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Knitted Dog Sweater Pattern (3 Sizes To Knit For Free)

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This knitted dog sweater pattern can be made in three sizes.

It is made in two pieces, knit flat on straight knitting needles, and then seamed.

Scroll down to view the free pattern, or grab your printer-friendly, ad-free PDF here.

Knitted dog sweater

An Easy Dog Sweater To Make

This is an easy pattern for those of you who are at the advanced beginner level, and the techniques you will need to know are casting on, casting off, knitting, purling, and increasing and decreasing stitches.

As it has been knit in two pieces, seaming is needed to join the underside of the sweater to the back piece.

Your pets will feel some comfort while wearing this great-fitting sweater.

Knitted Dog Sweater (3 Sizes To Knit For Free)

The Yarn I Used

I made the dog sweater using bulky yarn, which is a medium 05 yarn.

I used Alize Lanagold Classic in Navy – 49% Wool/51% Acrylic/240m/100g.

Any bulky/chunky/12 ply yarn used with 6 mm (US 10) needles will be okay for this pattern.

pet coat knitting pattern
Your dog can wear a harness underneath or ontop of the knitted dog sweater.
dog jumper
My best friend Jason wearing his hand knit adorable sweater.

Knitted Dog Sweater Pattern

Grab your inexpensive, ad-free, PDF printable pattern in my shop here.

Notes

Skill Level – Easy (Advanced beginners)

Knit with 6 mm (US 10) knitting needles and bulky/chunky/12-ply yarn, the dog sweater is a great pattern that uses simple techniques for advanced beginner and experienced knitters.

The main body of the dog sweater is knit flat, then joined in the round to complete the neck.

It has a snug fit on the pup but can stretch because of the ribbing in the simple design.

Great Tips

  • The pattern is written for all sizes, starting with the small size and with changes for different sizes listed in all necessary places (small dogs first, then medium dogs, then large dogs).
  • To follow the pattern more easily, circle or highlight all numbers pertaining to your dog’s size before beginning.
  • The small size is listed first, followed by the medium and large in ().
  • To make this sweater for an XS dog, you could go down a needle size and yarn weight; for example, use a 5 mm (US 8) needle with a worsted weight yarn.
dog jumper

Copyright Info

  • Please do not copy, sell, redistribute, or republish this knitted dog sweater pattern. 
  • If you wish to share this pattern, link it to the pattern page only.
  • You may sell items produced using this pattern.
  • Please credit Handy Little Me (Louise Bollanos) as the designer in all product listings.
  • Do NOT use copyrighted photos for your product listing.
  • For the copyright T&C, please read my Terms of Use.
Dog sweater knitting pattern

Size Information

Gauge – Dog sweater – 18 sts and 24 rows to 4×4 inches / 10 x 10 cm in K3, P3 ribbing.

Size / Measurements

  • The instructions are for smaller dogs, medium size dogs, and large dogs.
  • The sizes are easily adjustable for the length of the body and the width of the chest.
  • Width of the chest at widest point: S – 7-8 inches / M – 10-12 inches / L – 15-16 inches.
  • Chest Circumference: S – 14/16 inches / M – 20/24 inches / L – 30/32 inches.
  • Length of the back piece excluding the collar: S – 11.5 inches / M – 15.5 inches / L – 18.5 inches.
  • My dog Jason, in the photographs, is roughly the size of a lab and weighs around 28 kilos.
easy knit dog sweater

The Supplies You Need

Yarn

  • Any Bulky/Chunky/12 Ply yarn that can be matched with 6mm (US 10) needles.
  • I used Alize Lanagold Classic (Navy 58) for the dog sweater. (49% Wool/51% Acrylic / 240m/100g.)
  • You need approx – Small – 100g (240m)/Medium – 150g(360m)/Large – 170g(400m) for the dog sweater.

Needles

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

Notions

Abbreviations / Knitting Abbreviations And Terms (US And UK) List

  • Cont – Continue
  • Dec – Decrease (you can K2tog or cast off)
  • 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
  • P – Purl
  • Rem – Remaining
  • Rep – Repeat
  • St(s) – Stitch(es)
  • St, st – Stockinette stitch
  • 2 x 2 Ribbing – K2, P2
  • 3 x 3 ribbing – K3, P3

Stitch Pattern Notes

2 x 2 ribbing = K2, P2, and 3 x 3 ribbing K3, P3 – It is obtained by alternating knit and purl stitches in one row and “knitting by pattern” in every next row.

This means that we make a knit stitch when the previous row stitch looks like V and make a purl stitch when the previous one looks like a bump.

2×2 Ribbing – Cast On: even number of stitches (multiples of 4).

  • Row 1 (RS): (k2, p2) till the end of the row.
  • Row 2 (WS): (k2, p2) till the end of the row.

