Saba's Doggie Sweater
I had to design a pattern for my high school knitting course. So what I wanted to design for my first time was something for my dog. I thought a sweater could really do for him since he has short hair and our Canadian winters are pretty harsh. I wanted something. warm and also something stretchy, so it wouldn't feel too uncomfortable for him. But I didn't want some plain looking sweater, I at least wanted it to look cute. It didn't have to be fancy, just cute. :) I hope you like it as much as I do.
SIZE:
For a medium-sized dog but you can alter the size. The pictured dog's measurements are: Neck: 12 inches (circumference), 6 inches (length) Length of body from shoulder to just about after ribs: 9 inches
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS:
Neck: $10\%$ inches (circumference unstretched), 6 inches (length) Body of sweater: 20 inches (circumference), 9 inches (length without neck) Sleeves: $5\%$ inches (circumference unstretched), 3 inches (length)
MATERIALS:
1 ball each of any red, white,brown and blue striped worsted weight yarn, e.g. $100\%$ acrylic BERNAT BERELLA “4", $100\mathrm{g}/3.5\;\mathrm{oz}/192\;\mathrm{m}/210$ yds per ball Tapestry needle
RECOMMENDED NEEDLE SIZES:
1 set $5\mathrm{mm}$ straight needles 1 set $7\mathrm{mm}$ straight needles
GAUGE:
14 sts/21 rows $=$ 4inches in stockinette stitch
SCHEMATIC:
PATTERN NOTES:
You don't have to do any striping in the pattern; you can use one solid colour instead. If you are striping, my set was 4 rows of every colour AFTER the ribbing. All the ribbing that I did was in red, but that was just my choice; you may switch things around. My dog is also a male so I had to stop just about after his ribs or he would pee all over it while wearing it (haha), but if your dog is a female you may go as long as to her back legs.
PATTERN:
Back part:
Starting from the neck, cast on 52 sts on size 5mm needle and knit $2\mathbf{x}2$ ribbing for 6 inches for a turtleneck. Once desired length is reached change to $7\mathrm{mm}$ needles. Begin stripes if you like (remember that I did each colour for 4 rows) in stockinette st. Knit for your desired length BUT stop once 2 inches short of desired length of work. Once you're at 2 inches short of work, switch back to 5mm needles and rib 2x2 for those 2 inches. Bind off.
Tummy part:
Using 5mm needles cast on 3 sts and start knitting in stockinette st. Increase 2 sts every other row, placing the increases one stitch before both edges. (Continue stripes.) Once you get to the correct length from neck to midway between the dog's two front legs, STOP increases and just continue to work straight. Again at 2 inches short of desired length, switch to 2x2 ribbing and bind off.
Sleeves:
Cast on 24 sts on 5mm needles and work in rib for $2\%$ inches, then bind off.
FINISHING:
Seam the sleeves into tubes (if you did not work in the round) Seam the neck portions of the back and Tummy parts. Once the neck is done connect the rest of the Back and Tummy parts together, remembering to join up the stripes as you are seaming along. REMEMBER to leave spaces for the legs, and see how much space you need as you go. Sew the sleeves into the spaces. Weave in ends. TADA! Finished.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER:
I am an 18-year-old just geting started into knitting. I started noticing that I am getting addicted (hehe). So I for sure will continue to knit other things. I'm creative, fun and love horses so I guess one of my other project would to be knit something for a horse; heeehaa. :)
