Elf Dog Sweater Knitting Pattern (Free in 3 Sizes)

If you love dressing your dog in cute seasonal knits, this elf dog sweater knitting pattern is going to be a favourite.

This festive knitted dog sweater features bold red, green, and white stripes, a cozy ribbed neck, and the option to add little sleeves for extra warmth.

The pattern is worked in pieces (back, underside/chest, and neck), then seamed together, with simple 1×1 ribbing and stocking stitch throughout—perfect if you’re confident with the basics and want a fun, Christmassy project.

This dog sweater knitting pattern is available in three sizes – small, medium, and large – and is easy to adjust in length if your pup has a longer or shorter body.

Use a soft, chunky yarn to knit a warm elf-style dog jumper that’s ideal for winter walks, holiday photos, and Christmas morning cuddles.

Whether you’ve knit dog sweaters before or this is your very first knit dog sweater, I’ll walk you through everything.

Please scroll down to view the free pattern, or grab the printable PDF pattern in my shop here.

Before You Get Started

Before you cast on, here are a few things to keep in mind:

This pattern is worked mainly in stockinette stitch with 1×1 ribbing for the neck, hem, underside, and optional sleeves.
The sweater is knit flat for the body pieces and in the round for the neck and sleeves.
The instructions are written for small, medium, and large dogs, and I’ve included finished measurements so you can choose the best size for your pup.
The length and chest width are easily adjustable, so if you’re familiar with basic shaping, you can customise the fit.
A soft, non-itchy yarn is recommended—especially if your dog has sensitive skin or a short coat.

If you’ve never made dog sweaters before, don’t worry: this dog sweater knitting pattern uses straightforward techniques, and the construction is very approachable even for adventurous beginners.

Tools / Materials Needed

Yarn

Any Bulky/Chunky/12 Ply yarn that can be matched with 6 mm (US 10) needles.
I used Alize Lanagold Classic 49% Wool/51% Acrylic / 240m / 262 yds / 100g.
Yarn Substitute: Wool of The Andes Bulky Yarn

Yarn Requirements (approximate)

Small: 100 g – 240 m / 262 yds total
Medium: 150 g – 360 m / 393 yds total
Large: 170 g – 400–410 m / 445 yds total

Colors

Balls needed (all sizes):

– Yarn A (Green – shade 29): 1 x 100 g ball
– Yarn B (White – shade 62): 1 x 100 g ball
– Yarn C (Red – shade 56): 1 x 100 g ball

Needles

6 mm (US 10) circular knitting needles – use a 24″ or 32″ cable.

Notions

Scissors
Darning needle
Tape measure

elf stripes knitted dog sweater — Jason is around 30 kilos and is wearing a large-sized sweater.

Size Information

Choosing the right size is important for a comfortable fit.

Use your dog’s chest and back measurements as a guide and select the size that’s closest, then adjust the length if needed.

The instructions are for small, medium, and large dogs.

Finished Measurements (approximately, with ribbing relaxed)

Chest width at widest point:

S – 7–8 in / 18–20 cm
M – 10–12 in / 25–30 cm
L – 15–16 in / 38–41 cm

Chest/body circumference:

S – 14–16 in / 36–41 cm
M – 20–24 in / 51–61 cm
L – 30–32 in / 76–81 cm

Back length (excluding collar):

S – 11.5 in / 29 cm
M – 15.5 in / 39 cm
L – 18.5 in / 47 cm

Gauge

To ensure your knitted dog sweater fits correctly, take a moment to check your gauge: 15 sts and 22 rows = 4 x 4 in / 10 x 10 cm in stockinette stitch.

If your gauge is different, change the needle size until it matches.

Abbreviations

Here are the knitting abbreviations used in this dog sweater knitting pattern:

Cont – Continue
Dec – Decrease (you can K2tog)
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 (to decrease)
P – Purl
Rem – Remaining
Rep – Repeat
St(s) – Stitch(es)
St, st – Stockinette stitch
1 x 1 Ribbing – K1, P1

Pattern Instructions

Please scroll down to view the free pattern, or grab the printable PDF pattern in my shop here.

Pattern Notes

The pattern is written for all sizes, starting with the small size, with changes for the medium and large sizes shown in parentheses.
To follow the pattern more easily, circle or highlight all numbers that correspond to your dog’s size before you begin.
Sizes are given as: small (medium, large).

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

With Yarn A (Green), cast on 44 (64, 84) sts.

Work 2 rows in 1 × 1 rib.

Increase row (RS): Inc 1 st at each end of the row, keeping rib pattern correct.

Next row (WS): Work in rib, no increases.

Repeat these 2 rows 4 (4, 5) more times – 5 (5, 6) increase rows total – 54 (74, 96) sts.

Change to Yarn B (White) and work 6 rows in stocking stitch, starting with a knit row.

Medium only: On the first stocking stitch row, inc 1 st at one end of the row – 54 (75, 96) sts.

Continue in stocking stitch, changing colors from Yarn B (White) to Yarn C (Red) every 6 rows, until the piece measures 11.5 (15.5, 18.5) in / 29 (39, 47) cm, or to the desired length at the neck of your dog.

Last row (RS), shaping for each size:

Small: Dec 1 st at each end of the row.
Medium: Dec 1 st at one end of the row only.
Large: Dec 2 sts at each end of the row.

