How to Make Male Puppy Clothes

Clothing for dogs and puppies is a whole industry in itself these days. However, you have decided you want to make clothes for male puppies. Think of all the kinds of outfits that could be made for a male. Rain gear, hiker outfit, sports fan and hunter just to name a few. When designing and sewing an outfit for a puppy you need to allow for the fact that he will quickly grow, his hindquarters have to be free of encumbrances and he will chew anything he can sink his teeth into. He may also still be in the housebreaking training stage. A cute little outfit will be something that is lightweight, covers his back and secures at his chest and belly with stick and loop tape. You can use patterns for infant children's clothes or simple handmade patterns like the one that follows to sew your male puppy clothes.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Pattern
• Cloth, recycled cloth (T-shirt, jeans leg, child's outgrown shirt)
• Velvet or satin remnant
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread
• Embellishments, embroidery, grommets
• Markers or paints for fabrics
• Bonus boots
• Four infant socks
• Iron on denim or heavy cloth patch material

1. Use a measuring tape or piece of string to measure your puppy. Measure from the back of his head at the base of his neck to the end of his back near his tail. Write this measurement on a piece of paper and add 1 inch to the number. This is the length of the shirt body. Measure around the little belly at the widest point and up around the back. Add 1 inch to this number and write the measurement on the paper. This is the girth or width of the male puppy shirt. Measure around the back of the neck and around to the front around the dog collar add 1 inch. This is the shirt collar length.
2. Work on the pattern of the shirt body. Use a ruler to draw a rectangular shape to match the measurements on a piece of brown paper grocery bag or other thick recycled paper with a pencil. Remember length by girth/width. Draw a second smaller rectangle for the collar pattern which will be neck measurement length by 4 inches wide. Draw a third rectangle 8 inches long by 3 and 1/2 inches wide for 'waist' security band. Take a permanent or felt tip marker and outline the entire area. If you like your pattern you will be able to reuse it. Cut the pattern out. Label it with the puppy's name, date and measurements for future reference.
3. Lay the cloth out on your work surface wrong side up. Pin the pattern to the cloth. Cut the cloth. For precaution, drape the cloth as is over the puppy. When you are satisfied that the cloth is appropriate to his size turn all the edges up and pin one 1/4 to 1/2 inch all around. Sew around the entire piece. Cut the velvet collar out. Fold right sides together and sew down the length and one side. Insert a crochet hook to turn right side out. Sew end shut after turning in raw edges. Check to see if the length is enough to go around the back of the puppy's neck and down around the dog collar. If it is too long that is fine. Too short, you will need to redo the collar. Pin collar to top of shirt. There should be two ends of the velvet collar that hang down on either side of the shirt body. Sew or iron on 1/2 to 1 inch pieces of stick and loop tape to the ends of the velvet collar so that you can fasten the velvet around the neck of the puppy.
4. Cut out the length of cloth for the waist band of the shirt for male puppy dog clothes. Cut the piece exactly in two in the center. With wrong sides together sew three sides, turn right side out and pin to the main body piece. Repeat with second waist band piece. Sew in place. Iron on the stick and loop tape. Sew the ends to secure. Remember, this is an active male puppy. He will be happy to wriggle every which way to investigate this shirt. The stick and loop material must be secure.
5. Sew on or embroider any lightweight safe decorations that you desire. Embroidered symbols, names or animals will be a cute embellishment. Remember that this is a puppy that can move faster than lightning. He has very sharp teeth and a large dose of curiosity. He will try to chew anything he can get to. It's his nature. Keep that baby safe.
6. Do you want to add in little boots? Here's a quick and easy bonus. You will need four blue baby socks and a swatch of denim or denim patch. An iron on patch of denim will work the best. To get the size of your puppy's foot simply wet one foot and hold it to a piece of paper and press lightly. Trace quickly around the wet spot. Dry your puppy's foot. Using the wet foot guideline cut out four circles of the denim in a circle shape. Sew or iron on each circle to a sock. Now you have instant booties. You can roll or fold the sock top to adjust to puppy's leg size. The cuff or roll can be tacked in place with needle and thread.

Tips & Warnings

• Simple, lightweight, adjustable clothes are the safest things, for a growing, exploring, active puppy.
• Little teeth are sharp and aching to chew anything.
• Make sure there are no loose threads inside of sock/boots which could cut the puppy's foot.
• Cover a little shirt with a tiny puppy bandana
• Cloth with cats on it would make a conversation piece.
• Do not make any clothing that has embellishments that can potentially choke the puppy.
• Do not place any clothing on a male puppy's hindquarters that could keep him from being able to go to the bathroom.
• Do not use 'noisy' materials particularly around sensitive ears.
• Do not use anything on male puppy clothes that will be abrasive to the puppy's skin.