Cabled Crochet Dog Sweater

 

 A cabled crochet dog sweater is a practical and crochet project that you and your dog will love. Whether you’re a seasoned crocheter or new to the craft, this project is a great way to challenge yourself with a fun and functional design. Plus, your dog will appreciate the extra warmth and style during those chilly walks.

And, if you love to crochet for charity, chilly dog sweaters are always welcomed by your local humane society.

Why Crochet a Dog Sweater?

Whether you have a small dog that gets chilly in the winter or a larger breed that could benefit from a bit of extra warmth, crocheted dog sweaters provide a perfect solution. Plus, when you crochet your own, you can customize the size, color, and design to suit your dog’s personality. One popular design is the cabled dog sweater, which adds an elegant twist (literally!) to the basic dog sweater pattern.

Related: If you prefer an easy crochet dog sweater without crochet cables, make sure to take a peek at Chewy’s Dog Sweater.

How to Crochet a Dog Sweater

This one piece crochet dog sweater pattern is crocheted from the stretchy neck ribbing to the back end of the cabled sweater.

First, you’ll crochet the neck ribbing in rows and join the first and last rows to form a circle.

Then, you’ll crochet around the neck ribbing to edge it.

Next, you’ll begin the body of dog sweater by working rows partially around the neck. You’ll begin crocheting cables to add texture and interest to your dog sweater.

After crocheting a few rows of the dog sweater, you’ll add a chain to the end of a round and join that chain to the first stitch of the round to create a circle. This chain can be adjusted for a customized girth.

Lastly, the remainder of the body is worked in joined and turned rounds until the measurements listed in the pattern, or until your crochet dog sweater is the proper length to fit your pup.

Yarn

For this cabled crochet dog sweater, I chose Lion Brand Yarns Wool Ease, a worsted weight / 4 yarn. Wool Ease is an acrylic / wool blend yarn that is currently available in 31 gorgeous colors.

Each ball of a solid color of Wool Ease worsted yarn is 197 yards so if you’re making an extra small or small dog crochet sweater, this is a great one skein project! Even a large dog crochet sweater will use less than 2 balls of yarn.

With 31 colors to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect color for your pet within this yarn line, but if not, there are several other worsted weight yarns that would make great substitutions. Lion Brand Wool Ease Recycled, Lion Brand Heartland, Lion Brand Pound of Love, Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice… just to name a few.

Experience Level

• Intermediate

Sizes

• See Size & Yardage Chart below.

Gauge

• Neck Ribbing: 6 sts = 1.5″; 6.75 rows = 1.5″
• Body of Sweater in ext sc:  6.5 sts = 2″; 6.5 rows = 2″

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch(s): chain(s)
• st(s): stitch(es)
• sl st(s): slip stitch(es)
• sc: single crochet
• fpdc: front post double crochet
• bpdc: back post double crochet
• fptr: front post treble crochet
• ext sc: extended single crochet
• yo: yarn over
• RS: right side
• Rnd: round
• FLO: front loop only
• BLO: back loop only
• Six Strand Cable: see special stitches below

Special Stitches

• Extended Single Crochet (ext sc): Insert hook into stitch indicated, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull thru 1 loop on hook, yo, pull thru remaining 2 loops on hook.
• Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc): Yo, insert hook from front to back to front around the post of the indicated stitch, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull thru 2 loops, yo, pull thru remaining 2 loops.
• Back Post Double Crochet (bpdc): Yo, insert hook from back to front to back around the post of the designated stitch, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull thru 2 loops, yo, pull thru remaining 2 loops.
• Front Post Treble Crochet (fptr): Yo 2 twice, insert hook from front to back to front around the post of the designated stitch, yo, pull up a loop, (yo, pull thru 2 loops) 3 times.
• Six Strand Cable: I have a photo and video tutorial showing how to work a six strand crochet cable that is similar to the wide cable in the center of this cabled crochet dog sweater. The taller stitches used during the cable twist are slightly different, but the technique is the same. If you’ve never worked cables before, you may find it helpful to see step-by-step and in motion in the video.

Pattern Notes

• Turning chains are not included in stitch count.
• The first stitch of each row is worked into the same stitch as the turning chain.
• I tend to crochet on the tighter side. You may find yourself needing to go down a hook size (or two) to properly meet gauge.
• Yarn Notes: Lion Brand Yarns Wool Ease in Denim was used for the sample shown, worsted weight yarn, (3 oz / 85 g / 197 yards / 180 m / 80% acrylic / 20% wool) per ball.
• Yardage: You will use 120 – 350 yards depending on the size cabled dog sweater you’re making. See the chart below for yardage required per size.
• Another comparable worsted weight yarn may be used as long as gauge is met.
• Changes for Sizes are written as follows: X-Small (Small, Medium, Large).
• Changes for Stitch Counts are as follows: (X-Small, Small, Medium, Large).
• Instructions are given within the pattern to customize both the girth and length of your sweater.
• Dog Sweater Construction Notes: You’ll begin by crocheting the neck ribbing in rows, then join the first and last row to form a circle. Then, you’ll crochet around the neck ribbing to edge it. Next, you’ll begin the body of dog sweater by working rows partially around the neck. After a few rounds, you’ll add a chain to the end of a round and join to the first stitch to create a circle. Lastly, the remainder of the body is worked in joined and turned rounds.

