How to Knit a Sweater for a Dog

A dog sweater makes sense on cold fall days and in winter. Not walking your dog in the snow is not an option. Even dogs with heavier coats could use some help on the coldest winter days. It's not difficult to knit a dog sweater as long as you understand how to measure your dog and how much sewing you're willing to do.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Dog
• Pen
• Paper
• Measuring tape
• Yarn
• Knitting needles
• Yarn needle

1. Measure your dog from the base of his neck to where his hind legs begin. Write down this "back" measurement.
2. Check the circumference of your dog's body just behind his front legs. Then measure the circumference just in front of his hind legs. Note these as "front" and "hind" measurements.
3. Find out the circumference of your dog's neck and both front legs. This is for shaping the sweater's collar and leg holes. Measure the length from where you want the collar to begin to his leg holes so you know when to begin the shaping.
4. Choose a bulky yarn as this sweater must keep your dog warm on the coldest winter days. Knit a swatch and wash it per the yarn band's instructions to check your gauge. Figure up your stitches according to the stitches-to-inch gauge you got on your swatch.
5. Knit four rows of knit 2/purl 2 ribbing so the collar doesn't curl. Work stockinette stitch with gradual increases for the length of the throat until you get to the leg holes.
6. Shape the leg holes per your measurements, and make sure you maintain evenness on both sides. Complete the leg holes so the circumference matches the measurements from your dog's front legs. Make sure you have the number of stitches necessary to cover the "front" measurement from Step Two.
7. Keep knitting stockinette stitch for the length of the "back" measurement, taking care to decrease or increase as appropriate until you reach the "hind" measurement from Step Two.
8. Bind your sweater off. It should look like a rectangular piece with the leg hole shaping sticking out on both sides of the top. Use the yarn needle to seam the piece into a tube. Close the leg holes and collar loosely so your dog doesn't feel a pinch.