"Hugs and Kisses" Rattail Satin Elasticated Cat / Kitten Collar

Cat collars need to be elasticated so that they can't get trapped by their collar. This is an easy to make collar from elastic and rattail satin with a hugs and kisses (XOXO) motif. Choose your own colours to go with your cat.

Small side release buckle

2 colours of 2mm rattail satin - lengths required depend on the size of your cats neck. Allow 1 foot (30cm) per inch (2.5cm) of the main colour (bronze), and half of that length for the secondary colour (green).

Scissors

Fid

2mm round elastic - length twice the circumference of your cats neck

Superglue

Optional bracelet jig, pet tag, small split ring

Using a piece of string (or the elastic you are going to use - measure round the cats neck. Don't make it tight - allow for getting two fingers underneath the collar.

Cut your elastic to the size your just measured and then glue the ends with a dab of superglue to make a circle.

Make a loop in the elastic , thread it through one of the buckle ends and flip the loop over the buckle end. Do the same for both ends making sure that the buckle fastens straight and you don't have any twists in your elastic.

Now fold your main colour of rattail satin in half. Take the loop and thread through one end of your buckle and flip the loop over the buckle to attach.

You can see in this picture that my elastic join is part way down the main length of elastic.

Adjust your jig to size and loop the buckles over the ends.

If you don't have a jig - use some nails hammered part way into a piece of wood set to the right length.

Using your main colour, using the right hand thread form a backwards "S" loop to the left hand side (see 1st photo) .

Now pass the left hand thread through the lower half of the "S" behind the elastic and up through the top half of the "S" (2nd photo)

This is a cobra knot.

Before you tighten your cobra knot. Fold your second colour in half and thread through your untightened knot and behind the elastic (see the photo)

Now you can tighten your knot.

Now form a cross with your second colour (green in my case). Take the green threads behind the bronze threads and position out of the way at the top of the jig.

Now tie a second cobra knot (on the opposite side). Use the left hand thread to make your forwards "S" this time.

Now pass the right hand thread through the lower half of the "S" behind the elastic and up through the top half of the "S".

Pull the knot tight.

Take your green threads and pull them straight down with the bronze threads out to the side (Photo 1)

Now take the green threads up and over the bronze threads and leave them at the top of the jig out of the way (Photo 2)

Now use the right hand thread to tie a cobra knot out to the left side. (Same as step 5)

Pull it tight.

And now we're back to forming the next cross (as in step 7).

Make sure you make your crosses all the same way.

Keep following the pattern, repeating steps 8, 9 ,10,11

Repeat the pattern until you run out of room. You may find the last few knots a bit tricky as there isn't a lot of room.

Now remove your collar from the jig.

To finish off we need to tuck the ends of the satin in.

I'm using a fid to thread each of the satin cords along the back of the collar.

Now cut the satin ends and seal using a lighter.

Now your cat collar is finished. See if your cat will allow you to put it on.

You can optionally attach a pet tag.