Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Arts and Crafts Post: Dog Sweaters

Well, this story starts with 2 short haired dogs. One I've been making coats for a while now. I swear manufactures do not believe that big dogs get cold. Dobermans are especially prone to being cold as their short coat is also not very thick. So, between my mom and I we came up with a coat pattern loosely based on a coat I did find that actually fits a Great Dane (he's big but not quite that big, but his chest is HUGE!). I made him one that he wears all the time and I needed to make more. I THOUGHT that the little monster pup was set as I FINALLY could buy one since her chest wasn't too wide and she was small (well, for me she seems small). So she got this sweater which I did NOT make but came from PetsMart:
Sweater from PetsMart (bought)
Isn't she adorable? Yea, looks can be deceiving. Actually she had this through at least 3 wearings which shocked me. After that 3rd wearing... it was put through a shredder.... or it looked like it was shredded. Yea, never trust a bored pup. LOL

So... I had a sewing machine... and I found a fleece blanket for $1 at Wal-Mart. It was small and a bit on the thin side for a blanket but perfect for what I had in mind. I found a free pattern and I had some black fleece on hand which was left over from a long ago project (which I recall I also got for a great deal). The pattern is from Mimi and Tara and is a mash up of the raglan dog sweater and the add-on hood (just click on the links to go to her posts on the patterns and yes, they are free). 


The problem with the patterns is that there really isn't any instructions and I don't sew clothes. Luckily youtube came to the rescue and I figured out how to sew the raglan and the hood was easily figured out with the blog post Mimi and Tara had on her blog. I did add a cuff to the sleeves and because it was so long on her (it fit perfect otherwise) I added a small amount of elastic on the front of the sweater (stomach area) which also helped keep debris out of the inside of the hoodie. 

And yes, there is already a hole after the 2nd wearing on the sleeve. There is now a patch there. LOL

The second one was much easier. It was like coats I used to make my dad's dog and only snaps on one side. This one is VERY easy to make and you could probably find something close to it on the web.

Second coat!
It was also made from a remanent fleece I found. I also don't put it on her that much as I do the other as she has more of a tendency to try to chomp on the back end of it more than the hoodie. Darn pup! 

The big boy's coats
Of course I couldn't leave the big boy out and besides I needed to make him other coats so I can wash the one he loves. The blue one is a thick fleece and it wraps around his chest and is snapped on both sides. I added elastic to the chest piece (like I did on monster pup's coat) to keep it more fitted and debris out. I did the same with the rust coat. I didn't have much of this fabric so I used the fabric I had used on monster pup's hoodie for the collar. I made my $1 stretch! Monster pup is in the photo trying to undress the boy. She figured out the coat comes off from the snaps and now tries to unsnap him as much as possible. As you can see by how he ignores her, he is now used to it. LOL

I'll probably end up having to make more next year, but hopefully the monster pup won't shred them as quickly. 

65 comments:

  1. that's a great idea! Lol Monster seems to like to undress him!

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  2. I love that it looks like Monster is trying to help the other out of it LOL! So helpful I'm sure! I love that you can make these for your guys!

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  3. Adorable!!! I had a Whippet that needed a coat (& boots) years ago when we lived in NY. My MIL made one of my shelties a rain coat once too and kept the template to make Halloween costumes for them lol

    We have a little staffordshire terrier that lives on the corner that always needs a sweater when the temperatures drop. She looks so cute!

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. Oh yea, whippets need those coats too and they don't make it for them either (at least at major stores). My shelties wouldn't try the rain, so no need for raincoats! LOL I love your Halloween costumes!!

      My 1/2 pittie was like that too. Only he had the huge chest and you couldn't buy them at that time for those kind of pups.

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  4. Aw, these are too cute. I'm loving that one with the hoodie - if only he's stop picking at it. LOL They turned out great though.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. Aw thanks! She now has a heart on her sleeve (it looked like a heart to me anyway... LOL).

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  5. Awww those are adorable and so perfect ^_^ Great job!

    Thanks for sharing,
    ~Brittany @ Brittany's Book Rambles

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  6. You never cease to amaze me with your talent. Love your pups too, they are so adorable. I want to come and snuggle them.

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    1. They would totally love that. Well, the big boy would love it, the little one would just want to play! LOL

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  7. Oh my goodness these are too cute and of course big dogs get cold too. I love how clever you are. I would just have to give someone the keys to bank account.

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    1. LOL! Well, I know I'm not the only one who does this! I see coats on Etsy for big pooches. :)

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  8. That puppy! What a hoot trying to unsnap him.

    These are really neat, Melissa, and you're so right about the big dogs with the short coats. Years ago, I actually got my dobie to wear one of my kid sweaters when we went out and played in the snow. He was so tolerant of me. LOL

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    1. He is so patient with her! :)

      So cute! My big boy can't even fit in a adult male XL! So I have no choice but to make them. LOL

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  9. Adorable! I applaud your creativity and perseverance! I have a GSP and he freezes in the winter (as winter as you can get in Texas), so he doesn't like to go outside when it's cold. He bounces around on his feet to try and avoid the ground, lol. I've thought about getting him the little boots, but never considered a jacket! He loves to bundle up in a blanket, so he might actually like having one on.

