Houndstooth Hundestrickjacke
Karen Roman, wordspictures@hotmail.com I threw this together when my dear friend Amy wanted a very, uh, flamboyant sweater for her dachshund Elvis. Apparently, Elvis' favorite color is purple. I had some leftover Caron Simply Soft Brites that I had purchased for : baby blanket, and I figured that would make a nice, washable dog sweater. Since I was knitting for a hound, what would be more classic than Houndstooth? And since he is a German hound, then I decided his sweater should have a German name--Houndstooth Hundestrickjacke. I have no idea if that is proper German, but I like the sound of it.
Yarn: Worsted weight, washable yarn in two colors-175 yards of main color and 70 yards of contrast color. I used Caron Simply Soft Brites, in Grape and Lemonade Needles: Circular or DPNs in sizes 6 and 7 (or whatever it takes to knit to the gauge that willfit your dog) Directions: With main color and size 6 needles, cast on 108 stitches. Join to work in the round. Work K1,P1 ribbing for 1 inch. Attach contrast color, switch to size 7 needles and begin houndstooth pattern, working until piece measures 4 1/2 inches.
Place two straight pins 6 inches apart in body of fabric. These will mark the armholes. (Your dog may require a slightly different stitches centered at each pin, until you return to the first set of bound-off stitches. These mark the armholes. Knit back and forth in pattern across back between armholes until piece measures 7 1/4 inches. Break yarn. Knit back and forth in pattern across chest between armholes until chest matches back, 7 1/4 inches. Return to knitting in the round, casting on three stitches for the top of each armhole, and knit in pattern until piece measures 9 inches. Switch to size 6 needles and work K1,P1 ribbing for 4 1/2 inches. Bind off. To work sleeves, pick up stitches around each armhole, and work K1, P1 ribbing for one inch. Bind off. Weave ends. I just finished the sweater, and there was no dog to try it on. My cat Will Riker "offered" to model, to stunning results.
