Over the Collar Dog Bandana

This DIY over the collar dog bandana is a beginner friendly sewing project. The bandana slips over your dog’s collar, rather than tying around their neck, like our dog bandana without a pattern.

This dog bandana can be worn two ways, either on the dog’s back or in front like a kerchief.

You don’t need to know a dog’s neck size or weight with this sewing pattern, you just need to know the width of their dog collar.

These bandanas are so easy to make that you can make one quickly and easily for a variety of reasons, including:

• Halloween Costume
• Christmas Family Photo (your dog’s bandana can match your clothes!)
• Any family photo
• Groomers can make to give to clients
• Donate to Pet Shelters to Help Get Dogs Adopted!
• Sell at Craft Fairs

Over the Collar Dog Bandana Size Chart

Smaller dogs have smaller collars, which means you will need a smaller square of fabric. Larger dogs will need larger fabric squares.

I made bandanas in almost every size to fit on three dogs, ranging from a tiny Yorkie to a 120-lb German Shepherd.

This is what I learned:

• A 6 X 6 inch square was perfect on our smallest dog, a Yorkie, but an 8 X 8 inch square worked well, too.
• Our medium size dog (like a Cocker Spaniel) looked best in a 10 X 10 inch square, but a 12 X 12 inch square worked, too, it was just a bit big
• For the German Shepherd, a 14 X 14 inch square was the right size to lay flat on his neck without bunching up. We tried a 15 X 15 inch square and it was too puckered.

IMPORTANT TIP: When measuring the width of the dog collar, measure the widest part, which may be the clasp. The clasp could be wider than the dog collar itself.

Surprisingly, I found it was better to size down, because the bandana would lay flat and not pucker as it wrapped around their body, rather than sizing up.

DOG COLLAR WIDTH SIZE	FABRIC SQUARE
3/4 inch	6 X 6 inches
3/4 inch	8 X 8 inches
1 inch	10 X 10 inches
1 inch	12 X 12 inches
1 1/2 inches	14 X 14 inches
1 1/2 inches	15 X 15 inches

How to Sew an Over the Collar Dog Bandana

Watch me make a dog bandana in my YouTube video found below the instructions.

As you will probably need to wash this dog bandana at some point, it is important to prewash the fabric beforehand to allow for shrinkage.

Supplies

• Cotton Fabric square (ranging from 6 X 6 inches to 15 X 15 inches)
• Lightweight or Medium Weight Interfacing (optional)
• Matching or Coordinating Thread
• Disappearing Ink or Tailor’s Chalk

Directions

Optional: If using interfacing, apply it to the wrong side of the fabric.

Fold the square in half on the diagonal, creating a half triangle. Press with a hot iron.

Fold in each outer corner and make a mark, using the measurements in the chart below. Line up the straight edges when folding the corner in.

• 3/4 inch collar: 6 X 6 in. or 8 X 8 in. square (measure 1 1/2 inches in from edge)
• 1 inch collar: 10 X 10 in. or 12 X 12 in. square (measure 2 inches in from edge)
• 1 1/2 inch collar: 14 X 14 in. or 15 X 15 in. square (measure 2 1/4 inches in from edge)

Press with a hot iron to make a crease in the fabric.

Open up the square with the wrong side facing up. Fold the corners inward, folding along the creased line that you made with the iron.

Pin in place.

Sew along the edge with a top stitch about 1/8 inch from the edge.

Fold the square in half with right sides together.

Sew along the two raw edges, pivoting at the corner. Use a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Turn the bandana inside out through the casing opening. Use a turning tool, if needed, to push out the corners and seams.

Press with a hot iron.

Use a straight edge and draw a line from one corner to the other. Use a disappearing ink pen or tailor’s chalk because you are drawing on the fabric side that you will see.

Sew along the line.

To use, slide the dog collar through one end of the bandana casing until it comes out the other side.

Watch me make these over the collar dog bandanas in my video below:

I would love to see your dogs wearing bandanas that you make! If you subscribe to my YouTube Channel, you can upload a photo of your dog wearing their over the collar dog bandana and I’ll share it on the Easy Things to Sew YouTube page!

Helpful Tips I Learned While Making an Over the Collar Bandana for Dogs

• Interfacing is not necessary, but it will stiffen the fabric.
• If using a directional fabric, cut the square on a diagonal on the fabric, rather than straight. This is so the direction of the fabric lays correctly when the fabric square is folded in half.
• A plastic quilt template is a great way to easily cut out fabric squares if you plan on making several bandanas.
• This bandana can be washed in the washing machine.

Want to save this sewing project for later? Be sure to Pin It to Pinterest!

If you love DIY dog crafts, be sure to see this DIY Dog Snuffle Mat and a no-sew Dog Bed.

Want to match your pet’s accessories? Sew a bow scrunchie to coordinate with your dog and be besties!