Striped dog sweater: knit a cozy layer for your furry friend

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5). The model dog is a medium-sized Australian Labradoodle wearing size 2.

Finished measurements

These measurements list the sweater’s maximum dimensions (the back length is the easiest to adjust). Measure your dog and choose the size that matches your dog’s measurements or is slightly bigger.

Striped dog sweater: supplies

Gauge: 20 sts and 24 rows = 10 × 10 cm in stockinette stitch on 4 mm (US 6) needles, after blocking.

How to knit the Striped dog sweater:

Using color A and the smaller needles (3.5 mm (US 4)), cast on 52 (76, 80, 84, 96) sts. Join to work in the round and PM (BOR marker) to indicate BOR.

Ribbing

Rnd 1 (RS): *k2, p2*, repeat *–* to end of round.

Continue the ribbing until it measures about 12 (18, 20, 23, 24) cm, or until your preferred length. You can fold the ribbing or leave it unfolded—choose whichever length suits your dog best. Switch to 4 mm (US 6) needles.

Yoke

Section 1

Work with color A.

Size 1: *k26, M1L*, repeat *–* once more. (2 sts increased, 54 sts total)

Size 2: *k38, M1L*, repeat *–* once more. (2 sts increased, 78 sts total)

Size 3: *k20, M1L*, repeat *–* 3 more times. (4 sts increased, 84 sts total)

Size 4: M1L, knit to end of round. (1 st increased, 85 sts total)

Size 5: *k24, M1L*, repeat *–* 3 more times. (4 sts increased, 100 sts total)

Now begin the stripe pattern that will continue for the entire sweater, except during the short rows for the front legs. Alternate 8 rounds in color B and 8 rounds in color A, unless otherwise stated.

Section 2, sizes – (–, –, 4, 5) only

Work 2 rnds in stockinette.

Increase rnd: *k5, M1L*, repeat *–* around. – (–, –, 17, 20) sts increased, for a total of – (–, –, 102, 120) sts.

Work 4 rnds in stockinette.

Section 3, all sizes

Increase rnd 1: *k6, M1L*, repeat *–* around. 9 (13, 14, 17, 20) sts increased, 63 (91, 98, 119, 140) sts total.

Work 6 rnds in stockinette.

Increase rnd 2: *k7, M1L*, repeat *–* around. 9 (13, 14, 17, 20) sts increased, 72 (104, 112, 136, 160) sts total.

Work 7 rnds in stockinette.

Continue working the 8-rnd stripes until you’ve last completed a stripe in color A and have 1 (2, 2, 3, 4) stripes of color A (with the same number of color B stripes), plus the ribbing in color A. So, in total 2 (4, 4, 6, 8) stripes. At this point, the yoke (not counting the ribbing) measures about 6 (12, 12, 18, 24) cm. The yoke should now reach the dog’s front legs.

Short rows for front shoulder

Divide the sts for the belly and back as follows: Continue in color B. Remove the BOR marker. Transfer the last 14 (18, 22, 26, 30) sts of the previous round onto a stitch holder. These are the belly sts between the front legs.

Work only over the back sts, starting where the working yarn is. Work the short rows next.

Note: Work the edge sts normally (k on RS, p on WS), do not slip the edge sts.

Left side short rows

Always work the double stitch (DS) as one st when you come to it.

Short row 1 (RS): K 5 (4, 6, 9, 5), turn.

Short row 2 (WS): Make DS, p to end, turn.

Short row 3 (RS): K to DS, k DS, then k 3 (4, 3, 3, 4), turn.

Short row 4 (WS): Make DS, p to end, turn.

Repeat short rows 3 & 4 another 6 (8, 11, 13, 14) times.

Next row (RS): K 58 (86, 90, 110, 130) to the right side of the body. Turn.

Right side short rows

Short row 1 (WS): P 5 (4, 6, 9, 5), turn.

Short row 2 (RS): Make DS, k to end, turn.

Short row 3 (WS): P to DS, p DS, then p 3 (4, 3, 3, 4), turn.

Short row 4 (RS): Make DS, k to end, turn.

Repeat short rows 3 & 4 another 6 (8, 11, 13, 13) times.

Leave the 58 (86, 90, 110, 130) back sts on hold. Break yarn (or leave on hold).

Belly panel between front legs

Join a new yarn. Work flat over the belly sts only. Transfer the belly sts from the holder back onto your needle, join yarn on the RS of work, and proceed as follows:

Note: Work edge sts normally (k on RS, p on WS), do not slip the edge sts.

Row 1 (RS): K 14 (18, 22, 26, 30), turn. Continue working flat.

Row 2 (WS): P 14 (18, 22, 26, 30), turn.

Continue in stockinette until the belly panel measures about 7 (8, 11, 13, 14) cm. The panel should extend to the dog’s elbow when placed between the front legs, so that there is enough room for movement and it's easy to pick up sts later at the leg openings. Note that the short rows provide length over the shoulder, so the belly flap can be slightly longer than the short-row section.

Body

Rejoin the belly panel sts and the back sts to work in the round again so that you have 72 (104, 112, 136, 160) sts in total, as follows:

Rnd 1 (RS): K belly sts in color B, do not turn work, PM (BOR marker), then k back sts (continue in color A), join the belly again and k belly sts.

Rnd 2: K all sts.

Resume the 8-round stripe pattern.

Work in stockinette for about 2 (4, 4, 6, 6) more stripes in total (color A and color B stripes counted together).

