Sew a DIY Dog Leash

Learn how to sew a DIY dog leash with a fat quarter. This beginner sewing project is a fun way to show off fun fabric for any dog lover.

When my dog was a puppy, he chewed through multiple leashes. Now that he’s an adult, he doesn’t chew through leashes. He does get walked everyday and his leashes get dirty over time since we still go out in the rain, wind, and snow.

Making a leash is such a quick and easy sewing project! It’s so satisfying, and it’s so fun to pick out a fun color. I ended up picking fabric that would hide dirt longer, but this project is so easy I could make him one every couple of months!

What fabric should I use for a DIY leash?

I thought about this a lot before I made the first one. The best fabric to make a DIY leash is quilting cotton. Quilting cotton is strong and durable, it comes in lots of colors and prints, it’s washable, and it’s easy to sew.

I even made two different leashes from one fat quarter each!

You could try to use canvas for a DIY leash, but I’m worried it would be so thick on some of the stitches that you wouldn’t even be able to sew it.

Should I interface the fabric?

Yes! I made a leash with quilting cotton and the bias binding method, so there were four layers of fabric in the leash, and it wrinkled a lot. It was strong enough to walk a dog safely, but it looked wrinkled and squished.

I made this one with interfacing and it looks so much better. It’s durable, and it holds it’s shape really well.

How long is the leash?

Depending on the size of your lobster claw clip, this DIY dog leash tutorial will make a dog leash that is 5.5 feet long.

Love to sew? Try one of these fun sewing projects:

• Beginner sewing projects
• Dog sewing projects
• Fat quarter sewing projects

Sew a DIY Dog Leash

Supplies

• 1 fat quarter of quilting cotton
• 1/8 lightweight fusible interfacing
• 1 leash clip or heavy duty lobster claw*
• Sewing tools
• Sewing machine

Do you just want the pattern and tutorial as a PDF? Get the pattern and tutorial for just $5. You won’t need to access the internet every time you want to make it. Or get the Pattern Bundle with ALL the PDF tutorials!

Cut 3 strips of fabric from the longest side of the fat quarter that are 4 inches wide. You are cutting three strips of fabric that are 22 inches long and 4 inches wide.

Cut three pieces of interfacing that are 4 inches wide and 22 inches long.

Fuse the interfacing to the back of the strips of fabric with an iron.

Sew the three strips into one long strip by sewing two short ends right sides together with a 1/4 inch seam allowance Then do it again so that all three are sewn together.

I purposely cut my interfacing so that it would go to the end of the strip of fabric and be sewn into the seam. I wanted all the extra strength added.

Press the seams open and flat.

Fold the strip in half with wrong sides together matching the long edges. Press in place. Open it back up.

Fold the long edges in to meet at the center fold. Press both folds in place. Open it back up.

You now have three folds pressed into the strip of fabric. Fold the long ends into the middle then fold the middle fold so that the raw edges are enclosed inside.

With all folds folded, sew along each long side 1/8 inch from the edge.

Slide the leash clip onto one end of the fabric.

Fold the short end under 3/8 inch.

Fold it again 1 inch so that the raw edge is sandwiched between the layers.

Sew a rectangle around the folded short end to secure it in place, enclose the raw edges, and attach the leash clip.

Fold the short end under 3/8 inch.

Fold it again but 6 inches so that the raw edge is sandwiched between the layers and you have created a hand loop.

Sew a rectangle and “X” around the folded short end to secure it in place, enclose the raw edges, and secure the hand loop.

You finished!

If you make something using this sewing project, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!