A dog jacket is the perfect accessory for your puppy during wet or cool weather. Constructing the dog jacket on your own allows for complete customization that caters to your creativity. This also allows for a better fit compared to jackets you might purchase, which could be too snug or loose on your pooch. All you will need is a few tools and some fabric for your dog to have some true style.
Items You Will Need
- Measuring tape
- Pen
- Paper
- Fabric
- Table
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
- Needle
- Thread
- Velcro snaps
Taking the Measures for the Jacket
Use a tape measure to take measurements of your dog’s chest and neckline. Record these dimensions on a piece of paper. Make sure you figure out how long you want the jacket to be (full-size or vest) as well as the desired width. For example, you might want a larger jacket for rainy days and a smaller one on chilly days.
Creating the Jacket Pattern
Lay out your inner and outer fabrics on a flat table. Draw a rectangle on the outer pattern representing the desired length and width of the jacket. Make sure you have enough left over for the neckband and seams, which require 1-inch of fabric for the length and for the width.
Smooth off the corners of the fabric by bringing the point on the edge toward the center of the rectangle. Mark a hole the size of your dog’s neck on the fabric 2 inches inward on each side. Remember the size will depend on the size of your dog. Add 2 inches to each side after splitting the neck to allow for the Velcro closing installed later.
Sewing the Pattern
Cut out the pattern from both pieces of fabric using scissors. Cut a strip measuring 2 to 4 inches wide by the dog’s measurements and 4 to 6 inches for the Velcro closing. Place the right sidepieces together using a pin. Sew these pieces together using a sewing machine. Allow 1/2-inch for the seam and a 3 inches opening for turning. Topstitch the edges and then close the opening.
Press both long sides of the narrow strip so it moves toward the middle and then press along the center of the strip so you will not have to turn it after sewing. Topstitch the long edges and press the short edges under. Sew the edges into place and attach them to the strips along the chest fabric. Topstitch into place.
Fitting the Jacket to Your Pup
Try the completed jacket on your dog, making sure it fits comfortably. Mark the places where the Velcro snaps should go on the jacket to secure it in place. Remove the jacket and then stitch the snaps on the fabric. These will go around the neck and chest bands.
Sources:
Powell-Smith, Michelle. "How to Make a Dog Jacket | The Daily Puppy." Puppies, Cute Puppy Names, Pictures of Puppies & More | Daily Puppy. http://www.dailypuppy.com/articles/how-to-make-a-dog-jacket_812.html (accessed September 3, 2011).
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