How to Make a Knitted Dog Sweater

A sweater for you and now a sweater for your dog.

On cold winter days putting on extra layers help to add warmth out in the cold. The same applies for many pets. Some dogs may have short hair or some may not grow a thick winter coat. This pattern is for a medium-size dog, 16 to 22 inches long. To create this sweater, you must have basic knowledge of knitting and purling along with some knowledge of working with double point needles. If these skills need refreshing, please see the resource.

Gauge is 18 stitches and 20 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row)

Things You'll Need

• 3 skeins worsted weight yarn
• Size 8 (5mm) 24-inch circular needles
• size 8 (5 mm) double pointed needles
• Tapestry needle

Instructions

Collar

1. Cast on 64 stitches. Work the sweater in rows. Work first row, knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches. Continue in the knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches for 2 more rows.

2. Begin row 4. Knit 1 stitch; knit into the yarn between the first and second stitch; to create an increase, knit 1 stitch, purl 2 stitches to the last 2 stitches. Purl 1 stitch; purl into the yarn between this stitch and the last stitch to create an increase; purl one stitch.

   Row 5. Purl 1 stitch. Knit 2 stitches; purl 2 stitches. Repeat this last knit/purl sequence to the last stitch. Knit one stitch.

   Repeat row 5 two times.

3. Begin row 8. Purl 1 stitch; increase 1 stitch; knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches. Repeat the last knit/purl sequence to the last stitch; increase 1 stitch; knit 1 stitch.

   Begin row 9. Purl 2 stitches; knit 2 stitches. Repeat the last purl/stitch sequence to the end of the row.

   Repeat the instructions for row 9 in rows 10 and11.

4. Row 12. Purl 1 stitch; increase 1 stitch; purl 1 stitch; knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches. Repeat the last knit/purl sequence to the last 2 stitches. Then, knit one stitch; increase 1 stitch; knit 1 stitch.

   Rows 13 to 15. After knit 1 stitch, purl 2 stitches and knit 2 stitches. Repeat the last purl/knit sequence to the last stitch of each round. Purl one stitch.

   Row 16. Knit 1 stitch; increase 1 stitch; purl 2 stitches and knit 2 stitches. Repeat the last purl/knit sequence to the last stitch; increase 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch.

   Rows 17 to 24. Repeat the instructions for rows 1 to 8.

   Count the stitches on the needles to make sure there are 76 stitches.

The Body

1. Begin row 25 on the wrong side; purl 38 stitches; increase 1 stitch, then purl to the end of the row.

   Begin shaping the body.

   Row 26. Knit 1 stitch; increase 1 stitch; knit to the last 2 stitches; increase 1 stitch; knit 1 stitch. There should be 79 stitches on the needles.

2. Row 27. Purl each stitch.

   Row 28. Knit 1 stitch; increase 1 stitch; knit to the last 2 stitches, then increase 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch.

   Row 29. Purl each stitch.

   Rows 30 to 33. Repeat the instructions for rows 28 to 29 twice. Count the stitches to ensure there are 85 stitches on the needles.

3. Row 34. Repeat instructions for row 28.

   Rows 35 to 36. Repeat instructions for rows 25 to 26. Count the stitches to make sure there are 89 stitches.

Armholes (Legholes)

1. Row 37. Purl 12; join a new skein of yarn to the existing work; work with this yarn and bind off 3 stitches. (To bind off, work 2 stitches; lift the first stitch worked over the second and off the needle.) Purl 59 stitches; join another new yarn; bind off 3 stitches. Purl 12 stitches.

   Work the three different yarn sections separately for 12 rows.

   Row 38. Knit 1 stitch; increase 1 stitch; knit to the end of the section. Knit each stitch in the next yarn section. Knit each stitch to the last stitch in the third section; increase one stitch, knit one stitch.

   Row 39: Purl each stitch.

2. Rows 40 to 49. Repeat rows 38 to 39 five times. Count the stitches to make sure there are 18 stitches on each side and 59 stitches in the center.

   Row 50. Knit 18; cast on 3 stitches; knit 59 stitches; cast on 3 stitches; knit 18 stitches. There should be 101 stitches on the needles. At this point, work with one skein of yarn.

3. Rows 51 to 63. Use the stockinette stitch, which is purling one row, then knitting one row. Bind off all stitches.

Sleeves

1. Use the double pointed needles and pick up 32 stitches around the right armhole. Do this by inserting the needle into a worked stitch and pull the yarn through and onto the needle. Repeat this until there are 32 stitches on the needles. Divide stitches evenly between the double point needles, leaving one needle empty for the working needle.

2. Work in knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches ribbing for 11 rounds, maintaining the same number of stitches on each needle throughout. Allow the needles that are not being worked with to hang in front of the work until needed.

   Bind off loosely.

3. Repeat for the left sleeve.

   Finish by sewing in all loose ends.

   Sew the two edges of the sweater together.

Tips & Warnings

• To make this dog sweater larger or smaller, the needle size or yarn size may be adjusted. Use larger size needles or bulky yarn for bigger dogs, and smaller needles and yarn for smaller dogs.

Resources

• Knitting Help: Videos: Learn to Knit: 2010