How to Make Your Own Dog Shirts

Many people consider buying a doggie shirt or sweater for their four-legged friend. Shirts like these can hold in heat, and help protect the dog from extreme cold weather. But you don't have to buy an expensive dog shirt for your buddy, you can make one out of an old shirt you have no use for any longer.

Things You'll Need

  • Old cold weather shirt
  • Tape measure
  • Scissors
  • Sewing ability
  • Sewing pins
  • Pen and paper
  • Sewing machine
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use a retractable tape measure to measure your dog from the base of the neck to midway down her tail to get the shirt length. You will probably need someone to hold the tape measure at one end, or have him hold the dog if the dog is small.

    • 2

      Use the same tape measure to measure around the dog's ribcage because this is the largest area which needs to fit within the shirt. This will give you the width of the shirt.

    • 3

      Measure the length you will need for the arms by taking measurements from the shoulder to just above the knee joint of your dog's front leg.

    • 4

      Find an old extra large sweatshirt or other cold weather shirt. This will ensure that there is enough material for use as a dog shirt. Cut the shirt to the proper measurements for length. Check the width of the shirt against your measurements. Gather any excess and pin the shirt to match your measurements. Cut the shirt up this gather, and then sew the shirt together at this new seam.

    • 5

      Sew or hem the fabric of your shirt so that it fits snugly, but not tightly, for your dog. Use fabric webbing for this part, as it will be stronger than sewing thread. For the width, turn in the shirt up to an inch. Sew or hem this for the entire circumference of the shirt.

    • 6

      Cut the sleeves so that they hang just above the knee joint of your dog's front legs. This will hold in the warmth while allowing hi, to move freely. Again, fold under about an inch of fabric and hem or sew this to give it a finished look and avoid fraying.

    • 7

      Put the shirt bottom opening facing up. Then place your dog's legs into the shirt and pull the shirt up, stretching the neck opening over the head. Be sure to do this gently the first couple of times for the dog to get used to it. Pull the shirt the rest of the way onto the dog.