This Santa Claus dog coat pattern is really easy knit and comes with an added belt.
Your dog will be warm and snuggly in his (or her) new coat and ready for the holiday celebrations.
Knit something your dog will wear during the Christmas period and for those family photos!
*Please scroll down to see the free knitting pattern*
Dog Christmas Sweater
This dog coat is available to knit in three sizes, small, medium and large.
My dog Jason is wearing the large in the photographs, as the medium was too small for him and the large is just slightly big on his frame.
He is a medium/large sized dog and weighs in at 23 kilos, so the large size was the right choice for him.
The Santa sweater has been knit on 9mm (US 13) needles with super bulky yarn.
The recommended yarn for this pattern is Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick, but any yarn that can be used with the needle size is fine to use.
Not a full skein is needed for the belt or the belt buckle.
Dog Christmas Jumpers
The dog jacket is a good pattern for beginner knitters as well as the more experienced.
The main body of the coat is knit with two colours, white and red.
The white yarn is knit in garter stitch and forms a border around the coat.
The Fastenings
The dog sweater is then fastened at the collar with two buttons.
But if you did not want to use buttons, press studs are a good alternative.
This is the same for the belt fastening, I used two black buttons, but again press studs can be used.
If there is a chance your dog might try to chew off the buttons (*ahem* Jason!) press studs may be a safer option!
The belt is knit in one long piece, using garter stitch only.
The belt buckle is knit in five pieces, four sides of the rectangle and then a middle length.
There are photographs in the pattern, that will help you to create and assemble the belt buckle.
Santa Claus Dog Sweater
This Santa coat and belt is just so sweet – perfect for holiday walks, visits and of course Insta photos!
The knitting pattern is an easy level pattern for beginners, using basic knit and purl stitches, with increases and decreases to shape.
There is also the colour change for the border, which you can see how to do in the video tutorial in this post.
Small dog sweaters and puppy sweaters are really cute, but they also stop them from shivering in the cold weather.
Large dog sweaters can also be needed if your dog has short hair or just likes to wear a jumper.
This is more of a special holiday outfit, that you know the kids and neighbours will love!
Dog Sweaters
If you want to see more dog jumpers, please take a look at these posts,
This pattern is part of a Christmas pattern collection – organised by The Underground Crafter!
You can see more free Christmas patterns for a number of crafts including crochet, knitting and sewing here.
See what you can make and don’t forget to enter the giveaway with lots of prizes!
See the free pattern and photo tutorial below, or you may purchase the inexpensive ad-free, PDF printable pattern including all-important photos in my shop HERE.
Skill Level – Easy/beginner
Materials
- 2 x Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick in Red – Cranberry 138
- 1 x Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick in White – Fisherman 99
- 1 x Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick in Black – Black 153
- 1 x Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick in Mustard – Mustard 158
- (Not a full skein is needed for the black and the gold, as the black makes the belt and the gold makes the belt buckle. )
- Yarn weight – Super Bulky 06 / yarn weight guide
- 4 x buttons – I used black buttons that measure 1 inch in diameter.
Notions
- 9mm (US 13) Knitting needles
- Scissors
- Darning needle
- Tape measure
Pattern Instructions
Yarn A – White, Yarn B – Red, Yarn C – Black, Yarn D – Mustard
Cast on (26, 40, 54) sts in Yarn A and work 7 rows in garter stitch.
Work in pattern for the body as follows;
Row 1 – K4 in Yarn A, join in Yarn B and M1, cont to knit with Yarn B to the last 4 sts, M1, then join in Yarn A and K4 sts.
*Please note – it is easier to have 2 skeins/balls of Yarn A at each end of the border if you want to have this in a contrasting colour.
Row 2 – K4 sts in Yarn A, Purl in yarn B to the last 4 sts, Knit 4 in yarn A.
Rep the 2 rows above (3, 5, 7) times more.
(Because you are repeating both rows this will equal double the amount of rows worked – for example – 3 (6), 5 (10), 7 (14).
Then work (14, 22, 30) rows straight on these (34, 52, 70) sts.
1st shaping row – K4 in Yarn A, K2tog in Yarn B, K to last 4 sts, K2tog, in Yarn A K4 sts.
Rep last (6, 4, 4) rows (once, twice, once) more.
Next row – as 1st shaping row.
Work 3 rows straight.
Next row – as 1st shaping row.
Work 1 row straight.
Rep last 2 rows (2, 5, 10) times more.
(Because you are repeating both rows this will equal double the amount of rows worked – for example – 2 (4), 5 (10), 10 (20).
Then proceed for the collar on these (22, 32, 42) sts.
Next 2 rows – In Yarn A cast on (8, 10, 12) sts, K to end.
Work 2 rows in garter stitch on these (38, 52, 66) sts.
Next row – K to last 10 sts, YO, K4, YO, K4
K 2 rows.
Cast off loosely.
The Belt
With Yarn C – Cast on (5, 7, 9) sts.
Work in garter stitch until the belt is long enough to fit around the dogs body, plus 1 inch for an over wrap.
If you want to have button holes (I have 2) knit until the belt wraps around the body, then
K 6 rows
Small – K2, YO, K3, Medium – K3, YO, K4, Large – K4, YO, K5
K 6 rows
Cast off.
If you do not want to use buttons, you can instead stitch press studs onto the belt.
The Belt Buckle
The belt buckle is knit in 5 pieces and then seamed together.
Make 4 pieces – In Yarn D, cast on 4 sts, Knit in garter stitch for 15 rows, cast off.
Making up
Stitch two buttons onto the collar, so that the collar can fasten.
If you do not wish to use buttons or knit the buttonholes, press studs are an alternative.
Press the coat lightly on the wrong side with a warm iron over a damp cloth avoiding the garter stitch borders.
Sew the belt to the center back of coat and fasten with two buttons or press studs.
Notes
Please note – when you knit the main body of the dog coat with two colours – you need to work it like this –
Row 1 – K4 in Yarn A, join in Yarn B, when you knit with Yarn B – pull the yarn under Yarn A and start knitting – and M1, cont to knit with Yarn B to the last 4 sts, M1, then join in Yarn A – put Yarn A underneath Yarn B and K4 sts.
*Please note – it is easier to have 2 skeins/balls of Yarn A at each end of the border if you want to have this in a contrasting colour.
If you need help please watch the video tutorial in this post.
Gauge – 7 sts and 9 rows to 2 inches
Size – small, medium and large.
The first set of figures shown applies to the small size, then the medium and finally the large.
Measurements in inches about – Width – (16, 21, 26) / Length excluding collar – (13, 17, 21)
Abbreviations / Knitting Abbreviations List
Beg – beginning
K – knit
K2tog – knit two stitches together
M1 – Make one stitch
P – purl
Rem – remaining
Rep – repeat
RS – right side
St(s) – stitch (es)
YO – Yarn over
I love seeing your finished projects!
If you enjoyed making the 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 page and share a photo! I’d love to see your work!
Happy Knitting! xoxo
Leave a Reply