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DIY Quick and Easy Small Dog Clothes: Turn Baby Clothes into Small Dog Clothes

Baby Clothes

I love small dogs and from raising Chihuahuas I have found that they get cold very easily. Many small dog clothes are cute but only cover my pets’ backs, with an adjustable strap across their chests and around their bellies, or they are just costumes that do little to keep dogs warm. And the cost could run from $15 on up! This does little for helping keep their tiny tummies warm. Then, when my niece had her baby, I was picking up some of those sweet baby clothes and it hit me: Baby clothes would fit my dog! Grabbing an extra four pack of cute onesies and heading for the sewing department to buy some elastic and notions, I quickly went home and dragged out my sewing machine (although you can hand stitch these as well) setting to turn these baby clothes into warm shirts for my small dogs.

Note: These shirts for small dogs will be stretchy and are not suitable to be converted into a soft harness. This idea can also be used for larger dogs with a regular T-shirt.

The length of time it takes to make these shirts is about one hour. I estimate the cost of these at about $1.50 apiece. I picked up a five pack of onesies at Wal-Mart for $4, the thread for $2.25 and the elastic for $0.98.

Materials needed:
Baby onesie that will fit comfortably on your dog. (FYI: My Chihuahuas wear newborn 0 to 3 months. The neck area also fits nicely and there is no need for any neck adjustment on the garment. This should work for you too if you follow the package sizing by baby pounds to match your pets weight.)
Thread to match
¼ inch soft braided elastic or double-folded bias tape
Embellishments

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SAFETY NOTE: for embellishments you do not want to use anything that can be chewed, licked or pulled off and choked on. Use things like sew on appliqués, ruffles, ribbons. If you use lace make sure that their teeth cannot get caught in the lace and rip it. I use eyelet lace that cannot be easily torn.
Puffy paints, glitter, sequins, buttons, marabou feathers and bows are hazardous to your pet, especially if you have more than one, when playing they can chew these off and choke on them and to a puppy or dog they look tasty.

You can easily obtain the sewing materials at any craft store, fabric store and department store that sell sewing supplies. You can buy new onesie or go obtain them from your local Good Will or Thrift store for an even cheaper price.

1. Do a neck adjustment; Put the onesie on your pet. The Shoulders of a onesie is open for a babies head, Pull the opening of the back shoulder toward the front and mark it where it needs to be sewn. You want the opening no tighter than the collar would be. Remove the onesie and sew the shoulder where you marked it. See photo 1 for illustration.
2. Measure your pet’s length from its neck down the back; mark this on the back of the onesie. Cut the onesie off 1 inch longer than what you want. See Photo 2 for illustration.

3. Measure around the dogs belly for the elastic, leave one finger gap in measuring, you do not want the elastic to be tight as this will cut off it circulation and can injure your pet. Cut the elastic 1 inch longer than what you need.
Over lap the ends of the elastic and sew them together. This can be done by hand or machine. See Photo 3 for illustration.
NOTE – One hint the elastic around the waist makes it harder for your pet to remove its new shirt. If you do not want to use elastic then cut the item the exact length you want and use the bias tape around the edge instead of hemming it. This makes a cute decorative touch.
4. Next fold the ends of the onesie over the elastic to make the hem. You will want to double fold this. Carefully sew the hem of the onesie without catching the elastic. This too can be done by hand or machine. See Photo 4 for illustration.

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Embellish and you have a cute shirt for your pet to wear. See the finished shirts modeled by my beautiful babies.