| Of the last 7 years of my life, 6 were spent living, | | | | - Scissors |
| breathing, and being everything that is James Madison | | | | - Lighter |
| University. Now I know what you're thinking, "SIX | | | | - Sewing Machine |
| YEARS!?" But don't worry, I wasn't one of those | | | | The Dog Collar Blueprint: |
| 'super seniors,' I used those years in a productive | | | | First, use the measuring tape to measure the length |
| matter, receiving both my undergraduate and graduate | | | | around your dog's neck (you can also take an existing |
| degrees, but that's besides the point. | | | | collar and measure the length of the fabric from point |
| On October 17th, JMU will host their annual | | | | A to B as seen in the picture below). Then add about |
| Homecoming game - and this year, I WILL BE | | | | 5 inches of length to that. For Bruce, this ended up |
| ATTENDING! So I decided to sit down the other day | | | | being 11 inches. |
| and make a short list of the absolute necessities that I | | | | Next, cut the lanyard apart, measure 11 inches of the |
| will need : | | | | cord, and cut. (Note: if there is a pattern to the cord, be |
| - Hotel Room Reservation for myself and fellow | | | | mindful of where you cut.) |
| Dukes - check | | | | After cutting, take your lighter and slightly burn the |
| - JMU Football T-shirts - check | | | | edges of the cord. This will make it easier to feed the |
| - Homecoming Tickets - check Then I decided to | | | | cord through the buckle, and will prevent the edges |
| create a 'miscellaneous items I might need to pack ... | | | | from fraying. |
| just in case' list. (Over-packers always do this) : | | | | Then, slide the key ring and both ends of the plastic |
| - Beanie hat | | | | buckle onto the cord. Adjust the buckles so that there |
| - Scarf | | | | is 3 inches allowance on the end where the key ring |
| - Beer Koozie Of course, I don't own any of these | | | | will be, and two inches of allowance on the other. |
| items in the standard Purple and Yellow colors. I look at | | | | Pin down the loose edge one the side without the key |
| Bruce (my faithful Chihuahua Terrier) and ask him, | | | | and sew. I went back and forth a few times with the |
| "You think we should craft these things this | | | | needle to ensure the strength of the seam. |
| weekend?" To which I get a look that seems to say, | | | | Pin down the second edge, and sew a seam first |
| "None of this has anything to do with me, why should I | | | | directly next to the buckle. Then pull the key ring as |
| care? Oh, and rub my tummy while you're at it." | | | | close as you can to the new seam, pin down the |
| Well obviously Bruce wouldn't care, none of these | | | | remaining allowance, and sew your final seam. |
| things are for him - and then it hits me! Bruce owns a | | | | Clip all loose threads, and VOILA! A new collar for |
| bazillion collars for evry holiday/event/season of the | | | | gameday! GO DUKES! |
| year, but he does not have a JMU collar to wear on | | | | One final note - if you don't have a lanyard lying |
| game days! Obviously, we need to fix this situation. So | | | | around, most fabric stores sell similar cording in the |
| today folks, I will be showing you how to craft a dog | | | | Trim aisle. My parents dogs, Karson and Kalvin, were |
| collar out of an old lanyard. | | | | quite jealous of Bruce's new collar, so I went out to |
| To start, you need the following items: | | | | Joann Fabrics and found cord in their favorite colors. |
| - One lanyard (must have a plastic buckle) | | | | Using the buckles and key rings from their old collars |
| - One key ring (my lanyard also came with this) | | | | and 25 inches of cording for each, I was able to |
| - Matching thread | | | | fashion two similar collars for them as well! |
| - Measuring Tape | | | | |