How to Make Small Dog Dresses & Bows

Doggie dresses for small pooches topped with a hair bow put the capital "C" in Cute if they're made correctly, fit well and are the right color with the right adornments for the particular pooch that's wearing them. Basic sewing skills and nimble fingers are all you need to adapt from human to canine dress creations. You can follow basic patterns but let your imagination go with fabric selections and adornments to place your small dog on the Best Dressed list.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • Fabric
  • Interfacing
  • Velcro strips
  • Needles and thread
  • Sewing machine (optional)
  • Fabric shears
  • Pins
  • Newspaper
  • Muslin
  • Ribbon
  • Rubber bands
  • Adornments
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take three measurements of your little pooch.

      With measuring tape in hand, take the first measurement around the rib cage where your dog is widest. Next, measure from the middle of the rib cage to the front of the chest for the bodice followed by the middle of the rib cage halfway to the tail for the skirt length.

    • 2

      Make a basic pattern for the skirt and bodice based on measurements.

      The bodice goes from the shoulders to the neck, keeping in mind different styles: halter, t-neck, spaghetti straps, bibbed jumper. Find or make a basic pattern for the skirt that covers halfway between the bottom of the ribcage and the base of the tail. Use newspaper or muslin sheets for the pattern and cut-out.

    • 3

      Select your fabric.

      Make sure it's not too heavy or cumbersome even if it's designed for outdoor winter wear and has some stretch.

    • 4

      Cut out the selected four fabric pieces on the fold for the skirt and bodice patterns.

    • 5

      Sew the dress by hand or with machine.

      Sew the two bodice pieces together with interfacing. The bottom edge must remain open to turn the bodice right-side-out to attach the skirt. Place the two skirt pieces together making sure the top edge is open. Hem the skirt first using a 1/2-inch seam. Sew the gather line enough so that it fits into the bodice. Attach the bodice to the skirt.

    • 6

      Add Velcro or a zipper into the belly-side of your dog's dress for easy on and off.

    • 7

      Cut two pieces of ribbon for the hair bow with one piece a bit longer than the other.

      Cut a "V" shape on all ends. Make a single loop on the longer piece. Lay the shorter piece behind your loop and wrap with a rubber band like a slipknot. Lay the rubber band on top of bow and pull one end through the other side of the band.

    • 8

      Decorate dress and hair bow with sew-on buttons, sequins, beads, flowers or appliques.