How to knit a sweater for dog

This knitted dog sweater pattern can be made in three sizes.

It is made in two pieces, knit flat on straight knitting needles, and then seamed.

Scroll down to view the free pattern or you can grab your printer-friendly, ad-free PDF here.

This is an easy pattern for those of you who are advanced beginner level, and the techniques you will need to know are casting on, casting off, knit, purl, increasing, and decreasing stitches.

As it has been knit in two pieces, there is seaming needed to join the underside of the sweater to the back piece.

I made the dog sweater using bulky yarn, this is medium 05 yarn.

I used Alize Lanagold Classic in Navy – 49% Wool/51% Acrylic / 240m/100g.

Any bulky/chunky/12 ply yarn that can be used with 6mm (US 10) needles will be okay to use for this pattern.

Grab your inexpensive ad-free, PDF printable pattern in my shop here.

Notes

Knit with 6mm (US 10) knitting needles and bulky/chunky/12-ply yarn, the dog sweater is a great pattern for any advanced beginner knitters as well as the more experienced ones.

The main body of the dog sweater is knit flat, then joined in the round to complete the neck.

The pattern is written for all sizes starting with the small size – with changes for different sizes listed in all necessary places.
To follow the pattern more easily, circle or highlight all numbers pertaining to your dog’s size before beginning.
The small size is listed first, then the medium and large in ().

Copyright Info

Please do not copy, sell, redistribute or republish this pattern.
If you wish to share this pattern, link to the pattern page only.
You may sell items produced using this pattern.
In all product listings please credit Handy Little Me (Louise Bollanos) as the designer.
Do NOT use the copyrighted photos for your product listing.
For the copyright T&C please read my Terms of Use.

Skill Level – Easy

Gauge – Dog sweater – 18 sts and 24 rows to 4×4 inches / 10 x 10 cm in K3, P3 ribbing.

Size / Measurements

The instructions are for small, medium, and large dogs.
The sizes are easily adjustable for the length of the body and the width of the chest.
Width of chest at widest point: S – 7-8 inches / M – 10-12 inches / L – 15-16 inches.
Circumference of chest/body: S – 14/16 inches / M – 20/24 inches / L – 30/32 inches.
Length od back piece excluding the collar: S – 11.5 inches / M – 15.5 inches / L – 18.5 inches.

Cont – Continue
Dec – Decrease (you can K2tog or cast off)
Foll – Following
Inc – Increase (you can KFB)
K – Knit
KFB – Knit into the front and back of the stitch to increase
K2tog – Knit the next two stitches together
P – Purl
Rem – Remaining
Rep – Repeat
St(s) – Stitch(es)
St, st – Stockinette stitch
2 x 2 Ribbing – K2, P2
3 x 3 ribbing – K3, P3

Stitch Pattern Notes

2 x 2 ribbing = K2, P2, and 3 x 3 ribbing K3, P3 – It is obtained by alternating knit and purl stitches in one row and “knitting by pattern” in every next row.

This means that we make a knit stitch when the previous row stitch looks like V and make a purl stitch when the previous one looks like a bump.

2×2 Ribbing – Cast On: even number of stitches (multiples of 4).

Row 1 (RS): (k2, p2) till the end of the row.
Row 2 (WS): (k2, p2) till the end of the row.

Repeat these two rows.

This is a reversible pattern, meaning that both sides of your work, the right and wrong sides, are identical.

3×3 Ribbing – Cast On: even number of stitches (multiples of 6).

Row 1 (RS): (k3, p3) till the end of the row.
Row 2 (WS): (k3, p3) till the end of the row.

Repeat these two rows.

This is a reversible pattern, meaning that both sides of your work, the right and wrong sides, are identical.

The Back Piece – (Knit flat – back and forth on the needles)

Cast on 44 (64/84) sts.

Work in 2×2 ribbing for 2 rows.
Increase 1 st at each end of every other row 5 (5/6) times, forming new patterns in ribbing as you work.
Next work K3, P3 ribbing – (for size medium only – increase 1 st at each end of this first row).
Continue to work in K3, P3 ribbing until the piece measures 11.5 (15.5/18.5) inches or any desired length to the neck of your dog.
Decrease 1 st at each end of the last row – (For the medium size decrease 2 sts at each end of the last row and for the large size decrease 2 sts at each end of the last row).

Working The Neck (Worked in the round)

Now you will join your work in the round to continue the ribbing for the neck.

Work in 2 x 2 ribbing (K2, P2) on 52 (72/92) sts for 4 (5-6) inches or longer if you wish depending on the length of your dog’s neck.
Cast off loosely in rib.

The Underside/Chest (Knit flat – back and forth on the needles)

Cast on 20 (24/28) sts and work in K2/P2 ribbing for 2 (3/4) inches.
Increase 1 (0/2) sts at the end of the last row of ribbing.
Change to work in K3, P3 ribbing until the piece measures 5.5 (6.5/7.5) inches.
Decrease 1 st at the beg and end of every other row 5 (5/6) times, then every row until you have 2 sts left (all sizes).
Cast off.

Making Up

Sew the underside/chest to the main piece, fitting the point of the underside to the opening underneath the neck.
Seam for 3 (3.5/4) inches and leave a 2 (2.5/3)inch gap for the leg holes on either side.
Sew up the rem length after the leg holes have been measured out.
Weave in any loose ends.

The Sleeves (if you want to add sleeves)

In the same colored yarn or a contrasting color, you may wish to add the sleeves.