Dog sweater: this reflective knit will keep your pet warm in any weather
This adorable dog sweater is knitted with both sock yarn and reflective yarn. It’s best to keep it a bit loose so it’s easy to put on your furry friend.
Dog sweater: supplies
- Sock yarn suitable for 3.5 mm (US 4) needles, such as Novita 7 Veljestä. Just under 100 g was used for the sample knit, so one 100 g ball is enough for a small dog sweater.
- A small spool of thin reflective yarn (sample yarn: Lankava, 14 g = 100 m).
- 40 cm circular needles size 3 mm (US 2.5), or size needed to match gauge.
- Double-pointed needles in the same size.
Measurements for the dog sweater
(See the end of this article for tips on adjusting the size for your dog)
Finished sweater length: 36 cm along the back and 33 cm along the belly when the turtleneck is not folded.
Finished sweater width: about 15 cm with the ribbing slightly stretched.
Gauge: 18 sts = 10 cm.
Stitch pattern: ribbing worked flat and in the round: knit the k sts and purl the p sts.
How to knit the Dog sweater
1. Cast on 60 sts loosely on circular needles. To make the foldable turtleneck, work [k2, p2] ribbing in the round for 8 cm.
2. Join the reflective yarn and increase the st count as follows:
Round 1: starting with the first purl st group, increase 1 st in every third purl st group = 65 sts total.
Round 2: knit the k sts and purl the p sts.
Round 3: starting with the second purl st group, increase 1 st in every third purl st group = 70 sts.
Round 4: knit the k sts and purl the p sts.
Round 5: starting with the third purl st group, increase 1 st in every third purl st group = 75 sts. Now each purl st group has 3 sts.
3. Work [k2, p3] rib with the reflective yarn until the piece measures 12 cm. Then continue without the reflective yarn until it measures 16 cm.
4. Divide the sts into front and back pieces to create openings for the legs. First, work the front piece: move a total of 24 sts onto double-pointed needles for the belly side and work them as follows: p1, k2, p3… p3, k2, p1. Work the edge sts in garter stitch, and otherwise work [k2, p3] rib back and forth for a total of 8 cm. Break the yarn and leave the sts on hold. For the back piece, you have 51 sts left on the circular needles. Work them flat as follows: p2tog (at the leg opening), k2, p3… p3, k2, p2tog (at the leg opening). Join the reflective yarn. Work the edge sts in garter stitch and work [k2, p3] rib back and forth, as you did on the belly side, but for 7 cm this time.
5. Continue without the reflective yarn and return all sts to the circular needle. At each side of the back piece, increase 1 st between the 2 p sts = 75 sts. Work in the round until the piece measures 31 cm.
6. Bind off 18 sts at the center of the belly: bind off loosely in purl for 3 p sts, 2 k sts, 3 p sts, 2 k sts, 3 p sts, 2 k sts, 3 p sts. Work the rest of the round in ribbing and turn your work.
7. Work the back flat in ribbing and shape it by binding off at both edges on every other row (on the right side, p them off; on the wrong side, k them off) as follows: 1 × 4 sts, 3 × 5 sts. Purl the rest of the row and p2tog where there are p sts.
8. Don’t break the yarn. Instead, pick up 60 sts around the hem, add the reflective yarn, and work [k1, p1] rib in the round for 4 cm. Bind off sts loosely. Weave in ends.
Note!
You can also knit sleeves for the leg openings. Pick up 44 sts around each opening and work [k1, p1] rib to the length you want.
How to get the best results when knitting your dog’s sweater
Make sure you choose the right needle size for the yarn you’re going to be using. Knit a gauge swatch and measure how many sts fit in 10 cm.
Measure your dog and adjust the pattern’s measurements and stitch counts according to your gauge:
- Chest circumference behind the front legs (the widest point of the chest). The model dog measures 37 cm.
- Back length from the withers to the base of the tail while the dog is standing. The model dog measures 34 cm.
- Belly circumference in front of the hind legs. The model dog measures 30 cm.
- Chest width between the front legs. The model dog measures 10 cm.
- Height from the armpit to the neck. The model dog measures 8 cm.
- Neck circumference. The model dog measures 23 cm.
If, for example, your dog’s chest circumference is 10 cm more than the model dog’s (and you use the same yarn thickness as in the pattern), increase your stitch count by around a third. If your dog’s back is 10 cm longer than the model dog’s, simply keep knitting 10 cm more after the leg openings.
Keep in mind that a pullover-style sweater should be easy to put on, so remember to make it slightly loose.
