Creative Designworks

Classic Dog Collar

Feel free to use collars made with these instructions for personal use or resale.

The instructions are designed for use with a heavy weight webbing. Here are a few ideas for alternate collar straps.

Collar Strap Using Lightweight Webbing. The webbing shown in the sample collars and tutorial photos is lightweight. To use lightweight webbing, simply cut the length double the length shown in chart, fold in half and stitch together close to the edges. Fuse the cut ends. Following step 3, use fused end at adjuster buckle, so tidy folded end will show on finished collar. The hardware shown will not hold adjustment if a single layer of lightweight webbing is used alone.  

Collar Strap with Fabric or Trim added to the lightweight webbing should add enough thickness for the hardware to hold adjustment. (Test your chosen combination of materials to make sure.) Here is a link to the tutorial for adding fabric or trim. Add Fabric or Trim

Cotton Collar Strap Tutorial Click here for Collar Strap made using lightweight cotton fabric and iron-on interfacing.

Classic Dog Collar

1. Cut webbing to length according to chart at bottom of page.

3. Pass strap through adjuster buckle, threading it up through one slot and down through other. Adjust strap to measurement for chosen size as shown in last column of chart below.

Note: only a portion of the strap is shown in the photos.

4. Stitch, forming a box with an X. Stitch each line at least twice for strength.

5. Making sure strap is same side up as in photo above, pass strap up through one slot (double slot end of side release buckle) and down through the other slot. Side release buckle will be right side up.

6. Thread strap back through adjuster buckle.

7. Thread strap up through remaining slot of side release buckle. Adjust strap to measurement for chosen size as shown in last column of chart below.

See optional finish, after step 8 below.

8. Open side release buckle, slip D ring under fold and move close to buckle. Stitch as shown in step 4 above. Stitch a row of stitches close to D ring, repeating several times for strength.

Optional finish replacing step 7 above.

Some collar materials may look nicer with this finish. (examples, Layered Collar Strap, or fabric applied to webbing)

7. Pass strap through D ring, then thread strap down through remaining slot of side release buckle.

8. Open side release. From back side of collar, adjust strap to measurement for chosen size as shown in last column of chart below. Slide D ring close buckle.

10. Stitch as shown in step 4 above. Stitch a row of stitches close to D ring, repeating several times for strength.

Remember, collar safety is YOUR responsibility. Please use good judgment and common sense in determining appropriate use of any pet collar. Only you can determine the suitability of this collar for your pet and individual situation.