How to Make a Dog Shirt Out of Kids' Clothes

Clothing your dog isn't about dressing up your pup like a doll. In fact, for many breeds, winter clothing and layered shirts are essential. Small dogs with bodies close to the ground have difficulty retaining heat during the winter months. Other dog breeds, such as the greyhound or the hairless Chihuahua, lack sufficient fur for even crisp, fall weather. Even though dog's shirts require far less fabric than yours, those tiny polos quickly become expensive, especially if your dog wears them frequently. Turning your children's clothing into a dog shirt saves money and keeps your pup looking stylish.

Things You'll Need

  • Scissors
  • Youth sweatshirt
  • Needle
  • Thread
  • Pen
  • Paper
  • Measuring tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wash the item of children's clothing you intend to use, if necessary. Laundering the sweatshirt keeps the measurements accurate and prevents unforeseen shrinkage and pilling.

    • 2

      Measure your dog starting in the middle of his torso, just below his neck, to wherever you want his shirt to end. For example, for a longer shirt, measure the distance from under his neck, around his side and 4 inches in front of his genitals. Record this measurement on a piece of paper.

    • 3

      Lay a child's sweatshirt flat and mark the distance you measured above on the sweatshirt sleeve. For example, if your dog's chest to rear measurement was 13 inches, mark 13 inches from the tip of the sweatshirt cuff up the sleeve. Mark the end point on the sleeve with a pen so you know where to cut.

    • 4

      Cut off the sweatshirt sleeve by 2 inches after the end point. The extra 2 inches ensures adequate room for hemming.

    • 5

      Slide your dog into the sweatshirt sleeve by inserting his head through the cuff. His front legs will curl up snugly inside the sweatshirt. Feel his front legs through the sweatshirt and mark the approximate location of each front leg with your pen. Remove the sleeve from your dog.

    • 6

      Cut 2- to 4-inch slits in the sweatshirt sleeve where you marked his front legs in Step 5.

    • 7

      Fold 1/4 inch of fabric under around each leg opening to create a hem. Sew the hem in place around the entire opening to prevent tearing or fraying at the edges.

    • 8

      Fold the back end of the sleeve 1/2 inch under and sew the hem into place all the way around. If your dog is male, cut an additional 2 inches from the bottom of the sleeve that sits near his genitals. Fabric within a few inches of his genitals quickly absorbs odor due to the back spray of urine.

    • 9

      Roll the sweatshirt cuff down once or twice if it's too long for his neck, or scrunch it down to make a turtleneck.