Dog coat knitting pattern

I grew up with dogs but when I left home I had cats, not dogs, mainly because they could live happily in a flat. And live well they did; Lettice until she was 21 and Flossie until she was 18, which explains why it has taken me this long to get a dog – a Welsh terrier called Dulcie. I can’t imagine life without her.

For Dulcie’s first winter, I knitted her a simple coat, and this is the pattern I have adapted for you here.

You will need

• 100g Aran-weight yarn (Colour A – bottle green in this case)
• 10g (approx) of a contrast colour for the blanket stitch (Colour B – I chose mustard yellow)
• 4mm and 5mm knitting needles
• Stitch holder
• Darning needle

Tension: 18sts and 24 rows to 10cm (4in) square (this may vary depending on your individual knitting). The finished coat, when flat, measures 46 x 44cm (18 x17in) around the widest point, which should fit all small-to-medium dogs. Knitting is very forgiving – a coat that fits a small dog will stretch to fit a slightly larger one quite comfortably. However, if you would like to make the coat wider around the girth, simply cast on more stitches. To lengthen the body, see notes in pattern.

How to make the coat

With 4mm needles and Colour B cast on 65sts.

Work 1 row in K1 P1 rib.

Change to Colour A and continue in K1 P1 rib for 10cm (4in). NB: Alternate rows begin with P1.

For a longer polo neck, continue knitting more rows.

Change to 5mm needles and work 3cm (1¼in) in garter stitch (knit every row).

Next row: K41, keep remaining 24sts on a stitch holder (or thread a darning needle with a spare end of a contrast coloured wool and thread through all 24 stitches). Place a marker at each end of your work.

Turn and continue working for 36cm (14in) from the cast-on edge in garter stitch over all 41sts.

Then begin shaping as follows.

NB: At this point if you want to make a longer dog coat continue knitting until you have your required length

Next row: K2, K2tog, K to last 4sts, K2tog, K2 (39sts).

Repeat last row until 9sts remain.

Next row: K2tog, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K2tog (5sts).

Next row: K2tog, K1, K2tog (3sts).

Cast off 3sts.

Pick up the 24sts from the stitch holder and work in garter stitch for 14cm (51/2in). Cast off.

Make this longer if required.

To finish off

Join the seam from the cast-on edge to the marker. Stitch the underneath flap to the main body sides for about 3cm (1¼in), beginning at the cast-off edge and matching the length against the main body. This leaves a gap for the legs to pass through of around 13cm (5in).

Sew in any loose ends.

Tail loop: Make a 12cm (5in) twisted cord or crochet one in chain stitch using two strands to make it thicker. Fold in half to make a loop and attach it to the tail end of the coat.

Optional: Work a blanket stitch all around the dog coat in Colour B.

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