A few years ago, I bought a fancy dog collar for my dog. I remember spending about 40 dollars (including shipping and handling). Although it was beautifully made and I received many compliments from my friends and neighbors, I started to wonder if it was worth spending so much for a dog collar -- especially for a miniature dog like mine who weighs only 11 pounds. Since then, I've wondered if I could make a dog collar myself at much lower cost.

One day, a friend of mine gave me a piece of beautiful trim, which she bought at an SCA (The Society for Creative Anachronism) event. I thought this would be a chance to make a dog collar. I went to a fabric store in my neighborhood and bought a nylon strap, a D-ring, and a buckle.

Using the dog collar I already had at home as a model, I sewed the parts all together with a sewing machine. Since I already knew my dog's neck size, I didn't have to worry about making my dog collar length adjustable. It probably took me about 20 minutes to finish making the collar.

I am happy with the result. If you take a close look at the collar I have made, it wouldn't look as professional as the one I bought in the past. But I like the idea that my dog wears the collar I specifically made for her. Besides, it cost me less than 10 dollars to make it.

If you have a sewing machine, you can certainly give it a try yourself.