Animals, like people, experience discomfort from excessively windy, hot or rainy weather. Every owner, caring about the well-being of a four-legged friend, should not forget about comfortable clothes for their pet. Properly sewn things will be a pleasant "dog" addition, and clothes for dogs with your own hands will warm in the cold, protect from precipitation.
How to take measurements correctly
For sewing, appropriate measurements are required. The animal is placed on a flat surface, where it should be positioned evenly and naturally on four legs, parallel to each other, with a raised neck and head, and a straight back.The measuring tape is applied to the dog tightly, but without pressing into the skin. The important measurements are the length of the back and the volume of the animal's chest.
Details of measurements for sewing new clothes:
- the distance between the withers and the tail is the length of the animal's back;
- neck circumference at the collar location;
- measurement behind the front limbs – the dog’s chest girth;
- girth in front of the hind legs – waist;
- distance between two pairs of paws;
- measurement from the floor to the armpit – paw length;
If you plan to sew or knit a headdress for a dog, you will need the length between the ears, the head circumference in two versions - under the ears horizontally and under the chin - vertically. When taking measurements, it is important to have a good idea of how the future thing will look on the animal. This will help to correctly assess the location of the dog's body parts.
Patterns for dog clothes suggest adding a couple of centimeters to the resulting dimensions when cutting – for seam allowances and free movement.
Stages of work taking into account the type of clothing
There are hundreds of dog breeds today. Some of them need clothes for cool weather, especially miniature dogs like Yorkies or Chihuahuas or breeds with short hair. Of course, there are ready-made products for dogs in specialized places, however, sewing clothes for dogs yourself has undeniable advantages:
- items are made to individual measurements;
- New clothes for dogs can be made from old things, which is also more economical;
- the clothes will be unique, sewn with all the love.
Dog things come in a variety of names and styles. However, the most popular ones are a blanket, a jumpsuit, a knitted sweater with a dress for going out.
Simple blanket
A simple blanket is the most universal "dog" clothing for different circumstances. Winter dog walks are comfortable in a warm blanket made of breathable material, resistant to wear, with a fleece or staple lining. A waterproof item will protect from rainy weather, and a cooling one - from the heat. Also, a special blanket is put on dogs in the postoperative period or after an open wound.
The most popular option is easy to make even for beginners - a regular dog cape in the shape of a triangle or rectangle. The pattern includes a part that covers the withers, back and separately - the croup. A rectangular blanket is attached to the neck with a clasp, and in the case of a triangular blanket, the corners of the elongated side are passed between the paws and attached to the back. A loop for the tail is also made at the base to better secure the product.
Sewing enthusiasts can construct a full-fledged vest with a hood and collar. To avoid gathering folds during the first demonstration of the model, it is necessary to mark the location of the darts, and for better fixation, a strap or ribbon with an inserted elastic band is sewn to the chest.
Overalls
When choosing a material for one of the most popular doggie items, it is better to choose a lightweight fabric with a dense edge and a water-repellent effect. Of course, you can sew several versions of overalls or other outerwear, but if you want something unique, then sew a thing for a dog that is as universal as possible for different weather conditions, with a warm lining.
The production of the overalls will include several stages:
- a pattern on paper after taking measurements. All the nuances are important here - the sex of the dog, its volume of fur, skin folds, nail length, tail shape, freedom of movement. Do not forget about the characteristics of each breed - for Yorkshire terriers, it is necessary to make an allowance for movement due to the voluminous fur, and for a bulldog, cut the neck wider;
- the finished pattern is transferred to the material with a couple of centimeters for allowances and taking into account the breed characteristics;
- The overalls should be swept along the seams and tried on. If the product fits well and the dog is comfortable, the seams can be stitched. If desired, rhinestones can be glued on, stripes sewn on, or other decor.
During the process of cutting out the pattern from paper, such parts as the back, belly, chest, sleeves, hood, if any, should come out. If you want to sew a product for a dog from one fabric, then you do not need to separate the pants from the chest. And if there are two types of material, the jumpsuit will be combined. This is marked on the largest paper part with a dividing line starting at the bend from the belly side and going up.
Sweater
Knitted clothes for dogs with your own hands are irreplaceable in the cold season, especially sweaters. The best yarn for knitting will be natural wool, although if the dog does not have allergies, other options are used. The material should be moderately dense, which depends on the breed of the dog and the weather outside.
Making a product on knitting needles begins with choosing a pattern, then a sample is made with knitting needles to accurately understand the density. The required number of loops is dialed, and the knitting process begins. The most popular option is elastic and face knitting, the description of which is known to any beginner.
The standard elastic band for the collar "2 by 2" is the beginning of creativity. The loops gradually increase towards the knitting of the back and belly to fully cover the dog's chest. You should knit to the waist, preferably ending with an elastic band for a better fit to the body. Now it remains to sew the edges of the product on the belly or insert a zipper or sew on buttons. For small and short-haired dogs, you can knit sleeves.
If you want to add accessories, it is important to secure them firmly to the sweater: all dogs love to chew on everything.
It is even easier to knit a sweater for a dog with a crochet hook than with knitting needles. You don’t even need patterns for this: just the size of your pet is enough. You can also vary the knitting direction. It is important to know about the “pipe” base of such a product for a pet, then knitting it will be even easier. The most accessible pattern to perform is a regular yarn over, when the fabric grows due to a set of air loops. The neck goes to the desired height, is sewn and then the “pipe” goes with an expansion to the holes intended for the paws. Next comes knitting of one width with a slight narrowing closer to the tail of the animal.
Dress
It has become fashionable for not only housewives to attend social events, but also their pets. Therefore, a decorative dog can and should follow fashion. And the choice of fabric will help with this - tulle, tulle, sequin decor. The dress will attract everyone's attention, emphasize the style of the beautiful lady and her "girlfriend". There are even special "glamorous" magazines with patterns.
As an example, we will give a version of a dress for a small dog from an old T-shirt with original decorations.
- A T-shirt is prepared and turned inside out. The edges and excess on the stomach are cut off;
- the edges of the product are sewn together, the bottom of the T-shirt should be rounded, and a drawstring is made or an elastic band is fixed on the side of the tummy;
- a decorative ribbon is used on the belt to adjust the bottom of the dress;
- The collar of the product can be “revived” with a scarf, bandana, or lace can be attached.
The dress is ready for a formal reception at home, for a dog wedding. Designing clothes for dogs is an exciting activity. The main thing is to measure the animal correctly, to make the dog's clothes not only original, but also as comfortable as possible.
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