| If you are drowning in plastic bags, why not turn | | | | of the snap. C and D are the second strip, on the |
| them into a dog leash? It's an eco-friendly way to | | | | right hand side of the snap. Now take A and |
| make a useful product! The leash featured in this | | | | cross over B. D lies to the left of B while C lies to |
| tutorial is suitable for a SMALL to MEDIUM sized | | | | the right of C. Keep a constant, light tension on |
| dog only! | | | | the strands. |
| Tools & Supplies That You Will Need | | | | STEP 6 - Braiding Move Two |
| To successfully make this leash you will need tin | | | | Now cross D behind B and cross over A. |
| foil, an iron, a C-clamp, scissors, a flexible | | | | STEP 7 - Braiding Move Three |
| measuring tape, a lighter, some small rubber | | | | Now take C and cross behind B and over D. To |
| bands, two hemostat clamps a leash snap and | | | | continue making your leash, cross B behind D and |
| plastic bags, of course. The ironing board is | | | | over C. Remember that the new strand that you |
| optional, but you will need a flat, heat resistant | | | | will use to keep making the braid will always be |
| surface to fuse the plastic bags on. The hemostat | | | | the topmost strand. |
| clamps are optional, as well. A basic screwdriver | | | | Continue braiding until the length of the braid |
| will suffice to push the plastic strips through the | | | | reaches 53 inches. You can measure it with the |
| braid. | | | | flexible measuring tape. When you have reached |
| STEP 1 - Cutting The Plastic Bags | | | | the required length, use one of the hemostat |
| To make the cords to braid the leash, you will | | | | clamps to clamp off the braid. I have intentionally |
| need to cut the plastic bags into strips. Cut the | | | | not clamped of the top most strand, or the |
| bags into approximately three inch wide, length | | | | strand that you would have used to continue |
| wise strips | | | | braiding. Using scissors, trim the strands to a |
| STEP 2 - Fusing The Plastic Bags | | | | length of approximately five inches. |
| Make a tin foil sleeve, resembling a file folder. | | | | STEP 8 - Making The Handle Loop |
| Take two strips of plastic, open the tin foil sleeve | | | | From the END of the braid, measure five inches |
| and put in the strips, overlapping them by about | | | | and fold the cord over. Take a hemostat clamp |
| an inch. Close the tin foil sleeve and quickly swipe | | | | and insert it under and through one of the strands |
| the hot iron over the tin foil. Now gently peel back | | | | of the finished braid. Open the clamp, grip the |
| the tin foil, so you don't rip the fused plastic strips. | | | | strand that is not clamped and pull it through until |
| Repeat this proceedure until all the strips have | | | | the end of the cord touches the other cord, |
| been fused into one big strip. | | | | making the handle loop. |
| TIP- open the window and work with a fan when | | | | STEP 9 - Brack Braid Move Two |
| fusing the strips because the plastic can generate | | | | Unclamp the hemostat the is securing the end of |
| vapors that are unhealthy to breathe. | | | | the braid. Go the the next free strand that is |
| STEP 3 - Cutting The Big Strip Into Smaller | | | | close to the strand that you just pulled the last |
| Braiding Strips | | | | cord under. Insert the hemostat under this strand, |
| To determine how long your braiding strips need | | | | open the hemostat, clamp the next free strand |
| to be, break your project into inches and multiply | | | | and pull it through. Repeat this procedure with the |
| by four. We are making a four foot leash with an | | | | remaining free strands until all the strands have |
| extra allowance of five inches for the handle loop, | | | | been secured to the cord. Continue back braiding |
| so the total inches of the project is 53 X 4 = 212. | | | | for another two to three inches. |
| Therefore you will need two strands of plastic | | | | STEP 10 - Finishing The Back Braid |
| bag strips that are EACH 212 inches long. | | | | Now that you have finished your back braiding, |
| STEP 4 - Arranging The Strips On The Snap | | | | trim the ends of the strands very close the the |
| Thread the strips through the loop of the snap | | | | cord. Insert the back braided piece of cord into |
| into two even lengths. Use the C-clamp to secure | | | | the tin foil sleeve & run the iron over it a |
| the snap to a table. Doing this makes the work | | | | few times on each side. Take the leash out of |
| stable and prevents the snap from twisting while | | | | the tin foil sleeve and gently roll the melted ends |
| you are braiding. | | | | over the tin foil until the have cooled. |
| STEP 5 - Braiding Move One | | | | Now admire your super cool, eco-friendly dog |
| A and B are the first strip, on the left hand side | | | | leash, it's walkie time!! |