Pattern: Pup Squad Dog Sweater

Here’s Erica in her new sweater complete with skirt and dog bone motif on the butt!

It’s a mock cheerleader sweater I found on My Savannah Cottage. I modified it by adding a knitted Dog Bone Motif instead of using applique. There is a large dog bone motif on the bottom right of the sweater just above the skirt and a small dog bone motif on the upper right chest. My pattern is below.

Materials:
Red Heart Supersaver, Worsted Weight, 0376 Burgundy, 100% Acrylic, 364 Yards
Red Heart Supersaver, Worsted Weight, 4313 Aran Fleck, 100% Acrylic, 364 Yards
Alternate Yarn: Red Heart Heathers, Worsted Weight, 4453 Warm Red, 100% Acrylic, 260 Yards

Needles:
US Size 8 [5.0mm] Clover Takumi Velvet Circular Needles 29″
Tapestry or Yarn Needle

Sizing/Measurements:
Medium (25 pound dog)
Neck – 13″ -16″ girth
Chest – 21″ girth
Neck to Tail – 20″ length

Back Body – 12″ x 17″
Front Body – 8″ x 13″

Stitch Legend:
Stockinette Stitch – Knit all stitches in one row, Purl all stitches in next row.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Pattern:
Back Body
Cast On 35 stitches
Row 1-4: Stockinette Stitch
Row 5: (RS) Kfb, Knit until 2 sts left, Kfb, K (37 sts)
Row 6: Purl all stitches
Row 7-14: Repeat Rows 5-6 (45 sts)
Rows 15 – 66: Stockinette Stitch (52 rows or until piece measure 2″ from where you’d like it to end)

Do Dog Bone Motif (Large)
Row 1: (RS) K22, K1, K10, K1, K11
Row 2: P10, P3, P8, P3, P 21
Row 3: K21, K14, K10
Row 4: P11, P12, P22
Row 5: K23, K10, K12
Row 6: P11, P12, P22
Row 7: K21, K14, K10
Row 8: P10, P3, P8, P3, P 21
Row 9: K22, K1, K10, K1, K11
Row 10: Purl all stitches

Row 77: (RS) Kfb, K21, Kfb, K21, Kfb (48 sts)
Row 78: Purl all stitches

Skirt
Row 79 (RS): *K4, yo; repeat from *; end K4.
Row 80: Purl.
Row 81: (RS) *K5, yo; repeat from *; end K4.
Row 82: Purl.
Row 83: (RS) *K6, yo; repeat from *; end K4.
Row 84: Purl.
Row 85: (RS) *K7, yo; repeat from *; end K4.
Row 86: Purl.
Row 87: (RS) *K8, yo; repeat from *; end K4.
Row 88: Purl.
Row 89: (RS) *K9, yo; repeat from *; end K4.
Row 90: Purl.
Bind off.

Front Body
Cast On 20 stitches
Row 1-4: Stockinette Stitch
Row 5: (RS) Kfb, Knit until 2 sts left, Kfb, K (22 sts)
Row 6: Purl all stitches
Row 7-14: Repeat Rows 5-6 (30 sts)
Rows 15-24: Stockinette Stitch

Do Dog Bone Motif (Small)
Row 1: (RS) K17, K2, K3, K2, K6
Row 2: P6, P7, P17
Row 3: K18, K5, K7
Row 4: P6, P7, P17
Row 5: K17, K2, K3, K2, K6

Rows 30-69: Stockinette Stitch (39 rows from bone or until piece measure 12″)
Bind off on next (RS) row.

Assembly
Block Back and Front pieces.
Join Back and Front pieces using Mattress Stitch for about 1-1/4 (1½ ~ 1-3/4)” down each side.

Skip 18 stitches for armholes (about 3½ to 4½”), then continue stitching front to back until end, reinforcing all beginning and ending stitches.

Optional: To keep sweater from stretching, make edges lie flat and give a more finished appearance, single crochet an edge along sides, front bottom, arm openings and neck.

Neck
Around top of sweater, pick up 42 (46 ~ 50) sts (or appropriate even number for your dog’s neck size) and work in K1P1 rib for 2″. Bind off in rib.

Optional: With small pompom maker, make a pompom and securely fasten it to the neck. *For excellent instructions on how to make your own pompom maker, see “Knitting on the Edge,” by Nicky Epstein, or “Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book,” by the editors of Vogue Knitting Magazine.

Finish
Weave in ends and add a crochet border if desired.

Notes:
I made the largest size marked on the pattern. Everything was perfect except for the neck. It was slightly too shallow and wide. But this is because the neck portion of the pattern is still incomplete. I ran out of yarn! It’s also why this sweater is a hodge podge of yarns, albeit in the same hues.

Original Pup Squad Sweater by My Savannah Cottage
The original pattern is from My Savannah Cottage. How cute is the skirt and pompom!? And she has so many adorable pet knits! Check out her blog for more doggie patterns. Instructions were great, easy to follow. Quick, easy knit that looks and fits great.

http://mysavannahcottage.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/puppy-pride/
http://mysavannahcottage.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/pup-squad-pdf.pdf

Motifs
I made the Dog Bone Motifs myself with the help of this handy online tool, Knitting Chart Maker by Tricksy Knitter! It makes chart-making easy!