Merry Christmas
Someone recently asked for a chihuahua sweater for a male dog. As requested, here it is. It’s cut up away from the belly on the bottom so that the boys can do their business without soiling the hem of the sweater.
I will not be including instructions for the color work, only because I’ve had enough pattern writing today.
oh yeah, all the important stuff:
Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Red Sprinkle (I’m going to guess 60 yards or 1/3 of a skein), size 6 double pointed needles, needle to sew in ends, smooth waste yarn (for 2nd version, a small amount of contrasting yarn)
gauge: about 5 stitches to the inch
I’m writing the same pattern twice and leaving out the color work. The first version is row by row. If you don’t need all that, the short and simple version is at the bottom.
Disclaimer: I am not a professional pattern writer. I just have a small dog who is cold. Please don’t be rude about correcting my work or asking me to rewrite it for your 100lb dog (no offense to 100lb dogs, but I don’t buy that much yarn at a time).
The long version:
Cast on 40 stitches, distribute over 3 needles
Knit 1×1 ribbing for 3 “
Knit 2, kfb, k34, kfb, k2 (now you have 42 stitches on the needles)
knit 3, kfb, k34, kfb, k3
knit 4, kfb, k34, kfb, k4
knit 5, kfb, k34, kfb, k5
knit 6, kfb, k34, kfb, k6
knit 7, kfb, k34, kfb, k7
knit 8, kfb, k34, kfb, k8
knit 9, kfb, k34, kfb, k9
knit 10, kfb, k34, kfb, k10
knit 11, kfb, k34, kfb, k11
knit 12, kfb, k34, kfb, k12 (62 stitches total)
Arm holes
on next row knit 7, knit 7 on waste yarn, knit around to last 14 stitches, knit 7 on waste yarn, knit 7 with regular yarn.
Knit in stockinette (knit around) until body is 3″ long from arm holes
cast off last 10 stitches of next row
cast of 1st 10 stitches of the new row, k1, k2 tog, knit 36, k2 tog, k1
purl next row (sweater is now being worked flat)
knit 1, k2 tog, k34, k2tog, k1
purl next row
k1, k2tog, k32, k2tog, k1
purl
k1, k2tog, k30, k2tog, k1
purl
k1, k2tog, k28, k2tog, k1
purl
k1, k2tog, k26, k2tog, k1
purl
k1, k2tog, k24, k2tog, k1, don’t purl back! Pick up 20 stitches evenly around the cast off edge so you have 48 stitches.
do k1p1 ribbing for 1 inch and cast off.
Sleeves; remove the waste yarn and pick up the stitches. In between the 2 rows grab a loop and twist it so that you don’t have a gap in the sleeves. Do 1×1 ribbing around for 1 inch.
Sew in your ends and admire your work.
The short version, without all the row-by-row stuff.
cast on 40 sts, divide onto needles as follows, 10 on 1st needle, 20 on 2nd needles, 10 on 3rd needle. Join and knit in k1p1 ribbing for 3″ for turtleneck or 1.5 inches for crew neck, on last row place marker after 3rd stitch and before last 3 stitches.
Increasing for the body
Knit first 2 stitches, knit front and back of stitch before marker, knit around, knit front and back of stitch right after the last marker (you will have 42 stitches now). repeat 10 more times for 62 stitches.
Leg holes and body
On next row, knit 7 sts with red, knit 7 stitches with waste yarn (that should take you to the stitch marker), knit around to the next stitch marker, knit 7 in waste yarn and then 7 in red. Knit until body measures 3″ long from armholes. On next row knit around and cast off last 10 stitches and 1st 10 stitches of next row. Finish that row by knitting 1, k2tog, knit across to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. Purl the next row. Continue decreasing by knitting 1, k2tog at the beginning and k2tog, k1 at the end and purling back (so you have stockinette) 7 times total. at the end of the last knit row, continue by picking up 20 stitches around the body and knit 1″ of 1×1 ribbing.
