How to Make a Dog Jacket

All dog fur is not created equal. Some dogs, like collies and German shepherds have wonderfully thick double coats that easily repel wind, rain, snow and cold, while other breeds, like beagles, whippets and many toy dogs have thin fur that cannot possibly keep them warm on walks or other "business" outings in bad weather.
Unfortunately, most of the dog jackets and sweaters available at the local pet supply store are more of a fashion statement than real protection against the elements, and they cost a fortune. With a little work and a patient pooch, your dog can look good and feel good in a brand new coat.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Coat fabric, such as wool, fleece or sailcloth Cheap fabric for pattern, such as muslin Sewing machine Thread Tape measure Scissors Pins Velcro strips Trim (optional)

1. Choose your fabric wisely. Ask yourself a few questions about what kind of inclement weather your dog is most likely to face. Rain? Snow? Dry cold? You want to choose an outer fabric and any possible lining with that in mind. Take a good look at your own favorite coat or coats for inspiration. For rain, a good sailcloth with a thin fleece lining will do. For snowy or dry cold conditions, try sailcloth lined with wool or wool lined with fleece. Perhaps one coat for each kind of weather will serve you and your dog the best.
   Consider how much fabric you need. Enough outer fabric and liner to cover your dog from his neck to the base of his tail and from the floor to over his back to the floor on the other side. Have some fun choosing your fabric, and pick something that your pet will look stunning in. A black dog looks great in red or red plaid. And a small white dog easily sports a royal blue fleece. Check the remnant bin at your fabric store. Depending on the size of your dog, it may have exactly what you want at a deeply discounted price.

2. Measure your dog carefully. If your dog is overly excited or afraid of the measuring tape, get a friend or family member to help hold her still. It's important you get an accurate number. You will need to know the following measurements: base of the neck along the back to the base of the tail, center of the chest to the end of the rib cage, around the widest part of the rib cage, and around the neck, with an inch or so to spare (depending on the size of your dog).

3. Make a pattern. It's a good idea to make a muslin pattern or mock-up before you cut into the nice wool or fleece you picked out. The ultimate shape of the coat will depend a great deal on the shape of your dog, but in general, think of a baby bib with extra "flaps" on the sides. Horse lovers can visualize a horse blanket (only much smaller) or an English saddle with a collar. Always add 1/2 to 1 inch for seam allowance to your dog's measurements---whatever you are most comfortable with. Keep the amount you designate for seam allowance consistent.
   While the part of the coat that covers your dog's back should go from his neck to the base of his tail, obviously the part that goes about his ribs and covers his stomach should not be as long, unless you really like the idea of washing the coat after every pee. You can make the stomach covering, or "front" a little longer for female dogs. But if your female is dominant enough to "mark," you may want to keep it short.
   With your dog's measurements in mind, you want a long back (you might want to round the end, for aesthetic reasons), shorter sides that overlap slightly over his belly when sewn, and a curved baby-bib-like "collar" that covers his chest and also overlaps slightly when sewn. Measure and cut the muslin, see if it fits your dog, then tweak as needed.
   Avoid making any sort of "sleeves" or "sleeve holes" that your dog might need to step into. If he doesn't want to, getting him ready for a walk in the snow will turn into a royal battle. It's so much easier to just lay something across his back, velcro it into place, and go.

4. Sew the real thing. Once you have a pattern that you know will fit your dog, and you've added seam allowances to your pattern, lay it out on your good fabric, and cut out your dog's coat. If you're lining the coat, don't forget to cut that out, too. Put the right sides of your coat fabric and your lining fabric together, stitch all the way around until you've got about 3 inches to go, turn the whole thing right side out, and stitch up the turn hole.
   Add sturdy velcro strips to where the chest covering overlaps and where the belly covering overlaps. If you think your dog might try to wiggle out of her new jacket, stitch some more velcro to the part that goes around the body---think of a skinny blood pressure cuff or a really long watchband to help you visualize this.

5. Accessorize the final coat. There's no reason why your favorite canine friend can't be fashionable in bad weather---add some matching trim or ribbon to the edge of the coat for a little personalized style and glamour.
   Also, if you typically walk your dog on a harness, rather than snapping the leash to her buckle collar, you will need to accommodate that. Put the coat on the dog with the harness underneath and find where the harness' metal loop lies. Make a buttonhole in the coat so the metal loop can poke through and be attached to the leash.