It's good to be shaggy and fluffy in winter!Your own fur coat is warm and natural. But what about those who, by the whim of Nature or breeders, do not have such clothes? Or do have, but are so small that even their own fur coat does not save them in the cold? Then we come to the aid of our pets: we dress them up, warm them up, insulate them as best we can. Some buy ready-made clothes for their four-legged "freezers", and some sew or knit them with their own hands. And if handicrafts are not an empty phrase for you, then there is a great reason to put your skillful hands to saving freezing paws, backs and tummies - knitting for dogs. The fact is that many small breed dogs really do freeze outside. And smooth-haired dogs of large breeds (Dobermans, Boxers, Bull Terriers and even Great Danes) can easily freeze on a walk. And if your four-legged pet is already of advanced age, then neither the size nor the “quality” of the wool plays a role: it will still suffer from the cold in frost and from dampness in rain. But there is a way out. Do you know how to knit or crochet? Excellent! Then you will cope with knitting for dogs with your own hands in no time! On the count of “one” we take measurements, on the count of “two” we knit clothes. Let's get started?

We take measurements for dog clothes

If we want to knit clothes for our dognot "as it turns out", but as it should be, then we will approach this professionally. Arm yourself with a measuring tape, paper, pencil, catch the model and get down to business. We put the dog on a flat surface (floor, table) and explain to it that it should stand correctly: evenly on all paws, with a straight back and raised head, and also keep its front paws parallel. As soon as the dog is imbued with the importance of the moment and has taken the right pose, we begin measuring. When taking measurements, we make sure that the measuring tape fits snugly, but not tightly, to the body, and take the following measurements:

Growth at the withers is the length from the floor to the highest part of the back.

The length of the back is the distance from the withers to the base of the tail.

The girth of the chest is measured by passing a centimeter tape through the withers and armpits.

Waist circumference (back-belly).

Breast width - distance between armpits of forelegs.

Height of front paws (from underarms to the floor).

The height of the hind legs (from the inside of the thigh to the floor).

The length of the trunk under the abdomen (from the front to the hind legs).

The length of the hind legs (from the floor to the base of the tail).

Measurements for the hat:

Distance between the ears (from ear to ear through the crown).

The horizontal girth of the head (through the back of the head and the bridge of the nose, under the ears).

Vertical girth of the head (through the thread under the chin).

Knitting a blanket

This is the simplest option for knitting on dogs.A blanket is a universal garment. It is suitable for both small breed dogs and larger pets. It is believed that blankets are especially convenient for smooth-haired and active dogs: they keep them warm but do not restrict movement. You can knit a blanket with knitting needles or a crochet hook, and you do not need a special pattern for it. The base of the blanket is a triangle (kerchief). Any type of simple knitting (garter stitch, stocking stitch) or a dense fabric made of single crochet stitches will do for it. If you knit this model of clothing with knitting needles, then start from the corner and knit, adding loops on the sides. For those who crochet, it may make sense to start knitting from the opposite side of the kerchief - up to the corner. However, knit as you like, the main thing is that the length of the blanket from the corner to the base is slightly longer than the length of the dog's back. In the central corner of the "kerchief" knit a loop that will cling to the tail. That's it - the simplest blanket is ready. When putting it on your dog, place the blanket on the dog's back, thread the tail through the loop of the blanket, and cross the two ends of the scarf on the chest and fasten them on the sides (this is a convenient way to fasten a blanket for small breed dogs). Or you can make loops and sew on buttons, or use regular Velcro. Fold the "extra" edge of the scarf around the neck like a collar.

We knit complex clothes

The blanket is the simplest, but far fromthe only model of clothing for dogs. You can knit a vest, overalls, and a sweater with your own hands. It is more convenient to knit such things with knitting needles, starting from the neck, and then - according to the pattern. This pattern is generally universal. Having knitted only three parts according to it, you will get a ready-made vest or a base for a sweater and overalls. After all, how is knitting more convenient for a dog than sewing? You can easily adjust the size and shape of the parts by simply decreasing and adding loops, and also simply knit the missing legs and sleeves by knitting in a circle. So, for example, for a vest, you need to knit all three parts and sew them, leaving the armholes for the front paws and the neck free. For a sweater - pick up air loops from the armholes and knit the "sleeves". And if you decide to knit overalls with your own hands, then do the following.

Link the details of the pattern.

Sew them, leaving free armholes, a neck, a place for the tail (and under the tail), and for boys - and under the belly.

Dial from the armhole airy loops and tie the legs for the front paws.

Tie a piece of cloth that will close the abdomen from below (between the hind legs), and sew it to the overalls.

From the resulting armholes also dial the air hinges and tie the rear legs.

Knitting a dog using this pattern is equally easy with either a crochet hook or knitting needles – it all depends on what you know how to work with.

We knit a hat

Knitting a hat with your own hands is easier than"serious" item of clothing. And for many small breed dogs, this is not just a decoration, but a truly necessary accessory. For example, hairless Mexican or Chinese crested dogs can easily catch a cold without a hat in the cold. So try to start replenishing your pet's wardrobe with a hat. In order to knit a hat on knitting needles, we cast on the number of loops based on the volume of the head. We begin to knit from the muzzle to the neck in a circle. Having knitted to the base of the ears, we divide the knitting into two parts: the front and the back of the head. We knit the front part of the hat, closing some of the loops under the holes for the ears. Having knitted to the desired height (to the beginning of the crown), we transfer the open loops to an additional thread. We knit the back part in the same way. Then we collect all the open loops on the knitting needles and continue knitting in a circle, gradually decreasing the loops on the crown. We make the top of the hat rounded and decorate it with a pompom or tassel. For small breed dogs, you can knit a hat with ears. If you knit, try knitting it the same way as the previous model, only then make air loops from the holes for the ears and knit the "ear covers". If you crochet, knit two parts like two halves of pants, where the "pants" are the ears. And then simply sew or crochet the knitted parts together. So knitting for dogs can be not only entertainment and "honing your skills". Hand-knitted clothes will protect them from the cold, and therefore from catching a cold. And what can please the owner more than the good health and good mood of her beloved dog? We recommend reading:

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