This is a basic pattern for a dog sweater to knit. The pattern is designed for a 40 pound, 18 inch long dog. To adjust the pattern to fit a different-size dog, take the following measurements: neck circumference, back length, width (measured around the body just behind the front legs), front leg circumference, length from next to the front legs, the space between the front legs, and the space from the outer edge of the right leg to the outer edge of the left leg. Then, use the gauge, which is 14 stitches and 20 rows equaling 4 inches, to adjust the pattern to fit the dog.
Materials
- 1 Skein Medium Weight Lavender Yarn (Main Color)
- 1 Skein Medium Weight Dark Purple Yarn (Contrast Color)
- Size 10 Circular Knitting Needles
- Set of 4 Size 9 Double-Pointed Knitting Needles
- Yarn Needle
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
- MC - Main Color
- CC - Contrast Color
- st - stitch
- sts - stitches
- K - knit
- P - purl
- Inc - Increase 1 by knitting into the front and back of the next stitch.
- tog - together
Knitting Instructions for Knitted Dog Sweater
- With the circular needle and CC, cast on 60 sts
- First five rows: (K2, P2) across
- Change to MC
- Row 6: Knit 1, Inc 1, K to the last 2 sts, Inc 1, K1
- Row 7: Purl
- Row 8: K1, Inc 1, K to the last 2 sts, Inc 1, K1
- Row 9: Purl
- Row 10: K1, Inc 1, K to the last 2 sts, Inc 1, K1
- Row 11: Purl
- Row 12: K1, Inc 1, K to the last 2 sts, Inc 1, K1
- Row 13: Purl
- Row 14: K1, Inc 1, K to the last 2 sts, Inc 1, K1
- Row 15: Purl
- Row 16: K1, Inc 1, K to the last 2 sts, Inc 1, K1
- Row 17: Purl
- Row 18: K1, Inc 1, K to the last 2 sts, Inc 1, K1
- Row 19: Purl
- Row 20: K1, Inc 1, K to the last 2 sts, Inc 1, K1
- Row 21: Purl
- Row 22: K1, Inc 1, K to the last 2 sts, Inc 1, K1
- Row 23: Purl
- Row 24: K1, Inc 1, K to the last 2 sts, Inc 1, K1
- Row 25: Purl
- Row 26: K1, Inc 1, K to the last 2 sts, Inc 1, K1
- Row 27: Purl
- Next Row: K7, cast off 5 sts, K60 sts, cast off 5 sts, K7
- Next Row: Purl 7. Turn
- Next Row: Knit 7. Turn
- Next Row: Purl 7. Turn
- Next Row: Knit 7. Turn
- Next Row: Purl 7. Turn
- Next Row: Knit 7. Turn
- Next Row: Purl 7
- Cut the yarn. Attach a new strand of yarn to the middle 60 sts
- Next Row: Purl 60. Turn
- Next Row: Knit 60. Turn
- Next Row: Purl 60. Turn
- Next Row: Knit 60. Turn
- Next Row: Purl 60. Turn
- Next Row: Knit 60. Turn
- Next Row: Purl 60
- Cut the yarn. Attach a new strand of yarn to the last 7 sts
- Next Row: Purl 7. Turn
- Next Row: Knit 7. Turn
- Next Row: Purl 7. Turn
- Next Row: Knit 7. Turn
- Next Row: Purl 7. Turn
- Next Row: Knit 7. Turn
- Next Row: Purl 7
- Next Row: K7, cast on 5 sts, K65, Cast on 5 sts, K12. (84 sts.) (Note: The extra stitches come from the stitches just cast on.)
- Next Row: Purl
- Next Row: Knit
- Next Row: Purl
- Next Row: K1, K2 tog, K to the last 3 sts, K2 tog, K1
- Next Row: Purl
- Repeat the last 4 rows 13 more times each
- Next Row: Knit
- Next Row: Purl
- Next Row: Knit (Right side)
- Bind off
Finishing the Dog Sweater
- With the right sides facing each other, sew the seam, leaving the last 7 inches open
- Using the CC and the double-pointed knitting needles, pick up and knit 30 sts from around the right leg opening.
- Work three rounds of (K1, P1) ribbing.
- Bind off.
- Repeat for the left leg opening.
- With the circular needle and the CC, pick up and knit 80 sts from around the major body opening of the sweater (the last 7 inches left open).
- Work 5 rounds of (K2, P2) ribbing.
- Bind off.
- Sew in all of the loose ends.
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Jeris Swanhorst - After earning a Bachelor's degree in English, Literature from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2005, Jeris Swanhorst went on to earn ...
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