How to Make Dog Dresses

Dogs in human clothes are just plain cute. So cute, in fact, that many dog-related events have a costume competition element to them. As dancing with dogs (also known as canine freestyle) competition becomes more popular, the dog and human partner need some sort of matching costume. Whatever the reason, sometimes a dog just needs to wear a dress. If you can't find exactly what you want at your local pet supply store, you will just have to make it yourself.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • Fabric
  • Trim (optional)
  • Sewing machine
  • Scissors
  • Pins
  • Newspaper
  • Muslin
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take your measuring tape and measure your dog around the middle, near the middle of the rib cage. Measure from that spot to the front of the chest. Measure from the middle of the rib cage to halfway to the tail. That is the skirt length.

    • 2

      Choose your fabric. The fabric you make the dress out of is the primary clue what kind of dress it is. A gingham print is an old-fashioned pioneer dress, while having sequins or shiny fabric suggests a ballgown. How much you need depends on the size of your dog.

    • 3

      Start with the bodice. Based on your measurements, create a pattern for the upper part of your dog's dress on sheets of yesterday's newspaper. Make a basic pattern (think tube or halter top) where the "shoulders" to the end correspond with the mid-chest to the rib cage dimensions) and then modify as needed for the look you want--spaghetti straps, bibbed like a jumper or whatever. If your dog has a long coat, add to the waist-to-chest measurement to accommodate it, 2 inches or so for golden retrievers, rough collies and shaggy German shepherds, as needed for afghans or old English sheepdogs, briards and bearded collies, depending on coat bulk.

    • 4

      After you have the bodice designed, add the skirt. Bear in mind how long the skirt needs to be (halfway between the bottom of the ribcage and the base of the tail). For a full skirt, double your dog's around-the-rib measurement. That's how much skirt fabric you need.

    • 5

      Consider how to get the dress on your dog. Incorporate Velcro or a zipper into the belly-side of your dog's dress for easy on and off.

    • 6

      Make a muslin mock-up. Take your newspaper pattern, pin it to some inexpensive muslin, cut out and sew. Try it on your dog, and make any necessary changes or modifications. This will also tell you how much of the actual dress fabric you'll need.

    • 7

      Take the completed muslin mock-up apart and use it as the pattern for the real dress. Stitch up the dress, put it on your dog and take it out in style.