Easy Dog Necklace

Enjoy making this simple dog necklace! This is a great project for adults to do together with kids at home or in a group setting.

MATERIALS AND TOOLS NEEDED:

• Dental floss, string or strong yarn = "the thread"


• An empty container to hold things in


• Beads (or buttons) with holes large enough for your thread*


• A metal hook and eye, or a round bead, or findings, or 2 paper clips for fastening


• An empty container to keep the beads and fasteners in


• Newspaper or cardboard to use as a work surface


• Masking or other kind of tape
  


• Needle with a large eye that fits inside the holes on your beads or buttons, or a straight pin with a small head


• A piece of blank paper and something to write with

*Ask a friend or relative for their buttons and beads or buy some cheap ones at thrift stores, dollar stores and yard sales

GETTING READY:

1. Measure your dog's neck


2. Write down how many inches or millimeters it is


3. Pull out a strip of tape two inches (50 mm) longer than your dog's neck


4. Fasten a 1-inch (25 mm) end to your work surface. This will be End A


5. Flip the tape over, sticky side up. Fasten End B the same as End A


6. Stick beads or buttons on the tape trying out patterns till you find one you like

THREADING THE BEADS:

Cut a piece of thread 8 inches (200 mm) longer than your dog's neck

Thread End One onto the needle or push a pin through it

Pick up the first bead in your pattern and thread it

Move the bead down to 4 inches (100 mm) from End Two

Tape End Two onto that bead to make a stop

Go back to End One and start threading the other beads

If you like, you can make a big knot between each bead or between every two or three beads but remember this will take more thread (add about an inch per knot)

Keep going till all the beads are threaded

You should have about 4 inches (100 mm) of thread left

ADDING THE FASTENERS:

1. Thread End One through the hole of the eye, or one half of the finding, or one paper clip twice
   


2. Pull it through the loop you made to form a tight knot


3. Do Step 1 a bunch of times, then cut your thread


4. Untape End Two from the end bead and thread the needle or pin it


5. Fasten End Two in the same way - through the hole of the hook, the other half of the finding or second paper clip


6. Cut your thread neatly

Now for the fun part - go and try it out on your dog!

CAUTION:

• If the dog doesn't like wearing it, take it off!


• Make sure that the dog only wears his or her necklace when there are people supervising


• Be especially careful around puppies and other dogs who may grab at the necklace with their teeth


• The necklace is not a collar, do NOT tie a leash to it!

For photos and other dog accessories to make, see Make and Build Dog Stuff: Dog Accessories

Jo Soliday has been a dog lover and crafter since childhood. For more ideas for making things for dogs, check out her website at http://www.make-and-build-dog-stuff.com