Make this adorable canine collar for your 4-legged Valentine! A Velcro hook-and-loop closure opens easily in case the collar gets caught on something, avoiding choking hazards for your favorite pup. Create a collar for every occasion; simply change the fabric to match the season!

Instructions

Step 1. Measure a length of elastic the circumference of your dog's neck, plus 2 inches.

Step 2. Cut a rectangle of fabric that measures twice the length of the elastic and 5" wide for medium to large dogs or 4" wide for small dogs.

Step 3. Cut a length of rick rack the same length as the fabric rectangle. Place the rick rack on the RIGHT side of the fabric, 1" from the cut edge. Stitch in place, stitching up the middle of the rick rack.

Step 4. With RIGHT sides together, fold the fabric in half widthwise, matching the long cut edges. Pin in place. Stitch the long sides together in a 1/2" seam, forming a long tube.

Step 5. Turn the tube RIGHT side out. Attach the safety pin to one end of the elastic. Insert the safety pin into one end of the fabric tube and, using the pin as a guide, thread the elastic through the tube until the pin comes out from the other end. Important: be sure to hold the elastic and fabric together at one end so that you don't "lose" it in the tube. Since the fabric is longer than the elastic, the fabric will crunch around it when completely inserted.

Step 6. Fold the collar fabric ends in 1/2" and pin in place, pinning through the elastic. With the elastic close to the folded edge, top stitch the ends closed, stitching through the elastic. The pins can be removed after stitching. Stitch Velcro hook-and-loop to the ends of the collar, stitching the hook side to one end and the loop side to the other end so that the collar will form a continuous circle when the fastening is closed.