Directions for a Dog Sweater

Keep your pup warm this winter with a dog sweater. Smaller dogs, and those bred for warmer clients, may need sweaters to help guard against the cold and inclement weather. If your pup shivers when you take her out on a walk, or if she has arthritis or other health problems, you'll want to help keep her warm. Because store-bought dog sweaters may not always provide the best fit or may not have the right look, consider making your own from an old sweater you no longer wear. Help your dog stay warm in style with this sewing project.

Things You'll Need

  • Old sweater or other fabric
  • Measuring tape
  • Sewing machine
  • Needle
  • Thread
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Instructions

    • 1

      Find a sweater with fabric that will look good on your pup. Re-purpose an old sweatshirt or give new life to that holiday sweater you never wear. Shop thrift stores and garage sales if you don't have one on hand. Buy new fabric at a craft or sewing supply store if you would rather not chop up your old clothes.

    • 2

      Take measurements of your dog's body. Measure around the neck and add 1 inch. Measure the dog's chest size, just behind the front legs, and add 1 inch. Measure the distance from your dog's collar to her tail, both on top and underneath. Lastly, measure the length from your dog's collar to the top of her foreleg.

    • 3

      Lay out the sweater, and cut a piece that's as wide as the neck measurement and as long as the distance between your dog's collar and tail on top.

    • 4

      Subtract the neck measurement from the chest measurement, then add 1 inch. Cut out a triangle as wide as the new number, and as long as the distance from collar to tail on your dog's underside.

    • 5

      Pin the long sides of the triangular piece to the long sides of the larger rectangle, starting about 1 inch down from the top of the longer piece.

    • 6

      Place a pin or chalk mark at a point on the long side equal to the distance from your dog's collar to her foreleg. Halve the circumference of your dog's leg, then place another pin this much further down the side. Do this on both sides of the sweater to mark the leg openings.

    • 7

      Sew one of the long sides to the triangle, starting about an inch down and making sure not to sew the previously marked leg openings shut. Backstitch at the ends of the fabric, as well as at the edges of the leg openings, to prevent the stitches from unraveling. Leave 1/2-inch of seam allowance.

    • 8

      Sew the other side, this time starting at the top of the larger piece of fabric and sewing the collar shut before sewing down the sides. Again, backstitch at the top of the piece, around the leg openings and at the bottom to keep the stitches secure.

    • 9

      Use a zig-zag stitch to secure the seam allowance of the leg openings to the main piece of fabric. This will keep them from unraveling or fraying.

    • 10

      Turn the back edge down toward the wrong side. Fold the corners in so the top piece matches up more smoothly with the bottom of the triangular piece, and use a zig-zag stitch to secure the bottom hem. You can also use a different piece of fabric sewn onto the end for a decorative edge.