Girlie-girlie Dog Sweater & Rough and Ready Dog sweater

This pattern calls for expert or advanced knowledge of design as it is organic and changes with the size of each dog. The first template being shown is made for a slightly chubby but very adorable little Berna-doodle named Ivy. There is a slit in the back for those who use halters instead of collars when walking your dog. You can make it without the slit if you just use a collar.

Yarn required: worsted weight less than a skein per colour. Shown in photo using Red Heart Comfort yarn - 16 oz - 867 yard balls. No dye lot in pink. Also, Red Heart Comfort variegated yarn - 12 oz - 646 yard balls. I'm pretty sure you would use less than a Red Heart Super Saver Big ball of yarn.

Hook size: Even though the yarn mentioned above called for a 5.5mm hook, I used a 5mm hook.

Stitches used: SC for body, SC in back loop for collar, DC for legs and skirt frill.

You need to measure from the bottom of the neck under the dog to the start of the front legs for the 1st increase part of the template. You will see that the distance is different for each dog.

Here is the template I made and used for Ivy:

The collar was done using SC in circular pattern for as many rows as needed. Each row was a SC in back look only to give it a ridged appearance in the solid colour.

The body was done using the variegated colour. The distance from the base of Ivy's neck and her front legs was about 5". After increasing to the actual width you want to do one round of SC.

The hole in the back and the legs start on the same round. The "join" of each round will be in the belly underneath, but this pattern is worked in the round so there will really only be the join for the collar. It is a good marker, though. You will need stitch markers for the legs and the hole in the back because there will be 3 sections (1: side to opening of 1st leg hole, 2: between 1st and 2nd leg hole and 3: outside of 2nd leg hole to other side) . So, the diameter of the sweater is 13.5" and you need 5" between the inside of the legs and you need an opening about 2.5" diameter for each leg. the slit in the back (if you are using this) will be in the centre. Make sure when you start decreasing for the leg holes that you keep track of the number of decreases needed on each side of the hole so you can duplicate this for the 2nd hole. 

The leg holes are rounded with DC for 2 or 3 rounds, depending on the leg length of the dog. 

I put an edge of crab stitch on the hole in the back for the halter.

The skirt frill was made by picking up and DC in each stitch across the top of the back for the first round. Each round after that was 2 DC in each stitch. There was a total of 4 rows of DC for skirt frill.

This pattern was a real organic thing and Ivy tolerated me running over to her and constantly  measuring her dimensions. 

ROUGH AND READY DOG SWEATER

This dog in these photos is a Golden-doodle, named Remi,  who measures about the size of a miniature poodle. A rambunctious boy dog with different measurements.

I could have made the opening for his legs a bit wider (perhaps 2.5" to 3" each), and the back a bit longer but this was a first attempt. Here is the template for a boy dog.

The harness distance is from the bottom of the neck on the back.

The turtle neck shows better in Remi's photos than Ivy's. I used a front post TR around the stitch two rows below to get the grid pattern. Remi's was in SC, if I recall, and Front Post TR every 4 or 5 stitches around on every 3rd round. The grid was also very organic and, in my case, was not evenly spaced but still came out looking pretty good.

You will notice the decrease underneath started much sooner for a boy than a girl. 

Remi was also very tolerant of my running in and getting his measurements on a regular basis. 

As I mentioned before, this is a very organic pattern and you would need to have a better than intermediate level of design and crocheting skills. Also, a lot of a patience because you will be ripping it apart several times if you are anything like me when creating something. 

I hope you enjoy this! Have fun!