Finishing up (sleeves)
Pull out the waste yarn and pick up 14 stitches plus 2 extra loops on each side so you don’t get a big gap. k1p1 ribbing for 1″
Sew in all ends and admire your work.
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Deb said,
December 2, 2008 at 3:24 am
Thanks so much for this beautiful pattern! Chi’s are so grateful for your dedication to keeping them warm & well-dressed!
Nautical Knitter said,
December 16, 2008 at 8:11 am
I just wanted to leave a comment telling you Thanks so much for the cute sweater patterns. We just got our first Chihuahua and she is a mere 1 pound. She gets cold from the slightest puff of air. You can see her photo on my blog.
Anyway, I just wanted to say Thanks a bunch!!
Beth Kinnison said,
December 27, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I would like a pattern for a dog sweater, for a toy poodle, male about 8-10 lbs.. BUT I havn’t masterd the double needles yet..I have a heck of a time with them.. But with longer legs in the front??? any chance of something like that…Alos maybe some booties for him. He’s about 9 yrs. old and has problems climbing back up the steps, cause he gets so cold. We live in Elkhat, Ind.. Thanks so much for any help..Thank youeth
autumnblossomknits said,
December 30, 2008 at 11:30 am
Hi Beth,
I usually stick to writing patterns for dogs the same size as Darby, so I don’t know how much help I can offer. Here is a link to a website that may be much more useful to you. http://www.jessica-tromp.nl/dogsweatersforpetsknittingpatternsdogs.htm
Lynda said,
February 1, 2009 at 10:21 am
I just want to say thanks my yorkie mix is 13lb and had 7 puppies in Nov 08 so they were pretty small. and as a going to a new home present I made them each a small sweater to go home in. the tiny little things were any where from 2.2lb and 3lb when they went to thier new homes in Jan 09 on some of the coldest days we had in the Ottawa valley so the little sweaters kept them nice and warm. So Thanks again for your time and effort in putting these paterns together.
Freida said,
May 10, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Do you have a large girl dog sweater about 80lb?
autumnblossomknits said,
May 11, 2009 at 2:27 pm
I do not, but this website might be just what you are looking for… http://www.jessica-tromp.nl/dogsweatersforpetsknittingpatternsdogs.htm
Mitzie said,
May 13, 2009 at 11:32 pm
I knitted a sweater for my grand-nephew’s girlfriend’s chihuahua using your cable pattern. Both females are happy with the sweater. Coco used to bark at me and was skittish whenever I made a move. Butl, I guess she smells me on her sweater and she let me pet her. I want to knit more sweaters for her and I’ll try this one with the Christmas design. M.
Mitzie said,
May 13, 2009 at 11:33 pm
I’m sorry for not thanking you in my previous note. Thank you.
Carolyn said,
August 26, 2009 at 9:02 am
Hi, This may sound a silly question, but the needle sizes you have stated are they US sizes or GB sizes. I am really looking forward to knitting some of these jumpers for my friends new little pup. Thanks Carolyn
autumnblossomknits said,
August 26, 2009 at 3:32 pm
That’s a great question. My sizes are all American, I guess I should start mention millimeters too.
mauren brookes said,
October 24, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Hi I have just now found your page after months of trying the knit shops here in the UK and at last I have a pattern that meets all my requirement.
in Uk sizes what size are the knitting needles and is it equivalent to our double knit wool
Once again thank you so much A/ FOR ALL THE WORK YOU PUT IN
b/for being so kind as to let it be free in this day and age its a rare commodity
I await your reply with eagerness
PS/ iM JUST A BEGINNER KNITTER SO PLEASE WISH ME LUCK thanks Mo Brookes
autumnblossomknits said,
October 25, 2009 at 9:40 am
I recommend a 5mm needle and wool that is aran, worsted, or afghan. Those are the descriptions that I found on the wool council website and am hoping those are the same for you. I too prefer to work with dk weight but it is harder to find here. if you do work with dk I would recommend moving up to a 5.5mm needle. Best of luck to you!