The Cosy Dog jumper is a beginner friendly crochet dog sweater you can make to keep your best friend cosy and warm.
I am going to use the terms dog sweater and dog jumper interchangeably for UK, US and international makers.
Free Dog Sweater Crochet Pattern
This crochet pattern was first published in Crochet Now and I was asked to provide a sample crocheted dog sweater size small, as shown in the photo.
Sizes and Measuring your Dog
The pattern is written in three sizes, however you can use this as a guide to fit any size dog.
Firstly you need to take some measurements:
- Circumference of the neck
- Circumference of the chest area
- Length of your dog’s back from neck to base of tail
Follow the pattern size closest to the neck and chest measurements. As all dogs shapes are different, you may need to adjust the starting chains and/or the pattern repeats to fit your dog.
If making the crochet dog jumper for someone else’s dog and you can’t get measurements, follow these guidelines:
Small dogs include puppies, small jack russells, mini yorkshire terriers, pugs, chihuahuas, dachshunds.
Medium dogs include frenchies, poodles, bigger jack russells and terriers, west highland terriers, spaniels.
It would be really helpful if people write in the comments what dog they have and what size they made.
As you can see in the photos, the model is a shitzu and the jumper is size small. If I had known the dog’s size beforehand I would have made a longer version by including more repeats of the middle rounds and the back rows.
Overall I would say if making for your own dog, the pattern is very forgiving and easy to adjust as you go along.
Construction
The dog sweater is started at the collar where you work in rounds to the middle of the back, missing stitches to create leg holes. You then turn your work and continue in back and forth rows to the base of the tail. Work directly into the missed stitches and chain spaces for the leg cuffs which are worked in rounds.
Choosing the Yarn
The crochet dog jumper is made using Stylecraft Special aran weight yarn. It is an acrylic yarn with a typical aran or worsted weight gauge.
You need three colours and depending on the size of the dog sweater you crochet, you could use scrap yarn. This project is also a great stash buster.
If you want to use DK yarn I would suggest making sure your gauge matches or is similar. You could also go up a size.
Please note, this pattern is written in US terms. For UK terms see Abbreviations chart below.
The Pattern
Yarn
Stylecraft Special Aran; 215yards/196m per 100g ball
3 balls (you will not need full balls)
Notions
Hook size: H 8, 5mm; stitch markers
Gauge
15 sts x 7 rows = 4 inches/ 10cm measured over pattern
Sizing
S (M, L)
Actual inside neck size of jumper: 12 inches/30cm (13 inches/34cm, 16.5 inches/42cm) to fit dog with neck size 10-12 inches/25-30cm (12-14 inches/30-36cm, 14-17 inches/37-44cm)
Actual inside chest size of jumper: 15 inches/ 38cm (18 inches/46cm, 20 inches/53cm) to fit dog with chest size 13-15 inches/ 33-38cm (15.5-18 inches/40-46cm, 18-20.5 inches/ 46-53cm)
Length of jumper: 10 inches/ 26cm (10 inches/ 26cm, 12.5 inches/32cm)
Notes
Beginning ch2 and ch3 are counted as stitches unless otherwise indicated. Beginning ch1 does not count as a stitch.
Do not fasten off at the end of each round/row, instead work 1 chain after the last stitch, place a stitch marker in the chain. When needing this colour again pull up a long loop and proceed in the pattern.
Alternatively colour changes can be made by cutting the yarn for each new colour. Stop at the last yarn over and complete the stitch with the new colour.
Special Stitches
Spike double crochet (Sdc): Work dc over ch3-sp by inserting hook into top of stitch in row below.
Abbreviations
US Terms (UK terms)
Beginning beg
Chain ch
Double crochet dc (tr)
Front post double crochet fpdc (fptr)
Half double crochet hdc (htr)
Half double crochet two together hdc2tog (hdt2tog)
Pull up a loop pul
Repeat rep
Right side RS
Round rnd
Row row
Single crochet sc (dc)
Stitch st
Slip stitch sl-st
Stitches sts
Wrong side WS
Yarn over yo
Start Crocheting
With Yarn Colour A chain 48 (54, 66), join to work in the rnd being careful not to twist.
