How to Sew Pattern for Dog Belly Bands

Materials:

- Fabric: 1/4 yard quilting-weight cotton fabric (you can also use flannel, fleece, or other soft fabric)

- Thread

- Sewing machine

- Scissors

- Measuring tape

- Elastic

- Safety pin

- Iron

Instructions:

1. Measure your dog.

- The first step is to measure your dog's waist. To do this, wrap a measuring tape around your dog's waist and make a note of the measurement.

-Next, measure the distance from your dog's waist to the base of his tail. This measurement should be a few inches longer than the waist measurement, so that the belly band has room to overlap.

2. Cut out your fabric.

- Use your measurements to cut out two rectangles of fabric.

- The first rectangle should be the waist measurement plus 2 inches wide, and the length should be the distance from the waist to the base of the tail plus 2 inches.

- The second rectangle should be the same width as the first rectangle, but 2 inches shorter in length.

3. Sew the main band.

- With the right sides together, sew the two main band pieces together along the long edge, using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Turn the band right side out and press flat.

4. Sew the ends of the band together.

- Fold the band in half lengthwise, with the right sides together. Sew the ends together, using a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

5. Make a casing for the elastic.

- Turn the band wrong side out and press flat. Turn up a 1/2-inch hem along one short edge of the band. Press the hem in place.

6. Fold the band over.

- With the casing side up, fold the band in half lengthwise.

7. Insert the elastic.

- Cut a piece of elastic to fit around your dog's waist, plus 2 inches. Thread the elastic through the casing, using a safety pin to help you. Overlap the ends of the elastic by 2 inches and sew them together, using a zig-zag stitch.

8. Hem the edges of the band.

- Fold the remaining short edge of the band up 1/2 inch and press. Fold the edge up again 1/2 inch and press. Stitch the hem in place, using a zig-zag stitch.