Dog Sweater

This basic two-panel sweater is easy to make and can be embellished with an optional turtleneck or leg cuff ribbing.  My little dog Mille is shown here in a basic pink sweater with no leg or neck ribbing.  If you’re feeling a little more adventurous and a simple sweater just won’t do for your pooch then try the cabled sweater variation also modeled by Millie and described at the end of the instructions. 

 A thick worsted wool yarn will keep your pooch warm and cozy during winter walks or romps in the yard. 

Dog Sizes (approximate)  - represented in pattern as S (M, L, XL)

Small   6-10 lbs

Medium  10-20 lbs

Large  20-40 lbs

Extra Large 40-75 lbs

Materials

Worsted weight yarn, 220 (440, 440, 660) yds

Size 7 (4.5 mm) dpns

Size 5 (3.74 mm) dpns or 24 inch circular needle

Tapestry needle

Stitch holder (cable needle)

Sweater Back

To start the neck edge, CO 48 (66, 88, 98) sts onto larger dpns. 

K row 1, P row 2 and continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures approximately 8 (12, 16, 18) in, ending with P row (WS).

Decrease sweater back with following pattern:

Row 1:  K1, K2tog, K across until last 3 sts, K2tog, K1

Row 2:  P all sts

Repeat pattern 8 (10, 12, 12) times until piece measures approx 12 (16, 21, 23) inches. 

Loosely bind off all sts.

Underpanel

CO 7 sts onto larger dpns.  Work this panel in K1 P1 ribbing as follows:

Row 1:  K1, P1; repeat until end

Row 2: P1, K1; repeat until end

Row 3:  KFB, P1, then K1, P1 until last st, KFB

Continue this 3-row pattern increasing 1 st at each edge every 3^rd row 7 (9, 13, 16) times until 21 (25, 33, 39) sts are on the needle. 

Continue in K1 P1 pattern until piece measures 8 (12, 16, 18) from CO edge.

Place all sts onto holder.

Assembling

Thread the tapestry needle and align the straight edges of the sweater back to the underpanel (right sides together).  Stitch pieces together, leaving a 2 (2.5, 3, 3.5) inch opening for the legs starting approximately 3 (5, 7, 8).

Finishing

Neck edge

On RS of sweater, pick up 52 (64, 72, 82) sts evenly onto smaller dpns or circular needle around the neck edge. Work in K1 P1 ribbing until desired length is reached according to styles below:

Crew Neck – ¾ inch ribbing

Mock Turtleneck – 1.5 inch ribbing

Turtleneck – 3 inch ribbing

Bind off all sts

Leg Cuffs (optional)

 With dpns pick up 24 (28, 30, 36) sts evenly around leg opening.  Work in K1 P1 ribbing for 5 rounds. Bind off sts.

Lower Sweater edge

Using circular needle, pick up 82 (110, 136, 166) sts around lower edge of sweater including all sts on the needle holder.  Matching the pattern of the underpanel, work 5 rounds in K1 P1 ribbing.  Bind off sts loosely. 

Cable Knit Variation

Sweater Back

To start the neck edge, CO 48 (66, 88, 98) sts onto larger dpns. 

Row 1: K all sts

Row 2:  P all sts

Start this 6 row Cable Pattern (shown for size small, adjust accordingly for other sizes):

Row 1:  K18, P1, K4, P2, K4, P1, K18 to finish row

Row 2:  P18, K1, P4, K2, P4, K1, P18 to finish row

Row 3:  K18, P1, C4F, P2, C4B, P1, K18 to finish row

Row 4:  P18, K1, P4, K2, P4, K1, P18 to finish row

Row 5:  K18, P1, K4, P2, K4, P1, K18 to finish row

Row 6:  P18, K1, P4, K2, P4, K1, P18 to finish row

Continue in cable pattern until piece measures approximately 8 (12, 16, 18) inches ending with P row (WS).

Decrease sweater back following the same cable pattern with following modifications:

Row 1, 3 and 5:  K1, K2tog, K across until last 3 sts, K2tog, K1

Repeat pattern 8 (10, 12, 12) times until piece measures approx 12 (16, 21, 23) inches. 

Loosely bind off all sts.  Finish as above. 

Abbreviations:

CO – cast on

Dpns – double pointed needles

K – knit

K2tog – Knit 2 sts together to decrease stitch count by one

KFB – knit the front and back of the same st to increase st count by 1

P – purl

RS – right side

St - stitch

WS – wrong side

CFB - slip 2 sts onto cable needle and hold in back while K2 from left needle, then K2 from cable needle

C4F - slip 2 sts onto cable needle and hold in front while K2 from left needle, then K2 from cable needle



Football

This soft and squishy knit football means no longer having to tell the boys and men in your life that they cannot play ball in the house!  This will also makes a nice toy for that special dog especially if you can find a squeaker to tuck inside.

Materials

One skein worsted weight yarn in medium brown

 One set double pointed needles (DPN) size US 5 (3.75 mm)

White or ivory scrap yarn for football laces

Tapestry needle

Polyester fiberfill for stuffing

Instructions  for  a football approximately 7 inches by 4 inches

Using 3 DPNs, cast on 6 sts and divide so there are 2 sts on each needle

Join ends to make a circle making sure the sts are not twisted.

K one round

KFB around (12 sts)

K 2 rounds

K1, KFB; repeat pattern around (18 sts)

K 2 rounds

K2, KFB; repeat pattern around (24 sts)

K 2 rounds

Continue this pattern 6 more times until there are 60 sts total:

 K (prior number +1), KFB around 

K 2 rounds

You’ve now reached the widest portion of the football.  Add a scrap of yarn to mark your starting point and then continue knitting around for 15 rounds or until this mid-section measures about 2 inches.

It’s now time to decrease the rounds in a similar though opposite way as the stitching was

increased, but first stuff the portion of the football you have completed with the fiberfill.  Stuff it fully and firmly but without distorting the shape of the ball or pulling the stitches apart. 

K8, K2tog;  Continue pattern around (54 sts)

K 2 rounds

K7, K2tog;  Continue pattern around (48 sts)

K2 rounds

Continue this pattern 6 more times until 12 sts remain, adding more stuffing after every 4-6 rounds:

 K (prior number - 1), KFB around 

K 2 rounds

Finish stuffing to desired fullness, checking the shape to be sure it is football-like.

 K2tog all around (6 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving 4 inches.  Thread tapestry needle and pass through all sts.  Pull tight and tie off.  Pass through center

Football laces

Mark placement of your stitches with safety pins.  Thread your needle and stitch the long, lengthwise lace first.  Stitch the short crosswise laces over the long lace as shown, passing yarn on the inside between stitches.  Tie a knot, cut yarn and tuck end between sts into ball.   

Abbreviations

DPN – double-pointed needles

K – Knit

K2tog – Knit two stitches together to reduce stitch count by one

KFB – knit into the front and back of the same stitch to increase stitch count by one

Sts – stitches