1/2 hour collar creation

Upon knocking off work this evening I faced a dilemma - do some much needed housework or settle down with my sewing machine and waste some time. Guess which I chose?

I've jumped on the bandwagon of collar-loving recently and I'm not ashamed to say it. A wee collar on top of a plain t-shirt or dress can really make it pop. So I strolled to my fabric collection and hauled out a much love piece which I am slowly snipping bits off here and there to make all sorts of things.

This peter pan collar took less than half an hour to make. In fact the fiddliest part was hand stitching on possibly the world's smallest popper for the fastening at the front. What do you think?

Maybe you can have a crack at one yourself. All you need is:

• A strip of fabric you can fold in half that is the right length to sit comfortably around your neck (or two strips if you want your inside and outside pieces to contrast) 
• A popper/snap fastener
• A sweet button to decorate the top if you roll that way
• An iron is ESSENTIAL for this otherwise you're headed for lumpy unevenness (and maybe even tears)

1. Fold your strip in half length ways with right sides together. Iron flat.
2. Use a tea cup or other rounded edge to trace a line at either end to make your curved edge. Trim fabric to  match curved line.
3. Sew a seam close to the edge, starting at one curved end, running along the bottom edge and leave a wide enough opening at the other end to turn inside out.
4. Turn tube inside out so right sides are showing. Iron flat.
5. Turn under a seam on the end you left open and iron down.
6. Top stitch around all edges as close to the edge as you can.
7. Sew your popper and decorative button on.
8. Hit the town in your new creation and smile sweetly and get ready to say 'I made it myself' a lot!

P.S - making the dog wear it is also an option you could consider. Don't be fooled by the fear in Cleo's eye - she's loving it, honestly.