Thursday, 12 December 2013

How to make a dog coat pattern (part 1)

It is actually very easy to measure your dog for a dog coat pattern believe it or not!
I'm sorry that the text is so small on the picture! Anyway....
Where it says 'base of beck to base of collar' I meant tail sorry : /

1. Measure around the dog's neck, just below the collar and add 1 inch for velcro. Charlie is 11in, so 12 is good.
2. Measure from the base of neck to base of tail. Charlie is a 12.
3. It is not shown on the picture, but measure from the collar down to the end of the chest (if that makes sense) Charlie is a 6.
4. Measure around the belly. Charlie is a 16.

Now you've finished measuring, this is where it gets slightly harder, and if I can do it, I am pretty sure you can too!


  1. Take the measurement from the neck and divide by 2. So Charlie would be 6. And draw a curved line that is 6in long, for example (that is what Charlie's measurement would be, yours may be different)
  2. Get a ruler and draw the length from the base of neck to tail and add to top of the curved line.
  3. Take the 3rd measurement and add to the other end of the curved line horizontally.
  4. Draw a straight line all the way along the material you are using.
  5. Now grab a plate and line up with the top and bottom vertical lines and draw a curve outwards.
I have found a picture to explain this better from another blog similar to this http://www.sewdoggystyle.com/
all credits to them!
This picture is also 100% credited to them I do not own this! For belly strap try different measurements (sorry that's really the best way to explain it!)
Look out for part 2 when I will show you how to make the actual item and fasten it together.
I do have to admit, this is quite tricky!

Thanks!
Ella and Charlie
xxxxx