    Do You Dog-ear?

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    1. Aw thanks! I think my pups would kill me if I put boots on them. LOL

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  10. I used to put sweaters on my dog in the winter all the time. She was so cute. She was the only dog I've had as an adult. I love how creative you got on so little money! That's amazing! I especially like the colors on the one the dog bites at! The hood one is really cute too. I wish I was creative!

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    1. Aw! I bet you have great pics of it too!

      Have to get creative! No choice with the big boy. :) The hoodie isn't my pattern but it was fun making it... until she put a hole in it! LOL

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  11. Aw those are cute! The dogs are hanging out in style... :)

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  12. OMG! They all loo so cute in those sweaters <3

    xx
    Vanessa
    www.blushinggeek.com

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  13. oh dogs absolutely get cold, we have a pug that gets cold easily during bad weather. Oh my god, HOW CUTE are those tho and the hood? :D I love the one that is falling over the pups eyes. Hope your puppies stay cozy with those Melissa

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  14. Your talent amazes me! So cute and practical! Great job!

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  15. Those little sweaters are so cute and the pictures of your dogs are adorable. You did a great job. I used to buy those fleece blankets for my rats to line their cages. I didn't care if they shredded them, which they did but they cost so little that it was fine. lol

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    1. Aw thanks! I've seen people make all kinds of things with fleece for the bigger rodents. So creative!

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  16. Well! Don't they look both cute and toasty. Just about able to sew a button (I know, its embarrassing) I'm in awe of how practical you are.

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    1. Heh... I let my machine sew buttons... so you are ahead of me! LOL

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  17. perhaps make one for halloween to sharpen your skills
    they are really good and quite cute.. yes, manufacturers forget big dogs because small dogs are cute...

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    1. I've made the pup a costume for a dog thing but she really didn't want anything to do with it. LOL

      Big puppers are so cute too! ;)

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  18. Seriously so flipping cute! And agreed. I've had big dogs and they needed coats and it was a struggle. I had to order an XXXL online for one and even that was a tight one. lol

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    1. I don't think they understand sizing. I mean a L is NOT for a large dog! Also, forget the sizing of breeds on the label. Never fit a dog listed for me. LOL

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  19. Very cute. I agree that large dogs can get cold (though mine was a medium size). He used to shiver all the time. I did get him a blanket (horse places have a lot of horse like blankets for dogs almost as big as a pony). He loved it. My current dog (same breed and size) can't stand it. He doesn't seem very cold though, so I just let him go out without one. The ones you made are adorable.

    Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart

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  20. And here I thought Monster Pup was trying to snuggle with Big Boy. ;) Have you thought about knitting a dog sweater. Would that last longer than the sewing ones?

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    1. She snuggles too but he just tolerates it. LOL I don't knit but my mom crochets and she has made him a couple that he loves and still wears.

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  21. These are adorable!! I use to have two Chow Chow dogs in California so I never really needed to worry much about the cold, rather it was the heat. But this is wonderful! :)

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    1. Aw! Yea, I didn't have to worry about my Mal but I did about the heat so I understand! :)

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  22. Oh my! Those are totally adorable! I love them. And it seems the fur babies love them too!

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  23. Seriously too cute, I wonder if my puppy will tolerate one on her for longer than a second. Hubby had some on her when we first got her but hasn't put it on her since :/

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    1. LOL! The pup didn't like it until it got very cold. When it warms up she is back to shredding them. LOL

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  24. That is soo cute, I also have a fun crafty post you might like:
    https://justmeandmyblogreviews.blogspot.com/search/label/Fun%20Stuff- I hope you will come check it out!!

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    1. Thanks! Sorry it took so long for me to check it out but I will!

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  25. I don't have a dog of my own, but holy cow those are way too cute!! Some clothes look better on animals than they do on people. xD

    - Aimee @ Aimee, Always

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  26. Oh Melissa your dogs are lovely! I love big dogs and their big dog cuddles! Can't believe you have the skill to make dog clothes though. I can barely sew a seam tear without botching it!

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    1. Weeellll... my mom helped with drafting it. We did it together piecing what we liked about coats we had both seen. :) Oh and monster pup tears seams all the time. LOL

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  27. Oh my gosh! So much cuteness! The pups are just adorable and you are so talented!

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  28. Oh my,I am not talented at all for stuff like that, far too cute. And I love your models <3 beautiful xxx

    Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.net

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    1. Well, I was motivated and I think that is all it take. Don't tell them they are beautiful. It will go to their heads. LOL

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  29. Lmao I'm laughing so hard at Monster trying to help undress that sweater! So adorable <3

    Uma@Books.Bags.Burgers.

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  30. You did a fantastic job! This is sooo adorable :D Thank you for sharing!

    Brittany @ Brittany's Book Rambles

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Thanks for commenting! I ❤ comments!