A Knit Dog Sweater That’s Easy to Customize

I do not know and I have not ever owned a dog, but I know that dogs sometimes get cold. Some dogs like to wear sweaters, and some humans like to dress their dogs in sweaters, regardless of the dog’s feelings about it.

If you fall into any of those camps and have ever wanted to knit your dog a sweater, the Vanilla dog sweater from Ruth Ritskes is a good place to start.

It looks like a really simple design that would be easy to customize for the exact size and preferences of your dog. It comes in three sizes but if you have your dog handy while you’re knitting it, you can easily modify the girth or the length as needed to keep your pooch comfortable and stylish.

It’s worn with leg holes for the front legs and is open around the back. I’ll bet you could add a little bit of knitting to the leg holes if you wanted to give more coverage, and you can make the body of the sweater go as far back on their body as you want it to.

And of course you can go wild with stripes, add in different textured knitting patterns, throw in their name worked in duplicate stitch…the possibilities are endless.

It’s a very easy knitting pattern if you just knit it as written, too. All you need to know is know to knit, purl, make one and knit in the round. The pattern includes photos and links to videos to make it easier for you.

You can get the free pattern as a download on Ravlery.

If you’re looking for more dog sweater patterns, check out my roundup of Halloween-themed dog sweaters (many of which could be altered to not be seasonal if you prefer).

[Photo: Ruth Ritskes]

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There are certain things that just make sense to knit at this time of year, and market bags are one of them. We tend to use our canvas bags more often in the summer with trips to the farmer’s market and the library, but string bags and market bags are great to use all year.

I love the Three Oranges Bag by Hana Cho, which looks just like a knit version of a plastic shopping bag, but with three cute oranges stitched on. The bag uses intarsia to make the oranges, but you could use duplicate stitch or intarsia to add a different design if you like. It calls for fingering weight yarn and you can find the pattern on Ravelry.

Sharyn Anhalt’s Market Square bag (also on Ravelry) uses worsted weight yarn and a mosaic pattern to make a pretty bag you’ll want to use every time you go shopping. The bag comes in two sizes and is worked in two colors of the same yarn for a fun mixed up effect that’s almost like weaving.

Speaking of fun colors, the Market Bag from Hubbabubbie Art uses a multicolored cake yarn (specifically Lion Brand Mandala) to produce fun color changes without any extra work. This bag is worked from the bottom up with a crocheted bottom and knit mesh sides. It’s a free pattern on Ravelry.

The Pike Place Market Bag from Blue Bird Pine Shop looks like a massive bag to hold all your market goodies (that is a child holding it, but still). The bag calls for worsted weight cotton yarn and the mesh is worked on extra large needles to help it open up to hold everything you want held.

The Knit Farmer’s Market Bag form Design BCB is another good one, made mostly of mes with a little stockinette for extra stability. The base is also worked in stockinette so items you put in it will sit flat.

This mesh bag from Sheep and Stitch doesn’t have a base, and the body is worked flat before being joined in the round to make the top and handles. That makes it easy to make the bag just the size you want because you can stop knitting whenever you feel it’s big enough. The pattern includes a step-by-step video if you need extra assistance.

And the Eco Market String Bag from Mama in a Stitch has a solid knit base worked in a contrasting color from the mesh body. It’s an easy project that comes out a great size for your market needs without being too huge.

Do you have a favorite knit market bag pattern? I’d love to hear about it!

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