How I Sewed the Ultimate Dog Walking Accessory

I adopted my dog Lucy this summer, and we go on walks every day. I wanted a cute, hands free bag for our walks, so I sewed up the Rey belt bag pattern and hacked it for doggie walking purposes.

In other words, I added an eyelet to create a dog poop bag dispenser!

Watch the video or keep reading to take a tour of my bag.

To make this, you only need 1/2 yard of outer fabric and lining fabric. I used leftover quilting cotton from my reversible tote bag tutorial that you can watch here. Then you could make a matching tote too!

This project also calls for webbing, an adjustable slide release buckle or parachute clip, a slider, and 14 inch zipper. I got all these colorful notions on Etsy. Search there and you'll find tons of options in fun colors.

To make this into a dog walking bag, I added a pocket to the inside. I cut a piece of contrasting scrap that was 4" x 6" to create the pocket, and turned the edges under 1/4”.

At the very end, when the bag was completely finished, I added this 7/16" eyelet. Eyelet kits come with the tools you need to set them and the only other thing you need is a hammer or mallet and an awl.

Now, I didn't have an awl at home, so I used a large nail to poke a hole for the eyelet. This is the kind of situation when I am so grateful to be creative!

After I finished this project, I had a bunch of ideas for customizing another belt bag. Here are some of them.

• Add even more pockets to the inside


• Add velcro to your pockets for more security


• Use reflective zipper tape for nighttime visibility


• Use colorful topstitching


• Quilt your fabric to make an extra comfortable bag to wear


• Make a matching zipper pull or tassel from leftover scraps


• Sew a key ring with a clip inside your lining


• Use your smallest scraps to make each piece in a different color

Have you ever sewn an accessory for your dog? Comment and share your ideas!

Sarai Mitnick

Founder

Sarai is the founder of Seamwork. She's been sewing for over 20 years and publishing patterns and writing for over a decade. Sarai believes that sewing is a powerful way to bring creativity into everyday life.