Dogs are wonderful pets that can be a best pal for life. But sometimes our little buddies can get a little stinky. Here's an easy-to-do DIY (do-it-yourself) doggy freshener that you can whip up ahead of time and store for those unpleasant smelly moments.
What you need:
Baking Soda - 1/2 cup
Water - 2 cups
Bandana - Choose a size that will tie around your dog's neck comfortably
Directions:
Take a large bowl, fill with water and then whisk in the baking soda until it's dissolved. You want to make sure there are no lumps of baking soda left since these will dry in clumps right onto the bandana.
Next place the bandana in the water and let it soak for a few minutes. You want to make sure that the bandana is thoroughly saturated and soaking wet.
Now that the bandana is well soaked, wring out most of the water and stretch out the fabric to bring it to its full shape.
Take the bandana and lay it out in the hot sun to dry. You can prepare a few of these at a time so that you'll always have a fresh bandana to use.
When the bandana is nice and dry, tie it around your dog's neck. The baking soda will help absorb the unpleasant doggy odors.
Dogs can't help the way they smell. Sometimes it's simply getting caught in the rain that brings out the full aroma. If your dog was rolling around in something nasty however--you'll be better off taking him directly to the tub, draw up the suds and wash it off. Although a doggy bandana freshener can help kill foul smells, you don't want whatever they rolled in rubbing off on your carpets and furniture.
Bandana fresheners can also help dogs adjust to wearing a collar if they're not used to having one on. Tie it tight enough so it won't slip off easily, but not too tight to choke your pup. Soon they'll forget all about wearing it.
If you wish to give your dog a bit of personality and buy some funky bandana designs, make sure to check out flea markets and vintage shops. You can pick up bandana's quite cheaply in those places and the fabric designs aren't at all what you see in the stores today.
Give the DIY Doggy Bandana Freshener a try, you'll be glad to have one on hand when your dog suddenly becomes quite smelly ;).
This takes one to two hours and is sturdier than a single-layered dog bandana.
- Choose a cotton or similar fabric that looks good with your dog's coloring
- Use matching thread on your sewing machine or for sewing by hand
- Straight pins, a marking pen and scissors will be needed
MEASURING:
Length of dog bandana:
- Smaller dog - circumference of dog's neck + 14 inches (355mm)
- Larger dog - circumference of dog's neck + 18 inches (460mm)
Height of dog bandana:
- Smaller dog - 4 to 6 inches (100 to 155mm)
- Larger dog - 7 to 9 inches (180 to 230mm)
MARKING AND CUTTING THE DOG BANDANA
- Double your fabric, wrong sides out, folding along the length (horizontal axis)
- Mark the corners along the folded edge points E and D
- Fold in half again, this time along the height (vertical axis), so that corner D lies on top of corner E
- Pin the layers together
- Mark the corner where all the folds meet, point A
- Mark the corner formed when you folded D onto E, point C
- Point B is marked as follows:
For a larger dog, go up 7 to 9 inches (180 to 230mm) from A along the folded edges
For a smaller dog, go up 4 to 6 inches (100 to 155mm) from A along the folded edges - Point B should be the peak of your triangle
- With a straight edge, draw a dotted line from point B to point C
- The area above the dotted line (with the edges that aren't folded) is to be cut away
- You should have a right-angled (90 degree) triangle left with points A, B and C marked on it
PINNING AND SEWING THE DOG BANDANA
- Unfold the above triangle so that points C and D are visible and you have a wide, shallow triangle
- Turn the bandana inside out so the wrong sides are on the inside and one right side is on top facing you
- Starting at the top center point, and working either right or left, fold the edge over about 1 /4 to 1/2 inch to the inside and pin
- Fold the bottom edge over to the inside to match the top
- (As you go, you can remove the pins from the top edge and pin both edges together)
- Keep the top point of the triangle in the middle of your bandana
- Make points out of the bottom two corners as best as you can - you may have to cut off excess material before folding and sewing
- Sew together by hand or machine about 1/8 inch (2 to 3mm) from the edges. Trim loose threads.
A bandana is a square or triangle pieces of cloth that are folded and worn on the body. These can come in different colors, such as green, blue, red, yellow, and black with white designs. These are often seen tied on the head or around the neck. Today, it is mostly worn as a fashion statement, but bandanas of yore had protective purposes rather than decorative ones.
Old Western movies popularized bandanas by featuring cowboys with these pieces of cloth tied around their necks. These were also used by farmers, railroad engineers, and pirates to wipe the sweat from their faces as they work. They are also used to protect the collar and the neck from gathering dust.
Bandanas nowadays are also used as symbols of identity, particularly in Italy. For instance, the colors can determine gang affiliations; Bloods have red ones, the Crips have blue bandanas.
However, wearing a bandana does not automatically translate to gang membership. Many people wear bandanas just because they are useful and fun.
People who frequently wear helmets also benefit from bandanas through its protection of the skin and hair against the friction that can be caused by the helmet. Dog owners can also tie bandanas around their dogs' bodies to identify them if ever they are lost in a group of dogs.
There are also some bandanas that have built-in water bladders. When cooled, these can provide heat relief on hot summer days.
For an unassuming piece of cloth, it is hard to believe that there are so many uses for bandanas; from costumes to accessories of various generations.
Bandanas are piece of cloth that are either cut to be a square or a triangle, then folded to wear on the body. They come in many colors, mainly one bright color like red, blue, green, yellow, black combined with white. The cloth is tied around the neck or head. Modern uses include more decorative purposes, while historical uses were actually more for protection than fashion. The word Bandana comes from a Hindi term, meaning to tie.
Bandanas were made the most famous by cowboys wearing them in old Western movies. However, they are commonly seen as being used by pirates, farmers, and railroad engineers as well. The main purpose was to use them to wipe sweat from the face area and keep dust out of the collars.