Working The Neck (Worked in the round)

Now you will join your work in the round to continue the ribbing for the neck, taking care not to twist the stitches.

Change to Yarn A (Green) and work in 1 × 1 ribbing on 52 (74, 92) sts for 4 (6, 8) inches/ 10 (15, 20) cm, or longer if you wish, depending on the length of your dog’s neck.

Cast off loosely in rib (you can go up a needle size to keep the cast-off edge stretchy).

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

With Yarn A (Green), cast on 20 (24, 28) sts and work in K1, P1 ribbing for 2 (3, 4) inches / 5 (7.5, 10) cm.
Last rib row (shaping):
– Small and Large: Inc 1 st at each end of the row (2 sts increased).
– Medium: Work straight, no increases.
You now have 22 (24, 30) sts.
Continue to work in K1, P1 ribbing until the piece measures 5.5 (6.5, 7.5) inches / 14 (16.5, 19) cm.
Next, decrease 1 st at the beg and end of every other row 5 (5, 6) times, then on every row until you have 2 sts left (all sizes).
Cast off.

Making Up

Sew the underside/chest to the main (back) piece, fitting the point of the underside to the opening underneath the neck.
On each side, seam for 3 (3.5, 4) inches / 7.5 (9, 10) cm, then leave a 2 (2.5, 3) inch / 5 (6.5, 7.5) cm gap for the leg holes.
Sew up the remaining length below the leg holes.
Weave in any loose ends.

Optional side ribbing (Shown in photos):

With your chosen yarn (for example, Yarn A Green), and with the right side facing, pick up and knit stitches evenly along the red and white striped edge on one side, starting just above the chest ribbed band and stopping beside the start of the green ribbing on the back piece.

The exact number of stitches is not critical – simply pick up enough stitches so that the ribbing lies flat (aim for a neat, even look along the edge).

Work 4 rows in 1 × 1 ribbing, then cast off loosely in rib.

Repeat along the striped edge on the other side.

Weave in any loose ends.

Could you share your work with us?

I love seeing your finished projects on social media.

If you enjoyed making the elf dog sweater, I’d love to see yours on Instagram, tag me @handylittleme.

If you are on Facebook, visit the handylittleme Facebook group and share a photo.

You can also find me on Ravelry, Pinterest, and YouTube.

I’d love to see your work.

Happy Knitting!

Make A Matching Hat

You can also knit a matching striped elf hat, so your dog has the full festive look.

Use the same red, green, and white yarn to create a cute little elf hat with ribbing and stripes—perfect for holiday photos and extra Christmas cheer!

View that pattern here: Dog Christmas Hat Pattern (Holiday Elf Hat For Dogs)

FAQ – Elf Dog Sweater Pattern

Can beginners knit this elf dog sweater?

This pattern is suitable for advanced beginners or confident knitters who are comfortable with knit and purl stitches, simple increases and decreases, seaming, and knitting in the round.

If you’ve made a few scarves, hats, or simple garments and want to try dog sweaters, this is a great next step.

How do I measure my dog for this sweater?

To choose the best size for your knitted dog sweater, measure:

Chest circumference – Around the widest part of your dog’s chest, just behind the front legs.
Back length – From the base of the neck (where the collar sits) to the base of the tail.
Neck circumference – Around the base of the neck.

Compare your measurements with the finished measurements in the size section and pick the closest size.

You can adjust the length by working more or fewer rows before shaping.

Can I adjust the length of the sweater?

Yes, the pattern is very adjustable:

To make the back longer or shorter, simply work more or fewer rows in stocking stitch before you reach the neck opening length.
You can also adjust the underside/chest length to match your dog’s body and comfort.

Just remember to keep both back and underside lengths in proportion so the leg openings sit in the right place.

What type of yarn is best for a knit dog sweater?

I recommend a soft, bulky, or chunky yarn that works well with 6 mm (US 10) needles.

A wool/acrylic blend is ideal—it’s warm, hard-wearing, and easier to wash than 100% wool.

Avoid very scratchy yarns, especially if your dog has a short coat or sensitive skin.

If your dog tends to overheat, you could substitute a wool blend for a lighter acrylic or cotton blend and keep the dog sweater for chilly days.

Can I make the neck or sleeves longer?

Absolutely.

For a longer, cozier neck, simply work more rounds in 1×1 ribbing before casting off.
For longer sleeves, pick up the same number of stitches around the leg hole but knit extra rounds in ribbing until you reach your desired length.

Always try the sweater on your dog as you go to check comfort and fit.

How do I wash this elf dog sweater?

Always check the yarn label first.

In general:

Hand wash in cool water with a gentle detergent.
Squeeze out excess water (don’t wring), then lay flat to dry.
Reshape the knit dog sweater while it’s damp so it dries to the right dimensions.

Machine washing may be possible with some yarns, but use a gentle cycle and a laundry bag, and always dry flat.

More Dog Sweaters

For more dog sweater knitting patterns, you may be interested in this post, which features a roundup of 20 fall dog sweater patterns – 20 Beautiful Fall Dog Sweater Knitting Patterns

You may also like these free patterns for dog sweaters for dogs of all sizes, with some accessories too: