I love my dog bandanas! My owner and I walk every day. People always make comments about my holiday and seasonal bandanas! Here is how to make a dog bandana for your furry friend.

All you need is a little bit of fabric and maybe 30 minutes to whip up a custom bandana for your dog.

What fabric is best to make a dog bandana?

The best fabric is a 100% cotton fabric. Quilting cottons are perfect. They come in a huge variety or prints and colors for every holiday, season, hobby, and football team! So many fabric choices! If you have a small dog, you probably have fabric scraps just the right size!

In colder months, make a super simple bandana with a single-layer triangle of acrylic fleece. Just cut a triangle from the fleece according to our directions below.

Have fun making your dog a collection of bandanas for everything! No pattern pieces are needed with our easy way to make a DIY pet bandana.

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Here is our sewing tutorial.

One (1) Dog Scarf

How to Make a Dog Bandana

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Difficulty: Beginner

Have fun making your dog festive bandanas for every occasion!

You can find all kinds of fabrics in a variety of prints, from supporting your favorite football team, to holidays or just sporting a fun print!

This easy sewing project makes is a reversible dog bandana. Learn how to make different sizes of bandanas with these basic directions.

Big dog, or smaller dogs, this step-by-step guide will show you how to make the right size dog bandana for your pup's neck.

Materials

1/2 yard or less of two pieces of fabric, or two fat quarters. NOTE: use two different fabrics to make it reversible. If you have a small dog, you might have scrap fabric just the right size.
Thread

Tools

Scissors
Sewing machine
Tape measure
Iron
Pressing surface or ironing board

Instructions

You don't need a dog bandana template or pattern. It's easy to make a custom-sized bandana perfect for your dog! Measure around your dog's neck with a tape measure.

Fold one side of your fabric up from the edge to form a triangle, until the angled triangle edge is now the length of your dog's neck PLUS about 8 inches. This will give you enough fabric to tie it around their neck.

Cut the diagonal edge.

Cut a second piece of fabric the same size. Here I fussy cut the fabric with the words so they would show well on the finished scarf.
Put the right sides of the bandana pieces together to sew with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. With the wrong sides of the fabric up, start in the middle of one of the straight edges and sew all around the edges, stopping with about 3" from where you started sewing. Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance.

Clip the fabric from the corners being careful not to cut your sewing thread.
Using the gap, turn the fabric pieces right side out. Gently push out the corners.
Press the bandana making sure to fold in the fabric in the area left for turning the bandana.
Top stitch all around the bandana.
Tie it on and enjoy your new finished bandana!

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What do I need to make a dog bandana?

Fabric, thread, sewing machine, iron and pressing station. That’s it! If you sew, you probably have everything you need at home.

How much fabric depends on the size of your pet. Measure your dog’s neck, add at least 8-inches and that is the diagonal width of the bandana. This gives you enough length to be able to tie it with some ease around your dog’s neck.

How can I make a no-sew bandana?

This is a super easy DIY dog bandana. Follow the directions above to cut out a triangle that is custom for your dog’s neck size, but only use one fabric. The raw edges of the fabric will show. TIP: use pinking shears to cut out the triangle so that the fabric doesn’t fray.

Tie the no-sew scarf on your dog with the right side of the fabric out. You might see the wrong side of the fabric, but your furry friend will still look adorable!