You knew it was coming…the embarrassingly girly Ruffled Sweater Dress: an A-Line dress with ruffled neck and hem and a bow to give the appearance of an empire waist. This time in 2 sizes, size 10″ for 3-4.5 lb dogs with a 10″-11″ circumference around the waist/ribcage and size 12″-14″ for pups 4.5-7lbs.
Added 11/01/08: I”m sorry crocheters, I cannot write you a crocheted version.
Supplies
#6 double point needles
#6 16″ circular (not necessary, but it sure would help)
worsted weight yarn (I used baby yarn, which seems to be on the skinny side for worsted) in 2 colors. 1 main color and 1 complementary color. (I used about half a skein for the 10″ and maybe .70 skein for the 12″)
Ribbon in complementary color, approx 2 feet.
2 large safety pins
Optional: Medium crochet hook (for sleeves, or you can use the knitting needles)
10″ will be listed in directions with the 12″ size in parenthesis.
Ruffled neck
Cast on 80 (120)
Join, being sure not to twist.
knit 2, k2tog around : 60 sts (90 sts)
k1, k2 tog: 40 sts (60 sts)
k2tog around: 20 sts (30)
knit in stockinette until piece is 1″ long (1 1/2″ long) these are really approximate because the ruffles make it hard to measure
Begin Increases
K3, kfb, k12, kfb, k3: 22 sts (k6, kfb, k16, kfb, k6 :32 sts)
K3, kfb, k14, kfb, k3: 24 sts (k6, kfb, k18, kfb, k6: 34sts)
K3, kfb, k16, kfb, k3: 26 sts (k6, kfb, k20, kfb, k6: 36sts)
K3, kfb, k18, kfb, k3: 28 sts (k6, kfb, k22, kfb, k6: 38sts)
K3, kfb, k20, kfb, k3: 30 sts (k6, kfb, k24, kfb, k6: 40sts)
K3, kfb, k22, kfb, k3: 32 sts (k6, kfb, k26, kfb, k6: 42sts)
K3, kfb, k24, kfb, k3: 34 sts (k6, kfb, k28, kfb, k6: 44sts)
K3, kfb, k26, kfb, k3: 36 sts (k6, kfb, k30, kfb, k6: 46sts)
K3, kfb, k28, kfb, k3: 38 sts (k6, kfb, k32, kfb, k6: 48sts)
K3, kfb, k30, kfb, k3: 40 sts (k6, kfb, k34, kfb, k6: 50sts)
K3, kfb, k32, kfb, k3: 42 sts (k6, kfb, k36, kfb, k6: 52sts)
K3, kfb, k34, kfb, k3: 44 sts (k6, kfb, k38, kfb, k6: 54sts)
K3, kfb, k36, kfb, k3: 34 sts (k6, kfb, k40, kfb, k6: 56sts)
Leg Holes
These are always tricky for me to explain, so if it sounds a little weird, thats my fault. Please note I use a reverse loop cast on to return the stitches I bound off and then I knit through the back of each loop for a slightly less sloppy finish.
K4, b/o 8, k20, b/o 8, k4 (k6, b/o 8, k28, b/o 8, k6)
K4, c/o 8, k20, c/o 8, k4 (k6, c/o 8, k28, c/o 8, k6)
Body
To make an A-Line dress we are going to use some gradual increases along the sides of the dress, where the “seams” would be. You can use the method of increasing you like, I use kfb (knit front and back of the stitch) because it doesn’t leave the hole you would get with a yarn over increase
Knit 5 rows then:
k10, kfb, K22, kfb, k10 (K13, kfb, k28, kfb, k13)
Knit 5 more rows then:
K11, kfb, k22, kfb, k11 (k14, kfb, k28, kfb, k14)
Knit 5 more rows then:
K 11, kfb, k24, kfb, k11 (k14, kfb, k30, kfb, k14)
Knit 5 more rows then:
K12, kfb, k24, kfb, k12 (k15, kfb, k30, kfb, k15)
Knit 5 more rows then:
K12, Kfb, k26, kfb, k12 (k15, kfb, k32, kfb, k15)
Knit 5 more rows then:begin ruffled hem (k16, kfb, k32, kfb, k16)
(Knit 5 more rows <size 12″ only>)
Ruffled Hem
kfb of each stitch (kfb of each stitch)
k1, kfb around (k1, kfb around)
k2, kfb around (k2, kfb around)
Bind off.
