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Finishing Guidance · Pet Collars & Leashes
Two Ways To Measure a Collar
An accurate neck measurement is very important to ensure a custom fit. If your dog currently has a collar that fits, you can also measure the collar.
Neck Measurement Method
Be sure to measure your dog’s neck using a tailor's tape adjusted as snug or loose as you would like the collar to fit. DO NOT ADD ANYTHING TO THE NECK MEASUREMENT. This neck measurement will be placed at the center hole of the 5 adjustment holes on the collar, leaving you 2 holes on either side for adjusting larger or smaller. On very small collars (11” and under) there are only 3 adjustment holes, with the neck measurement placed at the center hole.
Collar Measurement Method:
Lay your dog’s collar out on a flat surface. Using a tailors tape or ruler, measure from the end of the buckle (including the buckle) to the hole in which the collar fits best. The amount of stitched canvas needed for us to make a dog collar will be 3” less than the neck measurement.
Two Collar Measurements Required
Our finishing form asks you for two measurements, which are stitched portion and finished size. Here's how we use these and why they're crucial to achieving your perfect finish:
Collar · Finished Size:
When having a stitched canvas made into a collar, the collar measurement, using one of two methods described above, is referred to as the “finished measurement.”
Collar · Stitched Portion:
The amount of stitched canvas needed for us to make a dog collar will be about 3” less than the neck measurement. If the total amount of stitching from end to end is too long, we will have to cut one or both ends of your canvas to make it the correct length for finishing. Look at each end of the stitched portion of your canvas. We will cover about 1.5" of each end of your stitching with leather.
Be aware that on each end of a dog collar canvas, about 1 ½” of the stitching will be covered by the leather.
A Note On Collar Width:
You may make your collar whatever width you prefer (we do not ask for this measurement); however, keep in mind the size of the dog. A narrower collar is usually better for a smaller dog as we use smaller, lighter hardware for a ½” or ¾” width collar than we do for a 1” or larger collar.
Two Leash Measurements Required
Our finishing form asks you for two measurements, which are stitched portion width and length of stitched canvas. Here's how we use these and why they're crucial to achieving your perfect finish:
Leash · stitched portion width:
We recommend that the finished width of your leash should be no more than 1” to be comfortable in your hand.
Your stitched design width should be no more than 1” plus two rows top and bottom for a fold finish. If you are using a binding stitch, the total width of your stitching should be no more than 1” including the binding stitch. You may certainly stitch less than 1” if you prefer a narrower leash.
leash · Stitched Length:
The leather handle and snap will add approximately 15” to the total length of the leash. The finished measurement of your leash will be the length of your stitched canvas plus 15”.
Maximum leash length is 53” including the handle and snap. Once you decide how long you want your leash to be, deduct 15” from the total length and that will be the length of stitched canvas to enter on our form.
Please keep in mind that approximately 2” on each end of your stitching will be covered where the leather is attached to the canvas.
Collars & Leashes: Binding stitch or 2 extra rows
Our finishing form will ask if your canvas has been given a binding stitch or if you've included extra rows. We can accommodate either choice.
Some needlepointers prefer to apply their own binding stitch to their piece before submitting for finishing.
If you have not applied a binding stitch on the top and bottom of your canvas, we apply a fold finish. Please be sure that there are 2 extra stitched rows on the top and the bottom, and that neither is the outside edge of the canvas. We will fold under these two rows so that your belt has a nice finished edge with no unstitched canvas showing.
Without these extra rows, we have to fold into the canvas design, hiding your hard work, so work the extra rows into your stitching before submitting for finishing.