the gold buckle.

6. Fold leather strap and clip

Fold the leather back on itself so that the stitching holes align and clip in place with binder clip and canvas cloth.

7. Start stitching.

Pass the needle through the first two holes and pull through until there is an equal amount of thread on each side of the holes. Start your stitch by creating a bar tack, do this by sewing the same looping stitch 3x at the top edge - this will strengthen the join. 

8. Use saddle stitch.

• A. With your left hand, take the needle from one side of your collar and pass it through the next hole. You will be stitching along the piece towards yourself.

• B. Pull this needle through, leaving a loop of thread about 10cm long on the side.

• C. Take the second needle and push it through the same hole as the first. Avoid piercing the thread as you do this and pull the other thread tightly to the side as this will help.

• D. Pull both needles away from the leather to form a tight stitch. Repeat this for every stitch hole. 

9. Secure the stitches.

At the end of the stitching section, loop the thread around 3 times to create a bar tack (as at the beginning of the stitch section).

Stitch back 3 stitches to secure the thread. 

10. Cut the threads.

Cut the thread as close to the hole as possible and tuck away any visible ends with the back side of your needle. 

11. Stitch the second line of stitching by repeating the past 3 steps.

12. Add the D-ring.

Slide the ring onto the collar from the other side until it’s in between your latest line of stitching and the next line of holes.

13. Stitch in place.

Stitch the final lines together.

Ta-daa! Congratulations - you have now finished your personally crafted .Ar:ti|sans Pet Collar! Do you have more than one dog? Why not create one for each of them so they don’t feel left out? You can also personalise the collar with each of your pet's name.

Send us a photo of your pet modelling your new creation - we would love to see it (and your pet). Share it with us and our crafting community so we can celebrate your leathercraft dexterity. Tag us @artisans.life on Instagram (using the hashtag #artisanslife), drop us an email or leave us a review on our website to tell us what you enjoyed most about the making experience.

P.S. Did you recognise our Keyring Kit wrapped in your thread? Now you can now practice your leathercraft skills further by crafting your very own leather keyring! Click here to access the Keyring Craft Kit instructions blog.