Free Pattern for Ruffled Dog Sweater Dress

Aren't they so cute, they look like princesses!!

This is a free pattern for an A-Line dress with ruffled neck and hem and a bow to give the appearance of an empire waist. Credits at the end.  To 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.

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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, 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.

You can also follow the diagram:

Other great ideias: