Dog Care 101 Tip #194: DIY Christmas Gifts

A handmade gift is from the heart. So, this Christmas make a personalized gift for a dog you love or a fellow dog-lover. It will leave an impression this season and for many more to come. BestBullySticks.com gives you three easy DIY Christmas Gifts for Dogs and Dog-Lovers.

Holly Ascot
“Deck the dogs with boughs of holly?” This adorable, seasonal dog accessory is sure to get your dog lots of doting looks.

You’ll Need
Tape measure
Felt
Fusible webbing
Iron
Disappearing-ink pen
Fabric glue (optional)
Decorative cord (optional)
Velcro dots
Needle and thread
Jingle bells
Felt Holly Ascot template

2. Print Felt Holly Ascot template. To get the right fit for your dog, divide measurement from step 1 in half, and add the resulting measurement to the length of template, extending the straight end accordingly.

3. Fold felt in half, and place template on top, with the straight end of template near the fold. Cut around template without cutting through fold, creating a long, thin rectangle that's roughly twice as long as template. Repeat, cutting another rectangle of felt, and then one from fusible webbing.

4. Lay a piece of felt over webbing, and iron to fuse them. Remove backing from webbing, and sandwich with a second piece of felt. Iron to fuse them.

5. Fold fused fabric in half, and place template so the straight end is on the fold. Trace template onto felt with a disappearing-ink pen, cut out the shape, and unfold.

6. Fold 1 holly leaf in half lengthwise, and press with steam to give leaf dimension. Repeat with remaining leaf.

7. If desired, use fabric glue to attach decorative cord from leaf tip to leaf tip, along center of collar.

8. Stitch on Velcro dots where the leaves will cross each other when collar is worn. Sew on 3 bells.

Fleece Dog Sweater
A comfy, warm sweater is a great treat for any dog during the winter months. You’ll be surprised how easily this gift will be welcome in any doggy home.

You’ll Need
Dog Coat Pattern
Polar fleece
Pins
Sewing machine
Coordinating thread
Scissors
Elastic
Cord stopper
Iron-on varsity letters (optional)

How-To
1. Download and print dog coat pattern, enlarging pattern according to size of dog.

2. Cut out front panel with pattern placed on folded edge of polar fleece. Repeat with back panel. Cut two sleeves from unfolded polar fleece. Place patterns aside to reference as you sew.

3. Pin front panel to sleeves, lining up single arrows indicated on pattern. Sew "raglan" seams as indicated on the pattern by dashed lines.

4. Pin back panel to sleeves, lining up double arrows. Sew as indicated by dashed lines.

5. Trim all seam allowances to 1/8 of an inch. Sew side seam (indicated on pattern).

6. Fold neck opening 2 inches into coat (this fold is marked on pattern with a dotted line). Machine-stitch around the neck opening, 1 1/2 inches from the fold.

7. To create a channel for neck elastic, stitch around the neck opening again, 1 inch from the fold. Make a small cut in the center back of the channel you have created, and draw elastic through channel.

8. Loop elastic through a cord stopper. Tie elastic into a square knot, trim ends, and bury knot inside channel.