Little projects for your pets are always fun ways to use up scraps. For our cute doggy bandana you only need one 16″ x 16″ square and one 4″ x 31-44″ strip. We added a length of reflective tape so you can walk in the gathering dusk in style and safety.

Little projects for your pets are always fun ways to use up scraps. For our cute doggy bandana you only need one 16″ x 16″ square and one 4″ x 31-44″ strip. We added a length of reflective tape so you can walk in the gathering dusk in style and safety.

Our bandana is sized for a dog with an 18-21″ neck. We made our ties longish, because we thought they looked cool and floppy, which matched doggie ears. You can adjust for your dog, and his ears, by lengthening or shortening the length of your tie strip. Measure the dog’s neck and add approximately 11-12″ for standard ties, 22-24″ for floppy ties.

If you have a smaller dog, you should reduce both the size of the square and the ties. The diagonal measurement of the bandana should be about the length of your dog’s neck plus 1″ for seams.

Sewing Tools You Need

• Sewing machine and standard presser foot

Fabric and Other Supplies

• ONE 16″ x 16″ fabric scrap square for the bandana: we originally used Pillow & Maxfield’s Pretty Bird from Michael Miller Fabrics in Blue Bloomies
  NOTE: If you have enough fabric, cut your fabric on the bias – not mandatory but it will yield a better drape around the dog’s neck.
• ONE 4″ x 31-44″ strip for the tie: we used Pillow & Maxfield’s Pretty Bird from Michael Miller Fabrics in Moss Garden Stripe
• 1 yard of 3M Sew On Reflective Tape or similar
  NOTE: Sew-on is better than stick-on; stick-on tends to peel off along the edges with wear and tear and if you try to stitch it down, the adhesive will gum up your needle.
• All purpose thread in colors to match fabric and reflective tape
• See-through ruler
• Fabric pencil
• Iron and ironing board
• Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
• Seam gauge
• Seam ripper
• Straight pins

At Your Sewing Machine & Ironing Board

1. Fold the bandana square diagonally to form two triangles (and to get the best bias drape). Cut in half along the fold.
2. Place the two triangles right sides together.
3. Pin and stitch both sides, using a ½” seam allowance and pivoting at the point of the triangle.
   
4. Trim off the corner at the point, being careful not to clip into your seam. Turn right side out and press well.
5. Trim off the corners of the seam allowance so the top raw edges of the bandana are flush.
6. Press the strip in half lengthwise, right sides together.
7. Trim both ends of the strip at a diagonal. We trimmed one end in one direction and the other in the opposite direction. Why? Dunno; we thought it looked cool. You could do them both the same or just leave them square.
8. Fold both the bandana and the strip in half to find their center points. Mark each center point with a pin.
   

Attaching the reflective tape

1. Pin the reflective tape in place approximately ⅜” from the seamed edge of the bandana. Fold in a neat pleat at the point of the bandana to make that turn. Trim tape flush with the top of the bandana at both top corners.
   
2. Re-thread your machine with thread to best match the tape in the top and thread to best match the fabric in the bobbin.
3. Edgestitch the tape in place along both sides, pivoting at the point. Press from the back side.
   NOTE: We couldn’t find any manufacturer instructions regarding ironing the reflective tape, and so erred on the side of caution and ironed only from the back through the fabric. Using a pressing cloth would be another option.
   

Measuring and attaching the tie strip

1. Find the center point along the top of the banana as well as the center point of the tie strip. Mark both points with a pin.
2. Line up these3 marking pins for the center of the tie strip and the center of the bandana.
3. Pin the raw edges of the tie strip, stopping at each top corner of the bandana. You are just pining the tie strip, you are not pinning onto the bandana. Leave the center section of the tie strip open so you can later insert the bandana.
   
4. If necessary, re-thread your machine with thread to best match the tie fabric in the top and bobbin.
5. Using a ¼” seam allowance, stitch across one end of the tie, pivoting at the diagonal corner, then continuing along the tie, stopping and locking your seam at the pin marking the tie opening.
6. Repeat to stitch the opposite end of the tie.
7. Clip the corners and turn the tie right side out. Gently push out the diagonal corners on each end so they are as sharp as possible. A long blunt tool, such as a knitting needle, chopstick or point turner works well.
8. Press the strip well, folding in and pressing the raw edges of the opening so they are flush with the sewn seam.
9. Slip the top raw edge of the bandana into the tie strip’s opening. You only need to slide it in about ¾ – 1″. Pin in place.
   
10. Edge stitch around all four sides of the tie to reinforce the entire tie and close the opening.

Reflective tips on the ends of the ties

1. Re-thread the machine again with thread to match the reflective tape in the top and thread to match the tie strip in the bobbin.
2. Cut a small strip of reflective tape to match the diagonal ends of the tie strip. Pin these strips to ONE side of each tie end.
3. Edgestitch the reflective tape in place around all four sides to hold it in place. Then, stitch an ‘X’ through this box to reinforce.
   
4. Tie on your doggie and go for a walk in the starry summer twilight… while it lasts.
   

Project Design: Alicia Thommas
Sample Creation: Liz Johnson