In modern times, bandanas are symbols of identity. One well known example is the bandanas used by gangs. The Bloods wear red, while the Crips wear blue bandanas. The colors represent affiliation without requiring any personal interaction with members of either gang. However, just because someone might wear a bandana doesn’t mean that they are hoodlums or gang members. In fact, many people wear them, just because they are fun, and useful.
Individuals who wear lots of helmets find them as useful as well as the bandana acts as a barrier to protect the skin and hair. Bandanas come in all sorts of styles and colors. There are some that have built in water bladders that can be pre-cooled in the refrigerator in order to ensure the wearer is kept cool on hot summer days. Pets, most often dogs, are frequently dressed in bandanas that match those worn by their owner, making it easy to tell which dog belongs to which owner at the dog park.
When it comes to costumes and uniforms, bandanas are one of the of the most common accessories. From western cowboys to hip hop stars, bandana use crosses not only generations of time, but generations of people.
Once found only in the pockets of farmers and workers, in classic red or blue bandana print, bandanas are now available in a wide variety of colors, fabrics, and patterns, and they are no longer only found in pockets! From cute outfits for little girls, to home decor, these simple squares are only limited by the imagination.
To make a cute outfit for girls, you will need the following:
• 4 bandanas (normally matching, but different colors of coordinating prints can be cute too)
• Matching thread
• ½ inch elastic for the waist
Simply put the bandanas together, wrong sides out. The first, you will measure an appropriately large opening for the neck and arms of the garment, and pin accordingly. Since the edges are finished already, simply sew the shoulders and sides, and you have a bandana shirt. Put two more bandanas together, wrong sides out, turn down 3/4 inch all around the top, stitch together, leaving the last inch open. Measure elastic to fit your child’s waist, being sure to make it fit snugly, but not too tight, cut ½ inch longer than your measurement, fasten a large safety pin to one end of the elastic, thread it through the opening, sew the ends of the elastic together, and finish closing the opening you left to thread the elastic through, and you have a cute bandana skirt to go with your bandana top!
For a great accessory to the bandana outfit, you will need:
• Fabric tennis shoes (usually white, but whatever color goes with your outfit will be fine.)
• Ok to wash it glue
• Fabric paint pens
• Bandana
From the bandana cut hearts, triangles, squares, or cut pieces to fit certain areas of the shoes. Thinly cover the back of the bandana with fabric glue, apply to whatever space looks good to you (you can even overlap them) and allow the glue to dry. Once the glue has dried, traces any raw, unfinished edges with the fabric paint. These will hold up for a long time, as long as you don’t dry them in your dryer.
Bandana Folding: Look Cool, Feel Cool, and Be CoolThere are several methods of bandana folding and many different uses for them. In the past, these handy handkerchiefs were folded into common workers’ squares, and tucked into pockets for the more traditional uses, but they have also been used as bandages, compresses to stop bleeding, and folded into triangles, to be worn around the neck as slings.
Now, bandanas have many new uses, and are in style as head coverings, folded and worn in different ways. Whether for functionality or adornment, bandana folding can help you look cool, feel cool, and be cool!
1. Bandana Folding to look cool: Bandanas now come in billed versions, larger than average sizes, and in all colors, patterns, and materials. Three point bandanas, rarely seen in your regulation red or blue bandana print, are made of various fabrics such as nylon, mesh, or cotton, and are placed on the forehead, just above the eyebrows, wrapped around the head, and tied at the back of the head, over the dangling triangle point in the back.
2. Bandana folding to feel cool: These bandanas are often your regular, cotton bandanas in regulation sizes, but are available in a multitude of patterns and colors. These bandanas, being square, are folded into a triangle, placed low on the forehead, just above the eyebrows, and tied in a manner to secure the back triangle to the head. These are often worn by motorcycle enthusiasts underneath their helmets. Bandana folding can also make bandanas into a type of head scarf, where they are folded into a triangle, placed on the top of the head, brought behind the ears, and tied to leave the back triangle point free.
3. Bandana folding to be cool: These bandanas are very functional, and are often wet before being folded into a long band, which is worn tied around the forehead. This type of bandana folding serves two purposes. It keeps the head a bit cooler, and keeps sweat out of your eyes when playing or working in the heat.
The use of these colorful squares is on the rise! However you choose to use them, bandana folding is the key to their functionality.
Bandanas are very popular these days and you probably have two or three yourself but you may be having a hard time figuring out how to tie it. Well here are some easy ways to tie your bandana for a fashionable look.
Fold your bandana once into a triangle. Place the triangle on your head so that the top of the triangle (widest angle) is resting on the back of your head and the base is wrapped around your forehead. The two side points of the triangle should hang over each ear. Take one of the side points in each hand, and pull them to the back of your head. Tie them in a knot that rests on the top part of the triangle.
Again fold your bandana into a triangle once. This style is for those with short hair or hair that is wound tightly in a bun. Place the wide section of the triangle against the back of your head so that the widest angle is pointing towards the ground. Pull the opposing side points to your forehead and tie in a simple knot at the base of your hairline.
Leave your bandana in a square and fold down one of the corners about a hand's length down the fabric. Now you should have a bandanna that looks diamond shaped. (Not like a baseball diamond, but a real diamond in a side view.) Place the folded edge of the bandana against your forehead, with the folded down corner so you can't see it underneath. Let the rest of the bandana drape over your head. Take the two corners hanging over your ears are and tie together so they are on top of the corner hanging over your neck. This is similar to the first way of folding a bandana but it leaves more fabric hanging down to protect your neck from the sun or give you a bohemian look.
Did you know that the Red Bandana is the most popular color? Pass this info on at a Western Theme party!