Collar
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc here and throughout), dc around, sl-st to top of beg ch3 to join. 48 (54, 66) sts
Rnd 2: Ch 3, *1 fpdc, 1 dc; rep from *around, sl-st to top of beg ch3 to join.
Rep Rnd 2 another 2 (2,4) times or more as required for a deeper collar section.
Fasten off.
Yoke
Join Yarn Colour B to any stitch.
Rnd 1: (2 ch, 1 hdc) in first st (counts as 2 hdc here and throughout), hdc in next *3 (5,7) sts, 2 hdc into next st; rep from * to last 3 (5,9) sts, hdc in next 3 (5,7) sts, 0 (0,1) hdc2tog, sl-st to top beg ch2 to join. 60 (63, 73) sts
Stop here for SIZE S only and cont to Body.
Rnd 2: (2 ch, 1 hdc) in first st, *hdc in next – (6,5) sts, 2 hdc into next st; rep from * to last – (6, 6) sts, hdc in next -(6,4) sts, -(0,1) hdc2tog, sl-st to top of beg ch2 to join. (72, 84) sts
Rnd 3: 2 ch, hdc around, sl-st to top of beg ch2 to join.
Stop here for size M only and cont to Body.
SIZE L ONLY
Rnd 4: As Rnd 3.
Body
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as first st), dc in each of the next 2 sts, *ch 3, miss 3 sts**, dc in each of the next 3 sts; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, sl-st in top of beg ch3 to join round, 1 ch, pm (place marker) in ch.
Join Yarn C to first missed st in last rnd.
Rnd 2: 2 ch (do not count as sts), 1 Sdc in same st, 2 Sdc in each of the next 2 missed sts from below, *ch 3, miss 3 sts, Sdc in the next 3 sts; rep from * around ending with ch 3, miss 3 dc, sl-st in top of beg ch3 to join round, 1 ch, pm in 1 ch.
Join Yarn A to first missed st in last rnd.
Rnd 3: 2 ch (do not count as sts), 1 Sdc in same st, 2 Sdc in next 2 missed sts from rnd below, *ch 3, miss 3 sts, Sdc in next 3 sts; rep from * around ending with ch 3, miss 3 dc, sl-st in top of beg ch3 to join round, 1 ch, pm in 1 ch.
With Yarn B remove marker and pull up a long loop from previous rnds.
Rnd 4: *3 ch, miss 3 sts, Sdc in next 3 sts; rep from * around ending with ch 3, miss 3 dc, sl-st in 1 ch to join round, 1 ch, pm in 1 ch.
With Yarn C remove marker and pull up a long loop from previous rnds.
Rnd 5: *3 ch, miss 3 sts, Sdc in next 3 sts; rep from * around ending with ch 3, miss 3 dc, sl-st in 1 ch to join round, fo.
With Yarn A remove marker and pull up a long loop from previous rnds, sl-st into first dc.
Rnd 6: 2 ch (counts as 1 hdc) , 2 hdc, *3 Sdc, 3 hdc; rep from * around ending with 3 Sdc, sl-st into top beg ch2 to join rnd, fo.
SIZE M, L ONLY
Repeat Rnds 4-6 as needed.
Leg holes
With Yarn B remove marker and pull up a long loop from previous rnds, sl-st into first hdc.
