How to Knit a Sweater for a Three-Legged Dog

Dogs lose legs as the result of surgical amputation, disease, injury or genetic defect. No matter the reason, three-legged dogs require special care. Special care must be taken to ensure that three-legged dogs stay warm in the winter -- they can't move as well as their able-bodied counterparts and need to be protected from the elements. The site of an amputated limb may be particularly sensitive to the cold. Knitters can create a custom sweater for a three-legged dog that protects the site of the missing limb from cold air and weather while ensuring the dog's remaining three legs are free to move unhindered.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • Yarn
  • Knitting needles
  • Safety pin
  • Tapestry needle
  • Scissors
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the circumference of the dog immediately behind the front legs. Measure the length of the dog from collar to tail. Measure the distance from the dog's collar to its front legs. Measure the circumference around the dog's legs.

    • 2

      Find your yarn tension. Cast on a series of at least 20 stitches using your chosen needles and yarn. Knit until the piece measures 4.5 inches. Count the number of stitches and rows in four inches of knit fabric. Divide each number by four to find the number of stitches in each inch.

    • 3

      Divide the circumference of the dog immediately behind the front legs by two. Multiply this figure by the number of stitches in each inch. Cast on this many stitches, plus two additional stitches.

    • 4

      Knit three stitches. Purl two stitches. Knit two more stitches. Continue knitting in a knit two, purl two stitch pattern until you reach the last three stitches on the needle. Knit three stitches. This creates a ribbed, stretchy fabric. Continue in this stitch pattern until you reach the end of the row.

    • 5

      Turn your knitting. Purl three stitches. Knit two stitches then purl two stitches. Continue in a knit two, purl two pattern until you reach the last three stitches on the needle. Purl the last three stitches.

    • 6

      Continue knitting in a ribbed pattern back and forth until your project equals the length of the dog from collar to tail. Cast off.

    • 7

      Cast on a second piece of knitting with the same number of stitches as the first. Knit back and forth until the piece is equal to the length of the dog from collar to tail.

    • 8

      Fit the sweater to the dog. Place one of the sweater pieces over the dog's back. If the dog is missing a front leg, insert a safety pin into the fabric to indicate the spot where the leg is missing. If the dog is missing a back leg, no indication is required.

    • 9

      Place the two pieces of knitting together with the sides that will become the exterior of the sweater facing outward.

    • 10

      Thread a tapestry needle with an arm's length of yarn.

    • 11

      Insert the tapestry needle into the first stitch of the longest side of one of the knit pieces. Push the needle through both pieces of knit fabric. Insert the thread up through the next stitch, sewing the two pieces together. Leave a length of approximately 3 inches of yarn hanging loose. Do not knot the end of the yarn.

    • 12

      Sew the two pieces of knit fabric together stitch by stitch for a length equal to the measurement from the dog's collar to its front leg or legs.

    • 13

      Skip a distance equal to half the circumference of the dog's leg and continue seaming for the rest of the length of the sweater. If the side you are seaming is marked with the safety pin, do not skip this distance. Just continue sewing.

    • 14

      Seam the other side of the sweater, skipping a distance equal to half the circumference of the dog's leg if that side of the sweater is not marked with a safety pin. If it is marked with a safety pin, seam down the entire length of the sweater. Remove the safety pin.

    • 15

      Weave in any loose ends of yarn. This secures them and keeps them from unraveling.