Finding DIY upcycled materials for to make dog stuff is easy - all you have to do is look around for items no longer being used! An example is the damaged, studded fake leather belt at right. This could quite easily be turned into a usable dog collar by shortening it to fit a dog's neck, and gluing the back onto woven fabric. The metal buckle is good as is. |
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A multitude of fabric items are discarded every day that could be upcycled into dog stuff:
Thrift stores are again my favorite source for finding DIY upcycled materials made of leather or bling, many of which can be repurposed into something useful for a dog.
Some examples of leather options are:
Bling may include, but is not limited to:
What Can You Upcycle?
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What Are Yarns Made Out Of?
According to Wikipedia, yarns can be made from the fibers of natural substances such as plants (bamboo, cotton, linen, soy, hemp) and animals (fur, wool) and insects (silk). They're also made from synthetic materials such as acrylic, nylon and polyester.
Modern skeins often consist of a blend of natural and synthetic fibers in different proportions to take advantage of the most desirable attributes of each.
What if the Yarn Doesn't Have a Label?
Nylon webbing is very strong and wears well so is used for dog equipment such as leashes and harnesses as well as seat belts.
Polypropylene
looks very similar but is lighter in weight, cheaper, not as strong,
and easier to sew. This is the kind we use most, unless we can obtain
nylon straps for free.
If you prefer non-synthetic materials, cotton is also available. However, it's much weaker than either of the above.
Will the Webbing Be Strong Enough?
Here's a comparison of the tensile strengths (if your dog should suddenly lunge) of 1" wide webbing from one company, Jontay Distributing:
Here's how to figure out the approximate lunging force for your dog: Simply take your dog's weight and multiply by 5. Therefore:
Where Can I Find Webbing?
Old backpacks or straps for luggage are possible sources.
You can also buy webbing by the foot at hardware and sometimes variety stores such as Walmart. These woven materials come in a range of widths, commonly from around 3/4" to 2". If you're looking for more colorful webbing, you can order it pretty inexpensively online from Strapworks.
How About Hardware for Webbing?
Check items you are dismantling for the parts you need and save them in a box till they come in handy. These include D-rings, snaps, sliders, buckles, and circular rings.
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