Dog Sweater Pattern

Directions by Susanne Glass

Yarn: Trenzado, 1 cone main color, 1 cone contrasting color.
Pattern: Brother punchcard 4D in Fairisle.
Tension: 8.
Gauge: 7.5 stitchs/9.75 rows per inch.
Note: The Back and Chest Panels were knit using a Knitleader charting device.

The pattern has 6 main pieces:

Back: see schematic at end of pattern.
Chest Panel: see schematic.
Collar: knit in 1x1 rib.
Tab: sewed to Back for Strap to go through.
Strap: attached to Chest Panel; goes through Tab on Back and closes with Velcro.
Bias Trim: 2 pieces for Chest Panel; 1 long piece for Back.

BACK: Knit per schematic. Knit the left side from A to B first. Take off on waste. Knit the corresponding right side from C to D until you reach point E. Put left side back on machine, reset pattern and continue shaping. Short row as indicated. This forms a slight cup that hugs the rump. Cast off.

COLLAR: Using ribber cast on 51-0-50 in 1x1 rib. At T. 4/4 knit 60 rows. Attach Collar to Back along B to C. Seam Collar and continue seam as you join AB to CD.

CHEST PANEL: Knit per schematic.

BIAS TRIM for Chest Panel: Knit 2 pieces each 13" long. Begin and end on waste yarn for easy length adjustment as you attach. At far left side of machine cast on 11 stitches. Carriage on right. *Knit 2 rows. Decrease 1 stitch on left side and pull out 1 stitch on right.* Repeat * to * to form the trim. Attach trim to Chest Panel at F to G and H to I. Attach Chest Panel where Collar and Back are joined at BC - attach to the underside along the Collar/Back seam.

STRAP: Knit 2 pieces each 1.25" x 20.25". Select a piece of the punchcard pattern and arrange pattern so it will be centered on the strap. Cast on 76-0-76 on waste yarn. With carriage at left with contrasting color, knit 1 row to set the pattern. In pattern colors knit the number of rows necessary to equal 1.25" (11 rows for my gauge and pattern). End with 1 row contrasting color. Take off on waste. Knit a second identical piece. Leave on machine. With wrong sides together, hang one side of first piece back on machine. Latch tool bind off with the main color. With the bind off on the right side, a decorative edge is formed while joining the 2 pieces and the Strap will lay flat. Repeat for other side. Single crochet short side edges together. Attach Strap to Chest Panel at F to H side. Do not center the Chest Panel on the Strap. Off center it so the velcro is not joined under the Tab but off to the side. Attach velcro to Strap ends. [Tip: I put the Chest Panel on the machine when I was doing the latch tool bind off - this way I was able to hide the edge between the 2 Strap pieces as I bound off.]

TAB: Cast on 11-0-11. Center punchcard pattern. Knit 30 rows. Cast off. Join edges. Sew to Back so joined edge is underneath and centered. Place Tab so Strap goes through at proper point.

BIAS TRIM for Back: Knit trim as above for 48". [Tip: If you have not completed the trim by the time the stitches reach the far right of the machine, just take them off and replace at left end and continue.] Attach Trim around entire edge of Back.

The following schematics are not exactly to scale. Use the dimensions given. If you have questions please feel free to email me.