6 Best Dog Sewing Patterns, Starting with a Bandana in 11 Sizes

Store-bought dog clothes fit either the chest or the length, rarely both, and anyone with a dachshund or a pug knows the problem well. Sewing for your dog lets you adjust the fit from actual measurements, and a bandana is a good use for scraps. Good dog sewing patterns come in several sizes, tell you how to measure your dog and show every step, from a bandana to a warm vest.

The shortlist has six patterns: three bandanas, one of them elastic in 11 sizes, a reversible vest drafted for a pug, a graded dog clothes pattern and a small bag for walks. After the cards: the three measurements to take, how each bandana sits on the neck, fabric for walking gear and winter layers, and a fit check before the first walk.

Dog Sewing Patterns Sized by Neck, Girth and Back

Knitting patterns, dog-print fabric panels and stuffed toy dogs stayed off the list. Each pick is something your dog wears or something you carry while walking it.

TL;DR: Six projects for a dog and its walks: an elastic bandana in 11 neck sizes, two lined bandanas (pointed and round), a reversible jacket vest drafted for a pug, a graded dog clothes pattern for experienced sewists and a small crossbody bag with a slot for waste bags.

• Dog Bandana Sewing Pattern, 11 Sizes – Best bandana for dogs of any size
• Dog Bandana Sewing Pattern PDF – Best first dog project
• Cute Round Dog Bandana Sewing Pattern – Best round bandana
• Pug Dog Reversible Jacket Vest Pattern – Best dog vest
• Dog Clothes PDF Sewing Pattern – Best dog garment
• Walkies Crossbody Bag Sewing Pattern – Best for dog walks

Quick Comparison

Three Measurements to Take with a Soft Tape

Have the dog stand square and keep the tape snug but not tight, since a measurement taken too tight makes a garment that pinches.

1. Neck: around the base of the neck, where a collar sits.
2. Chest girth: around the widest part of the rib cage, just behind the front legs.
3. Back length: from the base of the neck to the base of the tail.

The patterns use these numbers differently. The 11-size bandana is sized by neck alone, from 7.5 to 26 inches. The pug vest lists all three: a 23 to 25 inch girth, a 16 to 20 inch neck and 13 inches from neck to tail, with 29.5 inches around the girth when finished. Weight and breed are poor guides, since two dogs of the same weight can be built very differently.

The bandana sizes overlap: S/M covers 11 to 12.5 inches and M covers 12 to 14, so a 12 inch neck fits both. Read the pattern’s own notes before choosing.

How Each Bandana Sits on the Neck

The 11-size bandana is elasticized and slips over the head with no tying. The two lined bandanas from the other designer are cut from a main and a lining fabric; the listing shows the finished sizes in its second picture but does not say in words how they fasten, so look at the photos before you buy.

Anything around a dog’s neck can snag. Elastic stretches but does not break away, and a tied bandana can tighten if it catches. Take a bandana off before the dog goes into a crate, is left alone or plays rough with other dogs, and leave room for two fingers between the fabric and the neck.

Fabric for Walking Gear and Winter Layers

The Walkies bag is cut from three rectangles and listed as fat quarter friendly, with a webbing strap and a flap that closes with a snap, a button or hook-and-loop tape. Quilting cotton works, and a canvas or cotton duck outside is generally more durable for a bag handled on muddy walks.

The dog clothes listing suggests lightweight cotton for summer, fleece for warmth or a stretch fabric for a snug fit. Polyester fleece does not fray, though the seams may still need the finish the pattern asks for. If the fabric is washable, prewash it before cutting so later laundering does not change the fit.

The vest closes with hook-and-loop tape along the belly. On a long-coated dog, check that the rough hook side does not rest against the fur once it is fastened.

Dog Clothes Questions

Is there a dog coat pattern here?

The closest is the pug jacket vest, a reversible body piece for small dogs with front leg holes and a belly closure. The dog clothes pattern sewn in fleece can also be a warm layer, as its listing suggests. Neither is a full dog coat with a hood or a rain shell.

How do I print a PDF dog pattern?

Print the first page at 100 percent (actual size) and measure the test square if the pattern has one. The vest prints on 6 Letter pages that you tape together. The dog clothes pattern is layered with color-coded sizes, so you can print only your dog’s size, and it also comes as projector and A0 files. The Walkies bag needs no printing at all.

How much fabric does a dog bandana need?

The two lined bandanas list a main fabric piece for each size from small to XX-large and the same amount again for the lining.

Can I sew dog clothes as a beginner?

Start with a bandana or the vest, which its designer calls one of her easier patterns. The graded dog clothes pattern is written for sewists who already know garment construction. More projects for the home, including cat-themed ones, are in the home and kitchen section.

A Fit Check Before the First Walk

Put the finished piece on indoors and watch the dog walk, sit and lie down. Look for rubbing behind the front legs, fabric pressing on the throat and a hem that catches the back legs. Keep the first walk short, then check the skin under the closure.

These dog sewing patterns start from the three measurements, and the way your dog moves in the result shows what to change. If something pulls, write the adjusted measurement on the paper pattern before you cut the next one.

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