Free Soggibottom knitted dog sweater pattern

Our very own Freya Rose Blossom  THE CAT FLAP CAVALIER modelling her own sweater.

A Free pattern is well over due from Soggibottom. This time it's a dog sweater.
My own sweater pattern, you are very welcome to use for your own private use.

This also gives a great opportunity to including our beloved Amie Soto Blossom who used to have her own selection of sweaters. Her collection grew as she got older, they were especially helpful at keeping the chill off on beach walks and her walks on Dartmoor.

There are no buttons, no fiddly bits to fasten as your dog squirms. 
Roll down the collar, which goes over your dogs head, hold one paw up at a time and slip it into the sleeve, roll the sweater down over your dogs back. 

If you need any help because you don't understand the pattern, let me know.I'll try to keep things simple, it's an easy pattern you shouldn't get lost.

Sweater sizes.
Chest size.    15/34, 191/2,  231/2 inches.
                      40 (49.5) (59.5) cm
Materials.
No. 8 (4mm) knitting needles,
approx 150g (200g) ( 250g) double knitting wool.
I like to use a good percentage of wool, but as long as long as it's a double knit yarn it will be fine.

Cast on 75 (87) (99) stitches using no 8 knitting needles.
1st Row, K1, p1 to end
2nd Row, P1,k1 to end.
Rib (k1,p1) for 50 rows.

Next Row
Knit increasing 1 stitch at each end of the row.
Next Row
Purl to end
Continue adding stitches on every alternate knit row until you have 89 (109) (103) stitches on your needle.

Divide for leg holes :
Next Row
Knit 14 (17) (20) stitches, cast off next 3 (4) (5) sts. Knit to last 17 (21) (25) stitches. Cast off 3 (4) (5) stitches, knit to end.
Work on last set of 14 (17) (25) stitches only for right half front.

Right half front.
Decrease 1 stitch at the end of next row and at the same edge on the 3 following rows.
10 (13) (16) stitches.
Knit ( 1 row plain, 1 row purl) for 7 (9) (11) rows. Increase 1 stitch at beginning of next row and at the same edge on 3 following rows. 14 (17) (20) stitches. Break off the yarn and leave these stitches on a holder.

Back
With the wrong side (purl side of your work) facing rejoin yarn to center 55 (67) (81) stitches. Decrease 1 stitch at each end of the next 4 rows. 47 (59) ( 73) stitches.
Knit (knit one row, purl one row) 7 (9)  (11)  rows. Increase 1 stitch at each end of the next 4 rows. 55 (67) (81) stitches. Break off the yarn and leave these stitches on a spare needle or put them on a holder if you find it easier.

Left half front
With wrong side facing, rejoin yarn to remaining 14 (17) (20) stitches. Decrease 1 stitch at beginning of the next row and at the same edge on the following 3 rows. 10 (13) (16) stitches.
Knit (knit one row, purl one row) 7 (9) (11) rows.
Increase 1 stitch at the end of the next row and at the same edge on the 3 following rows. 14 (17) (20) stitches. Do not break off the yarn but leave these stitches on a stitch holder.

Leg sleeves

With right side of your work facing, using No 8 (4mm) needles pick up and knit 34 (37) ( 40) stitches evenly around one leg hole, then cast on 3 (4) (5) stitches. 37 (41) (45) stitches on your needle.
Rib (knit one, purl one) for 17 rows. Cast of in rib (knit one, purl one).

Join leg sleeve seam.

Casting on 3 (4) (5) stitches at the beginning of pick up row instead of at the end, work the other leg sleeve in the same way.

Joining Row
Return to the stitches on the stitch holder with the yarn attached.
With the right side facing and using no 8 (4mm) knitting needles, knit 14 (17) ( 20) stitches from the stitch holder, then pick up and knit 3 (4) (5) stitches over cast on stitches of the leg sleeve, knit 55 (67) (81) stitches from the spare needle (or your stitch holder), then pick up and knit 3 (4) (5) stitches over the cast on stitches of the other leg sleeve, finally knit 14 (17) (20) stitches from the other stitch holder 89 (109) (131) stitches.

Next Row.
Knit (1 row knit, 1 row purl) decreasing one stitch at each end of the next 9 alternate rows.

Next Row
Rib (knit one, purl one) every row still decreasing 1 stitch on every alternate row until there are 75 (87) (99) stitches on needles.

Rib for another 12 rows without decreasing.
Cast Off.
Sew seam and roll back the neck collar.

This is an easy pattern that you can alter depending on the length of your dog. 

Last Christmas,  knitting needles were clacking here in the cottage after reading a certain animal shelter desperately needed warm dog coats to keep their residents, especially the older guys warm during the cold weather. 

This pattern is for Lorraine's mum.
When she goes on holiday she wants to knit dog sweaters for an animal shelter. 

Frankie de tabby isn't a great knitter himself Lorraine, but hope this helps.
:-) xxx