How to Make Dog Sweaters and Booties Patterns
Drafting patterns for dog sweaters and booties is both rather simple. Many people have found that commercial dog sweaters fit poorly or don't stay on, particularly if your pooch is pudgy, especially long or built in any way different from the average dog. But you can make your own dog sweaters and booties that fit your pup perfectly.
Things You'll Need
- Newsprint, lightweight interfacing or specialty pattern-making paper
- Tape measure
- Gridded ruler, like those used for quilting
- Curve template or French curve
- Pencil
Instructions
-
How to Make Dog Sweater Patterns
-
1
Measure your dog. You should measure around the dog's ribcage at the widest point, around his neck and chest and also neck to tail. If you plan to draft a pattern for a dog sweater with armholes, also measure the distance between the front legs, the length of the chest from neck to front legs, the space between the neck and the front legs and the distance from the spine to the front legs.
-
2
Decide the style of dog sweater you prefer. Some dog sweaters simply use bands around the neck and behind the front legs to secure the sweater, while others include a full chest panel, stopping before the front legs. For even more coverage, you can opt for a sweater with armholes. Dogs that get chilly easily and those that will be wearing their sweaters indoors should have more coverage to keep the sweater in place and keep them warm through the winter months.
-
-
3
Sketch the shape or pattern of your planned dog sweater. If you own a sweater you like, trace the shape of this sweater. This sketch does not need to be true to scale; however, it allows you to determine the general dog sweater pattern you want to create. You also should decide whether to use stretch or woven fabrics.
-
4
Fold your paper in half, creating a long central line. This will form the center back of your dog sweater. Make marks on your paper to designate the front and back of the neck, the front legs and the total desired sweater length.
-
5
Use your measurements and your sketch to create a pattern for your dog sweater. Regardless of style, you should draw a perpendicular line marking the distance from the spine to the front legs and one marking the desired width at the back end of the sweater. Create a curve using a French curve or saucer to help make even lines between the front and back sides of the neck; then curve the sweater pattern down toward the front legs and back up toward the end of your sweater pattern.
-
6
Add straps, gussets or a front chest panel to your pattern as desired. Cut your pattern out of inexpensive fabric and baste together to test fit. Muslin or old sheets will work well for a woven dog sweater. Old T-shirts also work if you are making a knit or fleece sweater.
How to Make Dog Bootie Patterns
-
7
Trace your dog's paws onto paper. Take a tracing from the side and one from the bottom. The basic shape of the bootie is quite simple, but these tracings will help you make your dog bootie pattern the correct size.
-
8
Decide how high you want your dog booties. For heavy snow, taller winter booties are preferred; however, if you are just making booties to cut down on tracked mud and dampness, shorter ones are suitable. Draw a rectangle the desired height plus 1/2 inch by the width of your dog's foot plus 1 1/2 inches. Round both corners on the bottom of this rectangle.
-
9
Mark placement for a narrow fabric strip on your bootie pattern. This will allow you to secure the bootie with a Velcro strap. Elastic may also be used, especially for smaller dogs.
-
1
