Make all the bitches jealous
Did you like my dog pun? Ha...ha...
For all the doggy-obsessed readers out there like myself, this tutorial will teach you step-by-step how to make your own custom dog leash for under $10! Inspired by the Etsy shop Downdog Duds.
Time: 1 hour (depending on how good at sewing you are, this could be accomplished quicker)
Cost: Under $10
TOOLS & SUPPLIES
6 1/2 ft of 3/4" flat nylon webbing of your color choice (makes a 6ft leash)
6 1/2 ft of 3/4" ribbon of your color/pattern choice
3/4" metal bolt snap
Sewing machine
Thread
STEPS
1. Make sure your nylon webbing is approximately 6 1/2" long, cut if needed. Cauterize the ends with a lighter to prevent fraying. The cheapest place I was able to find webbing was at StrapWorks.com. They sell webbing by the foot for about 0.30 a pop in every and any color you could ever possibly imagine. Super cheap shipping, too! I chose to order the 3/4" flat webbing, but 1" width would also work fine if you like a thicker leash. You can also purchase your metal bolt snaps here as well for a relatively low price and can be customized to any color you like.
2. Whip out the sewing machine and grab your ribbon. If you chose to order the 1" width nylon webbing, I would recommend also ordering 1" wide ribbon so it lays flush with the webbing. If your local craft store falls short of ribbon choices like mine, Fabrics.com offers a TON of super cheap discontinued ribbon. If you still aren't satisfied with your ribbon selection, feel free to order a few yards of your favorite fabric. Simply cut the fabric in 3/4" strips if you ordered the 3/4" nylon webbing or 1" strips for the 1" webbing. I chose to stick with ribbon because I find it difficult to cut a straight line and I wanted my leashes to be PERFECT.
3. Once you have sewn the ribbon (or fabric) to your webbing, fold one end of the leash inward to make a handle. Before you sew it, make sure you have enough room to comfortably fit your hand inside the loop. Sew about 1" of the handle to the leash in an "X" pattern. You want to make sure that it's sewn nice and strong, it would be awful if your handle came undone while you were walking and your dog got away! If you're confused on how to sew the handle, grab one of your existing leashes and note how the manufacturer has the handle sewn.
4. Slide your metal bolt snap to the other end and sew about 1" inward in the same "X" pattern as the handle. Once again, if you're confused on how to make the strongest sewing pattern, study an existing leash you may have laying around the house to note how the manufacturer has the bolt snap sewn on.
VOILA! Perfectly adorable custom dog leash :)