Repeat these two rows.

This is a reversible pattern, meaning that both sides of your work, the right and wrong sides, are identical. 

3×3 Ribbing – Cast On: even number of stitches (multiples of 6).

  • Row 1 (RS): (k3, p3) till the end of the row.
  • Row 2 (WS): (k3, p3) till the end of the row.

Repeat these two rows.

This is a reversible pattern, meaning that both sides of your work, the right and wrong sides, are identical. 

dog sweater knitting pattern

Knitted Dog Sweater Pattern Instructions

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

Cast on 44 (64/84) sts.

  • Work in 2×2 ribbing for 2 rows.
  • Increase 1 st at each end of every other row 5 (5/6) times, forming new patterns in ribbing as you work.
  • Next work K3, P3 ribbing – (for size medium only – increase 1 st at one end of this first row).
  • Continue to work in K3, P3 ribbing until the piece measures 11.5 (15.5/18.5) inches or any desired length to the neck of your dog.
  • Decrease 1 st at each end of the last row – (For the medium size decrease 1 st at one end of the last row and for the large size decrease 2 sts at each end of the last row).
ribbed knit dog sweater

Working The Neck (Worked in the round)

Now you will join your work in the round to continue the ribbing for the neck.

  • Work in 2 x 2 ribbing (K2, P2) on 52 (74/92) sts for 4 (5-6) inches or longer if you wish depending on the length of your dog’s neck.
  • Cast off loosely in rib.

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

  • Cast on 20 (24/28) sts and work in K2/P2 ribbing for 2 (3/4) inches.
  • Increase 1 (0/2) sts at the end of the last row of ribbing.
  • Change to work in K3, P3 ribbing until the piece measures 5.5 (6.5/7.5) inches.
  • Decrease 1 st at the beg and end of every other row 5 (5/6) times, then every row until you have 2 sts left (all sizes).
  • Cast off.
Dog sweater back
You can see the rib details up close here. You may want to place a couple of stitches to secure the turtleneck to the base of the neck.

Making Up

  • Sew the underside/chest to the main piece, fitting the point of the underside to the opening underneath the neck.
  • Seam for 3 (3.5/4) inches and leave a 2 (2.5/3)inch gap for the leg holes on either side.
  • Sew up the rem length after the leg holes have been measured out.
  • Weave in any loose ends.
dog sweater front close up

The Sleeves (if you want to add sleeves)

In the same colored yarn or a contrasting color, you may wish to add the sleeves.

  • Pick up and knit 40 sts around the leg hole.
  • Join in the round and work K2, P2 ribbing.
  • Cont to knit in 2 x 2 ribbing for 2 inches (you may want to make this longer).
  • Cast off in rib.
  • Secure and weave in any loose ends.
  • Repeat for the second sleeve.
easy knit dog sweater

Could you share your work with us?

I love seeing your finished projects!

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

If you are on Facebook, stop over to 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!

Easy knit dog jumper

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8 Comments

  1. May I ask what size the dog pictured is wearing? I have a friend I would like to make one for. She has a doodle that is about 50 lbs but when I had her measure she said their chests were 27 inches

    1. Hello Dani,
      My dog Jason is wearing the large size in the photos and his chest width at the widest part is about 9 inches.
      The measurement of his chest/body around is more like 30 inches.
      So if your dog’s chest is 27 inches, then the large size will fit.
      I hope that helps!
      Louise

  2. hi I think I’m reading this right but wanted to check: After the very first 2 rows of 2×2, do you keep working in 2×2 for 5 rows whilst increasing 1 stitch at each end of every other row of the 5 rows past the initial 2?

    1. Hello Jenn,
      Yes, that is correct.
      After the first 2 rows of 2×2 ribbing, you work in 2×2 ribbing still but will increase at each end of every other row 5 or 6 times depending on the size you are making.
      Forming new patterns in ribbing as you add those new stitches on either side.
      You have to incorporate them into the ribbing, keeping the original ribbing pattern in line.
      I hope that helps!
      Louise

  3. Hello, I am making this sweater for a medium sized dog and wanted a little clarification. After increasing 1 st at each end 5 times, I would be left with 74 sts and then after adding 2 more sts I would have 76. I am supposed to use K3, P3 stitching, but 76 is not a multiple of 6. Am I reading this wrong ? Thanks for the help.

    1. Hello Monica,
      You can increase one stitch only at one end of the work and then that will make 75 sts.
      I have amended the pattern.
      Thanks,
      Louise

  4. Just finished this dog jacket for my 10 year old kelpie i was given a ball of 12 ply so was hoping I didn.t run out so made the neck collar not to the length it says for L fits well and easy tp make

    1. Hello Janice,

      Thanks for the feedback, I am so happy you enjoyed the pattern.

      Happy knitting!

      Louise