Dog vest: pattern, sewing tips. DIY dog clothes

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:35

In the cold season, clothes are needed not only by people. Dogs also need insulation so as not to catch a cold when walking through puddles and snow. It is important to choose a comfortable option for a four-legged pet so that it is easy to put on and does not restrict movement. The most popular option is a vest for dogs, a pattern for which is easy to make with your own hands.

When clothes for dogs appeared

In today's pet stores you can see different types of clothing for dogs, but they invented it many centuries ago. Even in the paintings of artists in the Renaissance, pets in blankets are depicted. Protective vests for dogs were invented even earlier, when they were used as fighting animals. Since the 19th century, such clothes have been mass-produced. This is due to the fact that in Europe there is a fashion for small short-haired dogs.

Now fashion designers are working on clothes for small dogs, developing whole sets forowner and pet, which are made of the same fabric in the same style. Such models are exclusive and have a high price. However, even with a small budget, you can provide your dog with warm and fashionable clothes, you just need to study the instructions for self-tailoring, build a pattern for a dog vest and choose the right fabric.

Which dogs need clothes

Walking is very important for four-legged pets. And you need to walk the dog at least 2-3 times a day, regardless of the weather outside. If a dog has a thick coat, then it is not afraid of frost, but pets with short hair, without special clothing that protects them from dampness and wind, are in danger every day. Due to the increased body temperature, even a slight cold snap in the street can lead to a serious illness. The following breeds need a warm vest more than others:

• Russian and English Toy Terriers;
• Pekingese;
• Pomeranian;
• chihuahua;
• Prague rats;
• Yorkshire Terriers;
• pygmy pinschers;
• Chinese Crested;
• short-haired rabbit dachshunds;
• papillons;
• toy fox terriers.

These breeds of dogs do not have a special mechanism of protection against low temperatures, their body is most sensitive to such changes. Without additional insulation, joints, general immunity and the digestive system suffer the most, so veterinarians recommend purchasing a warm vest for the dog or making it yourself.

Varieties of clothes for dogs

There are different types of clothing for autumn and winter walks. Among them there are sweaters, blankets, overalls, vests. Before sewing the first kit for warming a pet, you need to decide on the type of clothing. Many dogs refuse to wear one or the other because of the stiffness of movement at a time when they want to run and play. Such clothing includes insulated overalls that are difficult to put on a pet alone.

The most comfortable variety are vests. They are universal, they cover only half of the body, so they can be worn both in winter and in autumn. There are also light vests that are worn instead of a harness in summer. In addition, dressing a pet is much easier - you just need to put your front paws through the sleeves and fasten the buttons or zipper.

How to make a dog vest pattern

When choosing a sample, you need to consider that this clothing may have a zipper on the stomach or on the back. To build the correct scheme on paper so that the finished thing sits well, only a professional seamstress will be able to. However, you can take a ready-made dog vest pattern with a comfortable cut on the Internet. It is recommended to measure the distance from the tail to the neck and divide the result by 10. This value will serve as a basis for further calculations.

Some patterns posted on the Internet are divided into squares. This was done to make it easier to transfer the pattern. 1/10 of the distance from the neck to the tail is the length of one side of the square. Now you can start drawing the pattern. On a big sheetpaper, a grid is applied and an exact pattern is transferred along the cells. After cutting out the pattern with scissors, you can draw it on the fabric that is selected for sewing the vest. For dogs with a long neck, you can make a stand-up collar. Its length is equal to the neckline. A button is sewn to the edge to fix it.

How to take measurements for a vest

To do this, you need to take the following measurements from the pet - back length, neck, chest, abdomen, paws. If the lightning is located on the back, then the distance between the paws is also measured. All measurements should be taken while the dog is standing on a flat surface, such as a table or a hard sofa. The girth of the neck is removed with the head raised. It is most convenient to measure the dog with two people, when one person will hold him in the right position, and the other will take measurements.

Tools and materials

Before you start sewing, you need to prepare all the materials and tools. For warm clothes you will need:

• bologna fabric;
• lining material;
• zipper or fasteners.

