Fashion-conscious pups everywhere will rave over this simple knit turtleneck sweater. It’s unbelievably easy to alter as far as fit goes, making it ideal for a wide range of sizes. The key is to have current, accurate measurements of your couture-loving canine. To measure for this – or any – sweater, you will need a simple seamstresses measuring tape (a little less than a dollar at Wal-Mart or craft stores), a pen, paper, and – to be honest – a healthy dose of patience.
With the tape, measure (and record!) the length of the dog’s neck from the back of the head to the point of the shoulder blades. Then measure around the widest point of the chest. Next, measure across the top of the front leg where it meets the body. Finally, measure the length of the back from the point of the shoulder blade to the base of the tail, and the length of the chest from the point of the chest (where the chest “arches” between the front legs) to the end of the rib cage.
*Note: for most boys, it’s best to make the chest piece a bit on the short side, to prevent splashing during walkies!
Materials needed:
Size 8 US straight needles
Darning needle
1-2 skeins Red Heart Super Saver or Caron Simply Soft yarn in the color of your choice.
Gauge:
16 sts x 24 rows = 4″ x 4″ swatch
Sizes:
Small – back length 12″, chest circumference 14″
Medium – back L 14″, chest C 18″
Large – back L 16″, chest C 22″
*Note: these sizes are simply to be used as guidelines, as your dog’s individual measurements may vary. For instance, while a Jack Russell Terrier may fit the size small well, the back length would be far too short for, say, a Dachshund with the same chest circumference.
Instructions:
(Knit from the top down)
Back:
Cast on 36 (48, 56) stitches (sts). Work in 2×2 rib (k2, p2) until piece measures 1.5 to 2 times the length of the dog’s neck (depends on how high you want the turtleneck to rest on the dog’s neck).
Switch to stockinette stitch (knit right side row, purl wrong side row) until stockinette section measures 10″ (12″, 14″) – or 2″ less than the length you need to cover your dog’s back.
Continue in 2×2 rib for 2″.
Bind off loosely in the rib pattern.
Chest:
Cast on 4 stitches. Work in stockinette stitch for four rows.
Row 5 – knit 1, yarn over, knit 2, yarn over, knit 1
Row 6 – purl across (6 sts)
Continue to increase as above at each end of each knit row, until stitch count reaches 20 (24, 32) sts.
Continue in stockinette stitch until chest piece is 2″ less than desired length.
Switch to 2×2 rib for 2″.
Bind off loosely in rib pattern.
Finishing:
Thread the darning needle with a piece of scrap yarn. With right sides together, sew together the rib portion of the neck of the sweater.
Sew the chest piece to the back piece; continue the chest seam until reaching the point of increase on the chest piece (in other words, the first four rows that were done before increasing).
Leave an opening on both sides of the sweater (along the increases), basing the length of the opening on the measurements you took of the dog’s front leg.
Sew the rest of the side seams to finish attaching the two pieces, being sure that the bottom of the chest piece joins the back piece at the same point on both sides. It may be helpful to mark the row where you should end up in some way; I tend to use safety pins.
Weave in all yarn ends.
Voila! You have just created a nifty little sweater that your dog will love, especially if it gets cold in the winter in your area. Not to mention, the yarns specified in this pattern are 100% acrylic, so they’re tough enough to take a beating, and they are fairly inexpensive. However, any worsted weight yarn could be substituted, as long as your gauge matches up. Good luck, and have fun!
