Dog Sweater Free Knitting Pattern

I know you might be considering making a funky Halloween Costume for your dog after seeing reviewing all these great Halloween dog costumes.

However, if you have little time, make a dog sweater instead, one that you can use from now on till the end of Winter/early Spring. Somehow, it seems to be a more rewarding project to do. And I’m not alone in this thought… Martha had the same ideas and featured this dog sweater on her show a little while ago.

Below is the knitting pattern for the dog sweater shown on Francesca (Martha’s dog on the right). Make one for your own four-footer friend to stay warm while outside. This dog sweater is the perfect dog accessory now that the Fall leaves are definitely here and the evening walks are nippy.

Free Knitting Pattern

Materials Needed for Dog Sweater

Lion Brand® Nature’s Choice Organic^® Cotton – need 2 (3,5,6) skeins

Knitting Needles, Size 8

Large-Eye Blunt Needle

5 buttons

SKILL LEVEL: Easy

SIZE: Small, Medium, Large, 1X
Finished Chest 19 1/2 (23 1/2, 27 1/2, 31 1/2) in. (49.5 (59.5, 70, 80) cm)
Sizing Notes: Sweater will stretch to fit ‘in-between’ sizes. For dogs who are much smaller than the size “S”, OR for dogs who are much larger than the size “XL”, adjustments to the sweaters can be made as follows:

For Smaller Sweater: Subtract 2 sts from the Back, 2 sts from the Underpiece, and 3 sts from the Neckband for each 1 in. (2.5 cm) of difference between your dog’s measurements and the measurements of the size “S” sweater. To shorten the length of sweater, subtract equal amounts from the final length of the Back and the Underpiece.

For Larger Sweater: Add 2 sts to the Back, 2 sts to the Underpiece, and 3 sts to the Neckband for each 1 in. (2.5 cm) of difference between your dog’s measurements and the measurements of the size ”XL” sweater. To increase the length of sweater, add equal amounts to the final length of the Back and the Underpiece. Note: An additional ball of yarn may be required for adjustments made to the “XL” sweater.

Finished Length 13 (16, 20, 24) in. (33 (40.5, 51, 61) cm)
Note: Pattern is written for smallest size with changes for larger sizes in parentheses. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes. To follow pattern more easily, circle all numbers pertaining to your size before beginning.

GAUGE

16 sts + 24 rows = 4 in. (10 cm) in St st (k on RS, p on WS). BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. If it takes you fewer stitches and rows to make a 4 in. [10 cm] square, try using a smaller size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles.

STITCH EXPLANATION

Seed Stitch (over odd number of sts)
Row 1: *K1, p1; rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 2: P the knit sts and k the purl sts.
Rep Row 2 for Seed Stitch.

BACK

Cast on 49 (63, 73, 85) sts.
Work in Seed st until piece measures 1 1/2 in. (4 cm) from beg, end with a WS row.

Next Row (RS): Work 6 sts in Seed st as established, k to last 6 sts, work 6 sts in Seed st as established.

Keeping first and last 6 sts in Seed st, rem sts in St st (k on RS, p on WS), work until piece measures 5 (5

1/2, 6, 6) in. (12.5 (14, 15, 15 ) cm) from beg, end with a WS row.

Next Row (Buttonhole Row 1): Work 2 sts in Seed st, bind off 2 sts (buttonhole), work in pattern as established to last 4 sts, bind off 2 sts, work in pattern as established to end.

Next Row (Buttonhole Row 2): Work as established, casting on 2 sts over bound-off sts of previous row.

Work even in pattern as established, rep Buttonhole Rows every 12th (14th, 18th, 18th) row 1 (1, 2, 2) more times.

Work even until the piece measures 8 (11, 14, 16) in. (20.5 (28, 33.5, 40.5) cm) from beg, end with a WS Row.

Shape Neck

Next (Dec) Row: Work in Seed st as established over 6 sts, k2tog, k to last 8 sts, k2tog, work in Seed st to end – 47 (61, 71, 83) sts.

Rep Dec Row every 6th (6th, 8th, 12th) row 3 more times – 41 (55, 65, 77) sts.
Work even until final length of Back measures 13 (16, 20, 24) in. (33 (40.5, 51, 61) cm) from beg. Bind off.

UNDERPIECE

Cast on 35 (37, 43, 47) sts.

Work in Seed st until piece measures 1 1/2 in. (4 cm) from beg.

Next Row (RS): Work 6 sts in Seed st as established, k to last 6 sts, work 6 sts in Seed st as established.

Keeping first and last 6 sts in Seed st, rem sts in St st, work until piece measures 4 1/2 (7, 10, 10 1/2) in. (11.5 (18, 25.5, 26.5) cm) from beg, end with a WS Row.

Bind off 4 sts at beg of next 2 rows – 27 (29, 35, 39) sts. Next (Dec) Row: Work 2 sts in Seed st, k2tog, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, work 2 sts in Seed st – 25 (27, 33, 37) sts.

Continue as established, keeping first and last 2 sts in Seed st, rem sts in St st, AT THE SAME TIME, rep Dec Row every other row 2 (0, 3, 3) more times, every 4th row 4 (7, 7, 9) times – 13 sts rem after all decs have been worked.

Work even in pattern as established until final length of Underpiece measures 8 1/2 (12, 16 1/2, 18) in. (21.5 (30.5, 42, 45.5) cm) from beg. Bind off

NECKBAND

Cast on 59 (73, 83, 95) sts.
Work 5 rows in Seed st.
Next Row: Work 3 sts in Seed st, bind off next 2 sts (buttonhole), work in Seed st to end.
Next Row: Work in Seed st, casting on 2 sts over bound-off sts of previous row.
Work 5 rows in Seed st. Bind off.

POCKET

Cast on 17 sts.

Work in St st until piece measures about 3 in. (7.5 cm) from beg, end with a WS row. Work 5 rows in Seed st for top edge. Bind of

FINISHING

Sew Pocket, centered, to Back.

Beg at bound-off (neck) edges, seam sides of Underpiece to Back for 1 (1, 2, 2) in. (2.5 (2.5, 5, 5) cm).

Pin Neckband around neck edge allowing buttonhole end to overlap Neckband by 1 1/2 in. (4 cm).

Sew band in place, leaving overlapped end free.

Sew buttons opposite buttonholes on Underpiece and Neckband.

Weave in ends.

KNITTING ABBREVIATIONS

beg = begin(s)(ning) dec = decreas(e)(s)(ing) k = knit k2tog = knit 2 together p = purl rem = remain(s)(ing)

rep = repeat(s)(ing) RS = right side St st = Stockinette stitch st(s) = stitch(es) WS = wrong side

Pattern Source: lionbrand.com

Photo Credit: Anders Krusberg/The Martha Stewart Show

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