To make a do-it-yourself dog vest, you will need a sewing machine with a zigzag fabric processing function. Without this tool, it will be difficult to sew clothes that will withstand active walks. Sewing by hand without using a machine will take much longer, but this option will also work.

The lining fabric intended for a warm vest for a dog should be quilted with padding polyester,then sewing will be easier. Instead of simple buttons or rivets, it is recommended to take a zipper so that the dressing process goes faster. It is better to choose metal, it will last much longer than plastic. The clasp on the back will be longer than the one on the stomach. If you intend to make this type of clothing, then you should also measure the distance from the neck to the tail.

Which fabric to choose

When choosing a material for sewing a vest for a dog, you need to consider the conditions under which the walks will take place. For the southern regions of our country, fleece is perfect, which is not blown by the wind. However, this fabric is hygroscopic and will get wet with frequent walks in dampness, endangering the pet. Knitted fabric is very warm, besides it looks stylish. But, unfortunately, it is too easily soiled, so it can only be worn in dry calm weather. In more northern areas it is necessary to use an additional layer of insulation. Suitable synthetic winterizer 4-6 mm.

The top layer is usually made from bologna or stain resistant fabric. Just make sure that the vest for the dog is not too warm, otherwise the pet can overheat and get heat stroke, which is just as dangerous as hypothermia.

Sewing Tips

After transferring the pattern to the fabric, you can start sewing a dog vest with your own hands. When cutting out parts from all sides, 1-1.5 cm are added. If a lining is provided, then you can chop off 2 layers with safety pins and cut them out at the same time. Another trick for quick transferon the fabric - bend the pattern and the fabric in the middle, combine all the parts, circle and cut. Then both halves of the product will be symmetrical. In this case, the top and lining are traced and cut separately. All work on sewing a vest for a dog is carried out according to the instructions:

1. Cut out fabric pieces.
2. Sew shoulder and side seams.
3. Sew the zipper first to the top, and then to the lining from the inside.
4. Turn it right side out and sew 2 mm from the edge of the fabric.
5. Finish the edges with a zigzag stitch.
6. From the front side of the sleeves, fold the edges of the fabric inward, bait by hand, and then sew on a typewriter.
7. Process the bottom of the dog vest in the same way.
8. Iron finished seams.

After the shoulder and side seams are sewn, you can perform a preliminary fitting - put the vest on your pet and see how it sits. If the armholes are too narrow or the collar does not fit snugly around the neck, then you can expand or reduce the pattern. Wide armholes can be easily corrected by sewing on a wide bias tape.

Options and accessories

Even using a standard pattern taken from the Internet, you can make a beautiful individual thing. More experienced craftswomen can experiment with different colors of fabrics, combining them in a product. However, in this case, it will be much more difficult to customize the parts.

An easier way is to take multi-colored buttons with letters or numbers for decoration, perform on clothes for a small dogoriginal embroidery with the name of the pet. Now special rhinestones are sold, which are glued with an iron. These and other thermal stickers will help to make the product exclusive. And if you add protective elements and army attributes, you can create a tactical vest for a dog, similar to what is used for animals in the police.

If you attach a durable material with a ring in the middle to the collar, you can use clothes instead of a harness by attaching a leash to it. Owners of especially mobile dogs, who have already run away several times, attach a moisture-resistant capsule to the vest. It contains the dog's data written on paper - phone number, address or other information.

Clothes care tips

As a rule, small dogs are very active. Walking with them often turns into a steeplechase, so outerwear often gets dirty. Constant washing after every outing will cause the vest to wear out quickly. For autumn, it is recommended to make 2-3 vests so that you can walk several times a day. Dog clothes made of bolognese fabric are perfectly cleaned of dirt with a sponge. After that, it remains only to dry it on the battery.

If after a walk it is necessary to wash the dog's vest in a typewriter, it is better to use baby or laundry soap, previously grated or finely chopped. This detergent will not cause allergies in the pet and will perfectly remove any dirt.