SIZE S ONLY
Rnd 7: 1 ch, dc into the first st, dc in next 4 sts, ch 11, miss 9 sts, dc in next 32 sts, ch 11, miss 9 sts, dc in next 5 sts, sl-st to first dc to join round. 64 sts
Rnd 8: 1 ch, dc into same st, [dc2tog, 14 dc] three times in total, dc2tog, dc in each st to end, sl-st to first dc to join rnd. 60sts
SIZE M ONLY
Rnd 7: 1 ch, dc into the first st, dc in next 5 sts, ch 13, miss 11 sts, dc in next 38sts, ch 13, miss 11 sts, dc in next 6 sts, sl-st to first dc to join round. 76 sts
Rnd 8: 1 ch, dc into same st, [dc2tog, 17 dc] three times in total, dc2tog, dc in each sts to end, sl-st to first dc to join rnd. 72sts
SIZE L ONLY
Rnd 7: 1 ch, dc into the first st, dc in next 6 sts, ch 15, miss 13 sts, dc in next 44 sts, ch 15, miss 13 sts, dc in next 7 sts, sl-st to first dc to join round. 88 sts
Rnd 8: 1 ch, dc into same st, [dc2tog, 20 dc] three times in total, dc2tog, dc in each st to end, sl-st to first dc to join rnd. 84sts
ALL SIZES
Rnd 9: dc in each st around, sl-st to first dc to join rnd. 60 (72, 84) sts
Rnd 10-15: As Rnd 1-5 of Body.
Rnd 16: With Yarn colour A, as Rnd 5.
SIZE S, M ONLY
Rnd 17: With Yarn colour B, as Rnd 6.
SIZE L ONLY
Row 17: With Yarn B remove marker and pull up a long loop from previous rnds and cont as Rnd 2.
Rnd 18: With Yarn colour C, as Rnd 2, fasten off.
Rnd 19: With yarn colour A, As Rnd 2, fasten off.
Rnd 20: With Yarn colour B, as Rnd 6, fasten off.
Top base
Fold your work flat with edges even.
Turn work so that the leg holes are underneath. You are now working back and forth in rows to finish the top of the jumper leading towards the tail.
Place a stitch marker at each of two edges with 30 (36, 42) sts in between.
Row 1 (RS): Join Yarn colour C to the first st after the marker. 1 ch, dc in first st, dc in next 13 (16, 19) sts, 1 dc2tog, dc in next 14 (17, 20) sts, turn. 29 (35, 41) sts
Row 2 (WS): Ch 2, 1 dc (counts as 1 dc2tog), dc in next 2 sts, [ch 3, miss 3 sts, dc in next 3 sts] a total of 3 (4, 5) times, ch 3, miss 3 sts, dc in next 2 sts, 1 dc2tog, 1 ch, pm in ch, turn. 27 (33, 39) sts
Row 3: Join Yarn A to top of dc2tog, 1 ch, sc in same st, 1 ch, miss 2 sts, * Sdc in next 3 sts**, ch 3; rep from * across to last 3 sts ending last rep at **, 1 ch, miss 2 sts,1 sc in last st, 1ch, pm in last ch, turn.
Row 4: With Yarn colour B cont as Row 2. 25 (31, 37) sts
Row 5: With Yarn colour C remove marker and pull up a long loop, sl-st to top of dc2tog, 1 ch, sc in same st, 1 ch, *Sdc in next 3 sts, ch 3; rep from * across until last 3 sts, 1 ch, 1 sc into last st, turn.
Row 6: With Yarn colour A, remove marker and pull up a long loop, sl-st to top of sc, ch 2, 1 dc (counts as 1 dc2tog), [ch 3, miss 3 sts, tr in next 3 sts] a total of 3 (4, 5) times, ch 3, mis 3 sts, 1 dc2tog, ch 1, pm in ch, turn, 11 (17, 23) sts
Row 7: With Yarn colour B as Row 5. Fasten off.
