Santa Claus Dog Coat Pattern

This Santa Claus dog coat pattern is straightforward to 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.

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

The Dog Christmas Sweater Sizes

This dog coat is available to knit in three sizes, small, medium, and large.

Measurements in inches about – Width – (16, 21, 26) / Length excluding collar – (13, 17, 21).

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 Yarn I Used

• The Santa sweater has been knit on 9mm (US 13) needles with super bulky yarn 06.
• The recommended yarn for this pattern is Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick, or Hometown USA.
• Any super bulky yarn that can be used with the recommended needle size is acceptable to use.
• Not a full skein is needed for the belt or the belt buckle.
• The main body of the coat is knit with two colors, white and red.
• The white yarn is knit in garter stitch and forms a border around the coat.

The Collar and Belt 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.

Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern

This pattern is great for any advanced beginner knitters.

• It would help if you were comfortable casting on and casting off, as well as knitting in garter stitch.
• It would help if you were comfortable working the purl stitch.
• You should also be comfortable reading knitting patterns.
• And understanding knitting abbreviations and terms.

More Dog Sweaters

If you want to see more dog jumpers, please take a look at these posts,

• Christmas Puppy Sweater
• Easy Dog Sweater
• Striped Dog Sweater
• Fall Dog Sweater Patterns
• Dog Sweater Knitting Pattern Straight Needles
• Free Christmas Knitting Patterns

Notes

Knit something your dog will wear during the Christmas period and for those family photos!

Great for extra warmth that a harness could probably fit over, this is a festive knit for pets.

Copyright Info

• Please do not copy, sell, redistribute or republish this pattern. 
• If you wish to share this pattern, link to the pattern page only.
• You may sell items produced using this pattern.
• Do NOT use copyrighted photos for your product listing.
• For the copyright T&C please read my Terms of Use.

Please note – when you knit the main body of the dog coat with two colors – 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 color.

Row 2 – K4 sts in Yarn A, bring Yarn B and place it underneath Yarn A – Purl in yarn B to the last 4 sts, bring Yarn A underneath Yarn B, and Knit 4 sts in yarn A.

Video Tutorial

If you need help please watch the video tutorial on my YouTube channel here.

Gauge – 12 sts and 16 rows to 4×4 inches measured in stocking stitch.

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)

The Supplies You Need

Yarn

• 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/Super Chunky/14 Ply / Yarn weight guide

Needles

• 9mm (US 13) Knitting needles

Notions

• Tape measure
• Darning needle
• Scissors

Other Materials

• 4 x buttons – I used black buttons that measure 1 inch in diameter.

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)
• WS – wrong side
• YO – Yarn over

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 color.
• 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.
• Work (5, 3, 3) rows straight.
• 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 the 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 dog’s body, plus 1 inch for an overwrap.
• If you want to have a buttonhole (I have 2) knit until the belt wraps around the body, then
• Small – K2, YO, K3, Medium – K3, YO, K4, Large – K4, YO, K5
• 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, and cast off.
• For the middle section – cast on 2 sts, knit in garter stitch 15 rows, and cast off.

• You can then feed the black belt through the buckle.

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 the coat and fasten it with two buttons or press studs.

Share your work with us…

I love seeing your finished projects!

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

I’d love to see your work.

Happy Knitting!