How to Make a Spiked Collar Necklace or Choker

Having spent an admirable amount of time prancing about in spiked collars, I can say they are most enjoyable to wear, but why should we stop at wearing them when we could make them ourselves?  

The benefits of making your own spiked collar necklace are fourfold: you can customize its size, fit, and style to your own needs and desires, you can forego the need to shop for your chocker at an overpriced shop, you can develop new crafting skills, and you can even use your materials, supplies, and know-how to create spike collar gifts for friends, family, and even pets!

I'll walk you through the how-to below.

• Studs (spikes or otherwise)
• Needle Nosed Pliers (if you are using two-pronged spikes or studs)
• Stud punch, leather punch, or other poking tool
• Leather bands (if you plan on making the leather chokers or collars from scratch, more supplies are needed- e.g. clasps, buckles, cutting materials, etc...)

Notes

Feel free to be creative with the spikes and studs you use.  There are a wide variety of coices out there, and you do not have to be limited to one style.

If you're only interested in using spikes for your collar, consider the type of spike you are purchasing and how you will have to chance your collar designs accordingly. If purchaisng large spikes, you will need fewer, however you will also need to have a more substantial leather collar that can support their heft.  If you choose to purchase the two-pronged spikes or studs that are more commonly used on jackets and the like, you may want to consider adding a lining to your collar, so as to prevent the bent studs from irritating your skin.

You are also not limited to only spikes when it comes to this sort of choker construction.  One can find interesting studs in all sorts of shapes and sizes- from stars to circles to squares and crosses... feel free to deviate from the spike norm and show your creative side with studs of a different style. 

You can build your own cuff, collar, choker, or necklace from scratch, purchasing the leather and affixing your own buckle, snaps, or clasp, however I recommend taking it easy to begin with and simply purchasing a cuff, collar, or necklace that is yet unadorned. This frees you up to think about more creative stud or spike placement instead of collar construction, which is its own separate endeavor.

Finally, the cuff or collar itself need not be leather.  Perhaps you've gone vegan and do not wish to hurt any poor animals in your fashionable crafting projects, or perhaps you simply want to work with some other materials.  If considering alternate materials, make sure you go with those that are more stiff and heavy; anything with studs or spikes affixed must be strong enough to hold them up.  A good rule of thumb is to get nothing that cannot stand on end when buckled up on its own.  If the material crumples in on itself even without grommets affixed, it's probably not going to do to well as a studded collar.  If you do insist on going with a lighter material, stick only with extra light, two-pronged studs, and give the collar two layers by lining it- both to give the thin material extra heft and to protect your neck from the studs. 

1. Assemble your materials in one place
2. Establish the pattern in which you will place studs on your collar, necklace, or choker band by marking them with something you can rub away or making a small indentation with whatever you're using to poke holes in the leather
3. Press the two mini spikes (or the single screw) from the bottom of the outward-facing half of one of your your studs into the leather (in one of the spots you have marked for a spike)
4. Remove it - you'll see two indentations (or one- depending on the type of stud/spike used) result in the leather
5. Use your poking tool to make a hole in each indentation
6. Press those mini prongs or screw of the spike through the two holes
7. Use your needle-nose pliers to fold the edges over if needed, or screw the other half of the spike into the collar

Notes

The spike application process will vary depending on what type of spike or stud you choose to use. Typically, non-pronged spikes come as screw on spikes or have a pretty self-evident application method.As I mentioned above, if you're using two-pronged studs (which have the benefit of being less expensive), you'll probably want to think of adding some sort of lining to your collar, choker, cuff, or other piece of jewelry to protect your skin.

Studs and spikes can be applied to a wide variety of things for a wide variety of purposes. Spiked dog collars make for lovely cat and dog accessories, and of course spiked cuffs, belts, and arm bands make a great gift for those who might not be entirely amenable to wearing spiked collars, which are, to be sure, the most statement-making spiked accessories.

Mix and match your spikes and studs, add extra things like rings- or even unexpected elements, like bows!  Heck, there are no rules here, so have fun with it.  

I hope you enjoy the process!