I am 13 years old. In my spare time I love to ride horses, and play with my dogs. I enjoy leather working and 550 cord projects, and really anything creative and useful. I made this dog collar, specifically to enter the Tandy Leather contest. I chose the basket weave because it is one of my specialties.

Step 1: Cut the Collar

Using a sturdy vegetable tan leather, cut a strip of leather 1 1/2
inches wide, using a Craftool Strip and Strap Tool. When measuring the length of the collar, add an extra 2" for buckle. With a razor blade, cut the end to a point.

Step 2: Edging the Collar.

Next, bevel the all the way around edges using the beveler tool, I think
I used size 3. Then, slick the edges in a back and forth motion along the edges using the wood slicker.

Step 3: Stamping.

You can stamp whatever you like, even personalize it with your dog's
name. I chose to do a basket weave design. I lightly marked one line through the center as a guide, using a compass or wing divider. I used only two stamps to get this design. I started with the center using a Tandy Leather basket weave (X500 6500). I used a shell tool (V707 6707) along the edge.

Step 4: Spray With Waterproofer (before the Hardware Is Installed).

Next, I spayed it with a silocone-water guard that you can pick up at
the hardware store. It is probably best to spray it on the front and back.

Step 5: Punch Holes and Add Hardware.

Punch holes. I adjustment punched 6 holes with my hole punch kit, about an inch apart.
For the hardware, I used the oblong punch to create the slot for the buckle. Insert the belt keeper (4600-04) and place a rivet on either side of the belt keeper going through both layers of leather. About 5"-6" behind the buckle, you will place the dee ring for attaching a leash. Cut a small strip of leather to back the 4 rivets which will hold the dee ring in place.