2nd ruffle (petticoat) and Neck Ruffle
With contrasting color: On inside of dress pick up all stitches from the row before you began the ruffled hem. Knit in stockinette for 1 inch or until the contrasting color is same length as original ruffle. Knit 2nd ruffle in same direction as original ruffled hem.
For neck ruffle: do same thing, but at the top of the dress 
Sleeves
With Contrasting Color:
With Crochet hook pick up all sts and crochet around until the sleeves are long enough for your taste (I did 1 row of double crochet and 1 row of single crochet)
-or-
Pick up all stitches and knit 5 rounds (or until it is as long as you like)
Ribbon
Put the dress on your pup and using the safety pins mark behind the front legs (on the sides of the dress). Crochet loops to hold ribbon in place. Tie bow, admire how cute she looks.
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dru said,
November 19, 2007 at 10:30 pm
this is so cute. now if i could only figure out how 2 do it. i’m not very good at following patterns but i can knit n crochet. i’m gonna try it on the circular needles…….i think, lolol.
dru
Bonnie Jean said,
December 30, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Would you know of a website that offers this pattern in crochet since i don’t know how to knit and would like to make a crochet a line dress for my chihuahua . Aprreciate any help thanks alot You did a wonderful job Thanks
Linda Guardado said,
January 14, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Hey there Autumn…just have to say that although I LOVE the dress, Darby looks absolutely miserable in it…lol. I think Sophie will look adorable though. I know that Vickie was very happy to receive her swearters from you. Such a talented friend you are.
Linda
roberta said,
January 26, 2008 at 1:49 pm
can you send me the same pattern in crochet.
thanks for help
betty said,
March 4, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Can you please post the knitting guage with your directions? This dress would make the perfect gift for a teacup maltese my friend just got.
Buggzy said,
March 22, 2008 at 6:12 pm
The little dress is so adorable but like some others i can crochet but knitting is like trying to walk with 2 left feet LOL would you have a crochet pattern I have three small female chi’s that would look just beautiful in your dress sweater thanx
Diane said,
March 30, 2008 at 1:21 pm
As #4 says (Roberta) can you send me the same pattern in crochet?
Its to cute. The best one I have seen online. And that’s a lot of outfits.
Thanks you for your time.
Diane
Stormy4598@aol.com
Judy said,
April 19, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Do you have any simple crochet patterns for a boy chihuahua?
autumnblossomknits said,
April 20, 2008 at 11:24 am
Hi everyone, I am so happy that my pattern is so admired and enjoyed, but I cannot send it to you in crochet format because I can’t really crochet. If you are looking for crocheted dog sweaters I suggest you join ravelry.com (love them) and search through their crochet pattern database.
Cheers!
Autumn
candy said,
July 29, 2008 at 9:06 pm
OMG – that’s the cutest doggie party dress I’ve ever seen! I may have to make one for my cat, Princess Annie.
patti said,
August 21, 2008 at 8:26 am
i love this!!! it is the cutest i have ever seen!! unfortunatly i dont knit. i only crochet. can u send me a crochet pattern for this? that would be so awesome!!! thanks
Debbie said,
September 8, 2008 at 10:16 am
I would LOVE this pattern in crochet, if you have it. My chihuahua would look adorable in this and I’m not very good at knitting. Do you have it in crochet?
Charmaine said,
September 26, 2008 at 9:24 am
i LOVE this! my minpin is a perfect 14″ around the ribs so I will definitely make one for her! as to whether it will outlast her habit of chewing things….heh. it is very pretty and will warrant a few laughs, and she won’t mind since she’s used to having little t-shirts on whenever we take her out to the doggie cafe.
Kay said,
October 12, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I love this! unfortunately my hubby won’t let me dress our little boys in it! LOL
JessAnn said,
October 22, 2008 at 1:46 pm
I LOVE this.
I have shi-malt and would love to make this dress for her for Thanksgiving. Is there a crochet pattern, as I am really not good at knitting. If so, can you please send it to me.
Thanks!
Cindy said,
October 31, 2008 at 11:16 pm
My chi would look so adorable in it! Do you have the same pattern in crochet? If so, can you please send it to me? Thank you so much!
Maura said,
November 18, 2008 at 10:29 am
I’m having a hard time using the circular needles. Seems like not enough stitches after the initial decrease for a circular without using magic loop? Am I doing something wrong? Did you use a circular needle? Kiss Darby for me. What a sweetie pie! Thank you Autumn
dog collar addict said,
July 1, 2009 at 11:24 am
i am compiling a list of free dog sweater patterns & i think that this is the best one that i have ever seen! too bad i don’t have a small dog.