Row 8: With Yarn colour A remove marker and pull up a long loop, ch 2, 1 dc in next st, (counts as dc2tog), dc in each st across until last 2 sts, dc2tog, turn. 21 (27, 33) sts
Row 9: Ch 2, 1 dc in next st, (counts as dc2tog), *1 fpdc, 1 dc; rep from * to end, turn. 20 (28, 34) sts
Row 10: 2 ch, 1 dc in next st, (counts as dc2tog), *1 fpdc, 1 dc; rep from * to end. Fasten off. 19 (27, 33) sts
Join Yarn colour A to centre of underside (belly) dc evenly around the edges to finish.
Leg Cuffs
Working in the round.
Rnd 1: Join Yarn colour A to any st of leg opening. Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in each st around, sl-st to top of beg ch3 to join.
Rnd 2: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), *1 fpdc, 1 dc; rep from * to end, sl-st to top of beg ch3 to join.
Rnd 3: As Rnd 2
SIZE L ONLY
Rnd 4: as Rnd 2.
Fasten off and break yarn.
Weave in ends and lightly block.
I’m trying to make this pattern for my cousin’s dog, but I’m confused about row 4 under the section Top Base (Row 4: With Yarn colour B cont as Row 2. 25 (31, 37) sts). I took it to mean repeat round two, but following those instructions doesn’t work because there’s no Sdc in round 2, plus I end up with the same number of stitches as in round 2. How do I finish this round?
Hi Susannah, thanks for your comment.
The Row 2 is in the same section of the Top Base, so
Row 2 (WS): Ch 2, 1 dc (counts as 1 dc2tog), dc in next 2 sts, [ch 3, miss 3 sts, dc in next 3 sts] a total of 3 (4, 5) times, ch 3, miss 3 sts, dc in next 2 sts, 1 dc2tog, 1 ch, pm in ch, turn. 27 (33, 39) sts
Hope this helps!
Thank you!
You took this pattern and made it your own. The original maker of this sweater is by Twin Star Hooks on YouTube. You took her small dog sweater and changed the stitches. Give credit where its due and quit stealing people’s patterns that they work hard to create!
Hi, thanks for your concern. I can assure you I have not taken this pattern from anyone! I designed this dog jumper for a U.K. magazine at the end of 2016, and it was published in Crochet Now in September 2017. Magazines work a year in advance from the commission stage through to the publish date.
However, I can see why you might think this as the designs have similarities, which often happens. The rib neck and cuffs, right? Ribbed neck and cuffs is a standard design feature of jumpers / sweaters and there is only a couple of ways to achieve this, and the chosen method is the most common.
I should crochet late at night ??♀️??♀️ I was completely off. Reread it this morning and it totally made sense!
Happens to all of us! ??
Sorry for so many questions! I’m in the middle of leg cuffs section still. 4 rows of color b? Doesn’t seem to match the picture. Did I miss a color change? Am I going to have a weird stripe of color b in the middle of my coat?
Do you mean the leg hole section? There are 4 rows of colour B for the leg holes. I have added a new photo to show the underside. The leg cuffs are worked in Colour A. Hope this helps!
Hi if you wanted to make it xs how many stitches would I start with please. Thanks Tara
Hi Tara,
Thank you for her question.
For xs I would recommend using a smaller hook size or lighter yarn because there are a number of points in the pattern that would need reworking for another size to maintain the integrity of the pattern.
If you wanted to try with an alternative starting chain go down by 6 or 12 sts depending how much smaller you want.
I hope this helps!
Hi, I’m just reading through the pattern before I give it a go tomorrow and have come to ‘sdc’, I might be being stupid but I don’t know what this means and I have looked back at the abbreviations list and it’s not there, I’ve never come across this one before.
I am really looking forward to trying this pattern for my aunties Jack Russell.
Hi Emma, my apologies for the delay in replying, I haven’t been getting notifications since an update. The Sdc is a Spike Double crochet and listed in the Special Stitches. It is as follows:
Spike double crochet (Sdc): Work dc over ch3-sp by inserting hook into top of stitch in row below.
Hope this helps. I have a jack russell myself, they are fun dogs!