How to Make Dog Sweaters Out of Sweater Sleeves

Small dogs and puppies can catch chills during the winter and wet seasons. Save money and recycle old sweaters and mismatched socks to create cozy sweaters for tiny and small dogs. The sleeve from an old sweater provides a stretchy base tube that can easily be cut to fit the dog's body. Loose measurements around the dog's body ensure a comfortable fit. The sweater fabric adds a layer of insulation for the tiny pet and since sweaters have two sleeves, consider creating a matching pair of dog sweaters in one sitting.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure
  • Scissors
  • Optional: Pins, needle and thread
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Measure around the dog's neck and write down this measurement. Divide this number in half and write this measurement down as "Neck A."

    • 2

      Measure from the dog's neck to the base of its tail and write down this measurement as "Top."

    • 3

      Measure from the dog's throat (i.e., under the chin) to its belly and write this measurement down as "Bottom."

    • 4

      Measure from the dog's throat to its chest, between its front legs and write this measurement down as "Front."

    • 5

      Measure the distance of the dog's chest between its front legs and write this measurement down as "Chest." Divide this number in half and write this measurement down as "Chest A."

    • 6

      Lay a sweater sleeve flat so that the cuff is facing left (and the armhole is facing right).

    • 7

      Take vertical measurements starting at the cuff and moving to the right (toward the armhole) and locate a section of the sleeve closest to the cuff with the same measurement as Neck A. Note: Since the sweater fabric stretches, you can locate a section that is slightly smaller than "Neck A," as long as it is not too tight around the dog's neck.

    • 8

      Cut this section of the sleeve to create the neck opening for the dog's sweater and hem, if desired.

    • 9

      Measure the length (left to right) of the sleeve to reach the measurement for "Top." Cut this section to create a tube that will fit the length of the dog's body.

    • 10

      Measure the distance on the bottom right end of the tube to reach the measurement for "Bottom." Cut a slit on the bottom side of the tube from the left side to this point to create an opening for the back legs.

    • 11

      Measure the distance from the bottom right end of the tube to reach the measurement for "Front."

    • 12

      Turn the measuring tape to a right angle (i.e., vertical orientation) and measure from the bottom side of the tube to the measurement for "Chest A."

    • 13

      Cut a small slit at the "Chest A" point, making sure to cut through both pieces of sweater fabric and a slit large enough to fit the dog's front legs.

    • 14

      Put the sweater tube on the dog, making sure to put its front legs through the two slits.

    • 15

      Check how the sweater fits on the dog and make note of further adjustments needed, such as enlarging the slits or cutting a hole for a better fit in the front legs and cutting a U or flared shape on the bottom of the sweater to accommodate toilet-training styles.

    • 16

      Hem all cut edges, if desired, to create a finished sweater.