Instructions for a Crocheted Sweater for a Large Dog

Your big dog doesn't have to get cold when it goes outside to play or take care of business. Instead, you can crochet a fetching sweater that will fit ideally and cover its body from neck to tail. You need to know how to crochet in the round, crochet increases and decreases, and crochet front post double crochet and back post double crochet stitches.

Things You'll Need

• Size K/10 crochet hook
• Worsted weight yarn, 4 oz., in one or two colors
• 2 buttons, 3/4-inch
• Large-eye tapestry hook
• Scissors

Instructions

Body

1. 

   Use a bigger crochet hook to make a dog sweater.

   Chain 34 stitches. For row one, double crochet (dc) in fourth chain from hook then in each chain to the end of the chain. (32 dc) For row two (right side), chain three---counts as first dc here and to end of sweater---turn work, dc in next dc. (Work front post double crochet---FPdc---around next dc. dc in next dc) across. (10 FPdc.)

2. Chain three for row three (you'll increase in this row), turn, dc in same stitch and in next dc. Work back post double crochet (BPdc) around next stitch (dc in next two dc, work BPdc around next st) across to last two dc. Make two dc in last dc. (34 stitches) Chain three for row four, turn work (dc in next two dc, work FPdc around next stitch) across to last three dc then dc in last three dc. Chain three for row five (increase row), turn, dc in same stitch and in next two dc, (work BPdc around next stitch, dc in next two dc) across to last dc, crochet two dc in last dc. (36 stitches)

3. Chain three for row six, turn work, make FPdc around next stitch, (dc in next two dc, work FPdc around next stitch) across to last dc and dc in last dc. Chain three for row seven (increase row), turn, dc in same stitch, work BPdc around next stitch, (dc in next two dc, work BPdc around next stitch) across to last dc, crochet two dc in last dc. (38 stitches) Chain three for row eight, turn, dc in next dc, (work FPdc around next stitch, dc in next two dc) across. Repeat rows three through five for rows nine through 11. (42 stitches) Repeat row six 10 times for a total of 29 rows.

Right Neck Shaping

1. Maintain established stitching pattern throughout. Chain three, work across next 15 stitches, leave remaining stitches unworked. (Pattern: dc in next two dc, work FPdc around next stitch. (16 stitches) Row two is a decrease row. Chain three, turn, decrease. (Pattern stitch decrease uses next two stitches) Yarn over (YO), insert hook in next stitch, YO and pull up loop. YO and draw through two loops on hook, repeat from first YO once more, YO and draw through all three loops on hook (counts as one dc), work across. (15 stitches)

2. Row three is another decrease row. Chain three, turn, work across to last three stitches, decrease, dc in last dc. (14 stitches)

3. Repeat rows two and three for rows four through seven twice. (10 stitches) Work across row eight and finish off.

Left Neck Shaping

1. Chain three, turn for row one. Skip 10 stitches from right neck shaping, join yarn with slip stitch in next stitch, chain three, work across. (16 stitches) Row two is a decrease row. Chain three, turn, work across to last three stitches, decrease, dc in last dc. (15 stitches)

2. Chain three for row three, which is a decrease row, turn, decrease, work across. (14 stitches)

3. Repeat rows two and three for rows four through seven twice. (10 stitches)
   Work across and finish off for row eight.

Neckband

1. With right side facing, join yarn with slip stitch at seam for round one. Chain one, single crochet (sc) evenly around, join with slip stitch to first sc.

2. Chain one, sc in each sc around, join with slip stitch to first sc for round two.

3. Chain one, sc in each sc around, join with slip stitch to first sc for round three. Finish off.

Belly Band

1. Working in end of rows for row one (with right side facing), join yarn with slip stitch on left edge of sweater, seven in. down from seam. chain three, dc in same stitch, two dc in each of next five rows, dc in next row for 13 dc.

2. Chain three for row two, turn, dc in next dc and in each dc across.

3. Repeat row two until band fits snugly around dog's chest.

Buttonholes

1. Chain one for row one, turn, sc in each dc across. Chain one for row two, turn, sc in first three sc, (chain two, skip two sc, sc in next three sc) twice.

2. Chain one for row three, turn, sc in each sc and in each chain across. (13 sc) Chain one for row four, turn, sc in each sc across. Finish off. Using large-eye tapestry needle, weave ends in.

3. Sew on buttons.

Tips & Warnings

• Front Post double crochet: Yarn over, insert hook from front to back around post of stitch indicated, YO and pull up a loop even with loop on hook (YO and draw through two loops on hook) twice, skip stitch behind FPdc.

• Back Post double crochet: YO, insert hook from back to front around post of stitch indicated, YO and pull up loop even with loop on hook (YO and draw through two loops on hook) twice, skip stitch in front of BPdc.

References

• DogGoneKnit: One-Piece Solid Dog Sweater