8 Crochet Dog Sweater Free Patterns (Small to Extra Large)
A crochet dog sweater is a small project with a big payoff: one skein of worsted yarn, a few evenings, and a dog that stops shivering on winter walks. The trick is the fit, so every pattern here tells you how to measure the chest and the back before you start.
We opened and checked each of these 8 free patterns. There are sizes from a 5-pound XS up to an extra large with a 30-inch chest, a plain beginner sweater, a cabled one, a ruffled sweater for tiny dogs and a textured one with sleeves. Each one lists the yarn and hook the designer used.
Crochet Dog Sweater Free Patterns
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What You’ll Need
- Worsted (#4) acrylic or a wool blend, 100 to 400 yards depending on the size; acrylic washes easily
- A 5 mm to 6 mm hook
- A tape measure: chest at the widest point behind the front legs, neck, and back from collar to tail
- Stitch markers and a yarn needle
- Optional buttons or velcro if you want an opening instead of pulling it over the head
1. Beginner Dog Sweater
Photo: North of Normal Knots
A plain sweater in single and half double crochet, written for the designer’s 15-pound dog with notes on customizing it to yours. It took less than one skein of Red Heart Super Saver with a 5.5 mm hook. The designer suggests measuring your dog’s chest before you start, or keeping the dog nearby to check the fit.
- Designer: North of Normal Knots
- Skill level: Beginner
- Yarn: worsted (#4) acrylic, Red Heart Super Saver, under 1 skein
- Hook: 5.5 mm (I)
- Price: Free written pattern
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
2. The Doggy Sweater, Size XS
Photo: Crochet It Creations
For dogs of roughly 5 to 10 pounds. The finished sweater is about 12 inches long and 14 inches around and takes about 125 yards of worsted weight. Made in half double crochet with front and back post stitches for ribbing. The same design comes in XXS, medium and extra large on the designer’s site, so one pattern family covers every dog.
- Designer: Crochet It Creations
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: worsted (#4) acrylic, about 125 yards
- Hook: 5.5 mm (I)
- Price: Free written pattern
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
3. The Doggy Sweater, Size Extra Large
Photo: Crochet It Creations
The big-dog version of the same sweater: about 27 inches long and 30 inches around, in medium weight acrylic with a 5.5 mm hook. Large-dog patterns are hard to find for free, so this one is worth bookmarking.
- Designer: Crochet It Creations
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: worsted (#4) acrylic
- Hook: 5.5 mm (I)
- Price: Free written pattern
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
4. Basic Dog Sweater, Step by Step
Photo: Maria's Blue Crayon
A beginner-friendly sweater worked in rounds for the chest and legs, then in rows for the back. It goes on over the head with the legs pulled through. The step-by-step photos show each stage, and the designer says you only need the basic stitches.
- Designer: Maria's Blue Crayon
- Skill level: Beginner
- Yarn: worsted (#4)
- Hook: 5 mm (H)
- Price: Free written pattern
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
5. Simple Dog Sweater in 3 Sizes
Photo: The Crochet Crowd
Small, medium and large in one pattern, with a video tutorial. The designer reminds you to watch for the size you are following, since all three run through the same instructions. A good choice if you have more than one dog.
- Designer: The Crochet Crowd
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: see pattern
- Hook: see pattern
- Price: Free written pattern
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
6. Ruffled Small Dog Sweater
Photo: Itchin' for some Stitchin'
A sweater for Yorkies, Chihuahuas and other tiny dogs, with a ruffle at the hem. It fits about a 6-inch chest and a 9.5-inch back, is rated advanced beginner, and the designer estimates 2 to 3 hours. Made in worsted with a 6 mm hook.
- Designer: Itchin' for some Stitchin'
- Skill level: Advanced beginner
- Yarn: worsted / aran (#4)
- Hook: 6 mm (J)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
7. Cabled Dog Sweater
Photo: A Crocheted Simplicity
A sweater with crochet cables down the back, in Lion Brand Wool-Ease, a worsted wool blend. The page explains where to measure the chest and how to customize size and color. The designer rates it easy to intermediate because of the cables.
- Designer: A Crocheted Simplicity
- Skill level: Easy to intermediate
- Yarn: worsted (#4) wool blend, Lion Brand Wool-Ease
- Hook: 5 mm (H)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
8. Textured Dog Sweater with Sleeves
Photo: Darling Dana Designs
A textured sweater with sleeves, in DK yarn, written in small and large from the designer’s own dogs’ measurements. She notes that long-legged dogs may not take full-length sleeves, and tells you how to size up for a medium or extra large.
- Designer: Darling Dana Designs
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: DK (#3)
- Hook: 5 mm (H) and 5.5 mm (I)
- Price: Free written pattern
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
Which One Should You Make?
If this is your first dog sweater, use Maria’s step-by-step basic sweater (#4) or the North of Normal beginner sweater (#1). Both use basic stitches and explain the fit.
Match the size first: the XS Doggy Sweater (#2) for dogs under 10 pounds, the ruffled sweater (#6) for tiny breeds, the three-size Crochet Crowd pattern (#5) for a medium dog, and the extra large Doggy Sweater (#3) for a 30-inch chest.
If you want it to look handmade in a good way, the cabled sweater (#7) and the textured sweater with sleeves (#8) are the ones people will ask about at the park.
FAQ
How do I measure my dog for a crochet sweater?
Three measurements: the chest at its widest point just behind the front legs, the neck where a collar sits, and the back from the base of the neck to the start of the tail. Compare the chest measurement to the pattern’s finished size and add an inch or two of ease so the sweater is not tight.
What yarn is best for a dog sweater?
A washable worsted acrylic or an acrylic-wool blend like Wool-Ease. Dogs get muddy, so the sweater will be washed often; avoid pure wool unless it is superwash. Cotton stretches out and stays wet, so it is a poor choice for warmth.
How much yarn does a dog sweater take?
From the patterns here: under 100 yards for an XXS, about 125 yards for an XS, and less than one 364-yard skein of Red Heart Super Saver for a 15-pound dog. An extra large can take two or three skeins.
Measure your dog tonight, pick the size that matches, and the sweater will be on the dog by the weekend.