Instructions for Making a Dog Sweater

Commercially available dog clothing can be pricey, but you can make your own sweaters from home with a few basic materials. For instance, fleece makes a suitable material for dog sweaters because it is stretchable and lightweight, and you can even make your creations in a variety of styles and colors.

Things You'll Need

  • Polyester fleece
  • Coordinating thread
  • Butcher or tracing paper
  • Velcro
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Instructions

    • 1

      Create a pattern for your dog sweater. Measure the dog down her side from her spine to her belly and along the side from chest to tail. The pattern should cover your dog's back completely and stretch down the sides to the stomach. Make sure you leave room for her legs and neck. The pattern should have a saddle shape with the top half on the fold of the fabric. Add a 1/2-inch seam allowance to all sides except for the top.

    • 2

      Fold the fleece fabric in half with the right sides together. The stretch of the fleece should be perpendicular to the fold of the fabric. Place the pattern on the fabric so that the top of the pattern is on the fold.

    • 3

      Pin the pattern and fabric together. Carefully cut the pattern out, then remove the pins and set it aside.

    • 4

      Create a pattern for the Velcro under-strap, taking into account how narrow or wide is best for your dog. A wider strap is typically ideal for a larger dog.

    • 5

      Pin the pattern to the fleece fabric as before, this time with the stretch running parallel to the fold. Add a 1/2-inch seam allowance for all sides. Cut the pattern out as before, but this time, cut on the fold so that you have two straps that are the same from a single pattern.

    • 6

      Fold in all sides of both pieces by 1/2 inch and pin them in place. Use a sewing machine or hand-sew along all the folds to create finished edges. Sew the straps to the bottom of each side of the body pattern.

    • 7

      Sew Velcro onto the bottom of each strap so that you can strap the sweater closed around the dog. There are also adhesive varieties that do not require sewing, which is useful if you are sewing by hand.