Creature Couture
Even man’s best friends need a little wearable flair from time to time—but overpriced neck baubles are so pre-recession! Instead, upcycle an old shirt into a handmade pet collar. Kitties or pups will prance proudly in their one-of-a-kind accessories!
by Vickie Howell

Directions
1. Choose a collared shirt. For a medium to large dog, use an old men’s shirt. For a small dog or cat, hit up your kid’s closet. Don’t worry about finding an exact fit; the closure you choose will compensate for sizing challenges.

2. Remove collar from shirt with seam ripper. Pull out any stray threads.

3. Fold back raw edges of the collar’s seam and seal with fabric glue. Use clothespins to keep fabric in place while glue dries.

4. Embellish by gluing on sequins, ric-rac, rhinestones or other decorative goodness. Use regular ink and rubber stamps (or fabric paint and foam stamps) to write a message or your pet’s name across the back of the collar.

5. Choose a closure and sew or glue it on. If the shirt collar is already a close fit for your Felix or Fido, hook and eyes, or buttons are appropriate. Opt for ribbon, bias tape or an adjustable buckle if you want to provide a little wiggle room.