Craft the Perfect Pet Bandana

Who can resist the charm of a dog or cat sporting a stylish bandana? If you’re tired of those plain fabric triangles slipping off your pet’s neck, it’s time to discover a game-changing design. you can create a bandana that slides over your pet’s collar, ensuring it stays put no matter how playful they get. Let’s make every pet look their best, one bandana at a time! 

What you need: 

• Fat quarter (or up to ½ yard depending on size of bandana desired) cotton fabric 
• ¼ inch presser foot  
• Sewing thread, pins (or clips), marking pen, quilting ruler with a 45 degree line, scissors or rotary cutter and mat  

Preparation:

1. Measure the length and width of your pet’s collar. 
2. Using the measurements of the collar create a pattern on a piece of paper as pictured below.  Draw a rectangle at the top.  That rectangle should have a width 4-5” less than the length of the collar and ¾” taller than the widest piece of hardware on the collar. (You may need to adjust depending on the size of your pet.) 
3. Line up the 45-degree line on your ruler with the bottom of the rectangle. Draw a line from the bottom of each side of the rectangle meeting at the bottom center. 
   
   

Cut: 

1. Audition the pattern on your pet to make sure it’s not too small or too large before cutting your fabric. 
2. Using your pattern cut 2, a front and a lining.  For directional fabric, make sure it’s facing the right direction. 

Assemble:

1. Fold the short straight ends of the rectangle about ½” and Press. 
2. Unfold.  Fold the raw edge to the press line and press.  Fold then press again encasing the raw edge inside the original fold.  Pin and stitch a hem close to the inside folded edge.  Repeat for the other side of the front and the lining.  This will finish the opening for the collar. 
3. Pin the front and back, right sides together along the top edge and around the diagonal sides of the triangle piece. 
   
   
4. Stitch a ¼” seam at the top edge and around the diagonal sides of the triangle leaving the opening for the collar open. 
5. Clip the point of the triangle. 
6. Turn right side out through one of the collar openings. 
7. Press. 
8. Draw a line with a marking pen from the bottom of one opening to the other side. 
   
   
9. Stitch along that line. 
10. Pull your pet’s collar through the opening. 
11. Place the collar with bandana back on your pet.  You can let the bandana hang on their chest or their back.