Note: For a male dog, work one or two fewer stripes before beginning the belly shaping. The next steps will add another 1 (2, 2, 2, 2) stripes under the belly, plus a ribbing section.

Belly shaping

Depending on the shape of your dog’s belly, you can skip the belly shaping. If you choose to skip it, continue without decreasing. Proceed to work ribbing on the belly and stockinette on the back, maintaining the 8-rnd stripe pattern.

Setup rnd: [k2, p2] × 4 (5, 5, 6, 6), PM, k 26 (46, 50, 62, 82), PM, [p2, k2] × 4 (5, 5, 6, 6), PM, *p2, k2*, repeat *–* until 2 sts remain before BOR marker, p2, slM.

Decrease rnd 1: k1, ssk, work ribbing to marker, slM, k1, ssk, knit in stockinette to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, slM, work ribbing to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, slM, work ribbing to BOR marker. (4 sts decreased)

Rnd 2: K the k sts and p the p sts.

Repeat rnds 1 & 2 another 3 (7, 7, 7, 7) times. In total, 16 (32, 32, 32, 32) sts are decreased, leaving 56 (72, 80, 104, 128) sts.

You’ll add about 3 cm of length to the lower belly with the ribbing. The upper back and side sections will gain lenght with the following short rows.

Short rows for shaping belly and sides

Note! If necessary, break the yarn and rejoin in a convenient spot in order to keep the stripe pattern consistent.

Short row 1 (RS): Transfer the last 14 (18, 22, 26, 30) belly sts of the previous rnd onto a holder, work ribbing and stockinette over 41 (53, 57, 77, 97) sts (until 1 st remains in the rnd), turn.

Short row 2 (WS): Make DS, work ribbing/stockinette over 40 (52, 56, 76, 96) sts (1 st remains in the rnd), turn.

Short row 3 (RS): Make DS, work stockinette/ribbing until 1 st before the previous DS, turn.

Short row 4 (WS): Make DS, work stockinette/ribbing until 1 st before the previous DS, turn.

Repeat short rows 3 & 4 another 2 (3, 3, 4, 4) times. Leave 8 (10, 10, 12, 12) sts along each edge (where you worked the short rows) on hold on the circular needle cable. You have 26 (34, 38, 54, 74) sts in the center back. Leave the short-row sections on the needle and continue working only over the back sts.

Back

Row 1 (RS): K 26 (34, 38, 55, 74), turn.

Row 2 (WS): P 26 (34, 38, 55, 74), turn.

Continue in stockinette for 2 (3, 3, 5, 5) stripes, or until the piece is 3 cm from the tail. End with a WS row.

Back ribbing

Switch to 3.5 mm (US 4) needles.

Ribbing row 1 (RS): k2, *p2, k2*, repeat *–* to end of row.

Row 2 (WS): p2, *k2, p2*, repeat *–* to end of row.

Continue this rib for about 5 cm (or your preferred length). Bind off loosely in pattern.

Side and belly ribbing

Use 3.5 mm (US 4) needles.

Note: If you knitted a shorter/longer back, you might need to pick up a different number of sts than listed. In that case, pick up a number of sts that is divisible by 2 but not by 4.

Setup row (RS): With the RS facing you, starting from the right edge at the tail side (the dog’s right side when wearing the sweater), pick up and knit a number of sts divisible by 4 + 2 sts until you reach the short-row sts, PM, work the short-row sts in ribbing, pick up the belly sts, work them in ribbing, work the other short-row sts in ribbing, PM, then pick up along the opposite edge a number of sts divisible by 4 + 2 sts.

Begin working [k2, p2] ribbing, making sure it lines up with the sts under the belly and at the sides where the short rows were worked. Work 1 row in ribbing.

Row 2 (WS): Work 2×2 ribbing.

Short Rows

Right-side short rows

Short row 1 (RS): Work ribbing until 1 st before marker, turn.

Short row 2 (WS): Make DS, work ribbing to end, turn.

Short row 3 (RS): Work ribbing to 3 sts before DS, turn.

Short row 4 (WS): Make DS, work ribbing to end, turn.

Repeat short rows 3 & 4 another 2 (3, 4, 5, 5) times. Note! You can adjust the number of short rows as you like.

Next row (RS): Work ribbing across to the left side (slipping markers as you come to them, and work each DS as one st).

Left-side short rows

Short row 1 (WS): Work ribbing until 1 st before marker, turn.

Short row 2 (RS): Make DS, work ribbing to end, turn.

Short row 3 (WS): Work ribbing to 3 sts before DS, turn.

Short row 4 (RS): Make DS, work ribbing to end, turn.

Repeat short rows 3 & 4 another 2 (3, 4, 5, 5) times. Continue as follows:

Row 1 (WS): Work ribbing to the right side of the sweater, to end of row.

Row 2 (RS): Work ribbing to end of row.

Repeat rows 1 & 2 until the ribbing measures about 3 cm (or desired length) in the middle of the ribbing on the belly side. End with a WS row.

Bind off loosely in pattern.

Front leg ribbing

Use 3.5 mm (US 4) needles. On the RS, pick up and knit 28 (36, 44, 52, 52) sts around the front leg opening. If needed, pick up more sts than stated, but ensure the total is divisible by 4. Begin the ribbing rnd:

Rnd 1: *k2, p2*, repeat *–* around.

Work ribbing for 5 cm or your preferred length. Bind off loosely in pattern.

Knit the ribbing for the other leg in the same way.

Finishing

Weave in all ends, soak the sweater, and lay it flat to dry, shaping it to the correct measurements.