How to Customize Dog Clothing

There are many ways to customize dog clothing. From creating your own designs and sewing personalized fashions to making ready-made dog clothing fit the personality, style or particular shape of your dog. With a few steps you can transform a basic dog t-shirt into a customized outfit that expresses the unique characteristics of your special dog. Take the t-shirt with you to the craft or fabric store to measure the amount of trim needed and to test the size of decorative appliqués, buttons or other accessories.

Things You'll Need

  • Basic, plain-colored dog t-shirt
  • Trims
  • Washable fabric marker
  • Assortment of fabric paint pens
  • Decorative appliqués, patches and buttons
  • Straight pins
  • Sewing needle
  • Thread
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Instructions

    • 1

      Buy the decorations, trims, accessories you want to use to make your customized dog shirt. Look for trims, ribbons, fringe, iron-on patches, faux fur or anything that expresses your dog's personality (or yours).

    • 2

      Mark the center of the shirt at the neck and at the tail with a pin or fabric marker to guide you as you work.

    • 3

      Pin the trim around the neck opening of the t-shirt. Begin at the bottom of the neck hole, the part that will be under the dog's chin when he wears the shirt. Stretch the fabric slightly as you pin the trim in place so it will easily fit over your dog's head after the sewing is complete.

    • 4

      Hand-stitch the trim onto the shirt. Cut the excess trim after you have finished sewing it in place.

    • 5

      Pin trim around the bottom of the shirt in the same way you did the neck line.

    • 6

      Hand-stitch the trim onto the shirt. Cut the excess trim after you have finished sewing it in place.

    • 7

      Place decorative items strategically on the shirt beginning with the center back. Pin them in place. Hand-stitch the decorative items one at a time.

    • 8

      Mark your dog's name or a slogan on the shirt with the washable fabric marker.

    • 9

      Lay the t-shirt out on a flat surface and carefully trace over your marking with the fabric paint.

    • 10

      Wait until the paint is completely dry.

    • 11

      Put the customized doggie t-shirt on your dog and go out for a walk to show off his new clothing.