Crochet Dog Sweater Size Chart & Yardage Requirements

Crochet Dog Sweater Pattern

Changes for Sizes Written as Follows: X-Small (Small, Medium, Large)

Neck Ribbing

Row 1 (RS): With yarn & a 5.00mm crochet hook, ch 7, working into the back hump of the chain, sc into the 2nd ch from your hook and in each ch across. Turn. (6 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, BLO sl st in each st across. Turn. (6 sts)

Row 3: Ch 1, BLO sc in each st across. Turn. (6 sts)

Rows 4 – 37 (43, 49, 55): Rep Rows 2 – 3. (6 sts)

Row 38 (44, 50, 56): With the RS facing out, bring the 1^st row to meet the last row. Position your working yarn so that it’s on the inside of the neck. Ch 1, (Insert your hook from front to back into the FLO of the 1^st st of Row 1, insert your hook from back to front into the BLO of the 1^st st of the last row, yo, pull thru all loops to complete sl st) repeat across. (6 sts)

Do not fasten off. Continue on to Neck Edging.

Neck Edging

Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 1, sc into the side of each row around the neck. Join with a sl st to 1^st st. (38, 44, 50, 56 sts)

Rnds 2 (2 – 3) (2 – 3) (2 – 4): Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (38, 44, 50, 56 sts)

Do not fasten off. Continue on to the Body of Sweater.

Body of Sweater

Row 1 (RS): Ch 1, 2 ext sc in the first st, ext sc in each of the next 20 (26, 32, 38) sts, 2 ext sc in the next st. Turn. (24, 30, 36, 42 sts) *Note: You will not be working all the way around the neck. You will have unworked stitches from the neck edging.

Row 2: Ch 1, 2 ext sc in the first st, ext sc in each of the next 2 (5, 8, 11) sts, bpdc around the next st, ext sc in the next st, bpdc around the next st, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, bpdc around each of the next 6 sts, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, bpdc around the next st, ext sc in the next st, bpdc around the next st, ext sc in each of the next 2 (5, 8, 11) sts, 2 ext sc in the last st. Turn. (26, 32, 38, 44 sts)

Row 3: Ch 1, 2 ext sc in the first st, ext sc in each of the next 3 (6, 9, 12) sts, skip each of the next 2 sts, fptr around the next post st, ext sc in the skipped ext sc, fptr around the skipped post st, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, skip each of the next 3 post sts, fptr around each of the next 3 post sts, working in front of the fptr just made, fptr around each of the 3 skipped post sts, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, skip each of the next 2 sts, fptr around the next post st, ext sc in the skipped ext sc, fptr around the skipped post st, ext sc in each of the next 3 (6, 9, 12) sts, 2 ext sc in the last st. Turn. (28, 34, 40, 46 sts)

Row 4: Ch 1, 2 ext sc in the first st, ext sc in each of the next 4 (7, 10, 13) sts, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc in the next st, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc ineach of the next 3 sts, bpdc around each of the next 6 post sts, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc in the next st, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc in each of the next 4 (7, 10, 13) sts, 2 ext sc in the last st. Turn. (30, 36, 42, 48 sts)

Row 5: Ch 1, ext sc in each of the next 6 (9, 12, 15) sts, fpdc around the next post st, ext sc in the next st, fpdc around the next post st, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, fpdc around each of the next 6 post sts, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, fpdc around the next post st, ext sc in the next st, fpdc around the next post st, ext sc in each of the last 6 (9, 12, 15) sts. Turn. (30, 36, 42, 48 sts)

Row 6: Ch 1, ext sc in each of the next 6 (9, 12, 15) sts, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc in the next st, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, bpdc around each of the next 6 post sts, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc In the next st, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc in each of the last 6 (9, 12, 15) sts. Turn. (30, 36, 42, 48 sts)

Adjustments for Girth: If you need to adjust the sweater girth, you can do so at the end of Round 7 where you chain X. Simply add or subtract chains as needed to adjust the girth.

Rnd 7: Ch 1, ext sc in each of the next 6 (9, 12, 15) sts, skip each of the next 2 sts, fptr around the next post st, ext sc in the skipped ext sc, fptr around the skipped post st, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, skip each of the next 3 post sts, fptr around each of the next 3 post sts, working in front of the fptr just made, fptr around each of the 3 skipped post sts, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, skip each of the next 2 sts, fptr around the next post st, ext sc in the skipped ext sc, fptr around the skipped post st, ext sc in each of the last 6 (9, 12, 15) sts, loosely ch 11 (12, 13, 22). Join with a sl st to the 1st st of the round. Turn. (41, 48, 55, 70 sts)

Joined & Turned Rounds: The remainder of this crochet dog sweater is crocheted in joined and turned rounds.

Rnd 8: Ch 1, ext sc in each ch, ext sc in each st to the next post st, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc in the next st, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, bpdc around each of the next 6 post sts, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc in the next st, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc in each remaining st around. Join. Turn. (41, 48, 55, 70 sts)

Rnd 9: Ch 1, ext sc in each st to the next post st, fpdc around the next post st, ext sc in the next st, fpdc around the next post st, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, fpdc around each of the next 6 post sts, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, fpdc around the next post st, ext sc in the next st, fpdc around the next post st, ext sc in each remaining st around. Join. Turn. (41, 48, 55, 70 sts)

Rnd 10: Ch 1, ext sc in each st to the next post st, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc in the next st, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, bpdc around each of the next 6 post sts, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc in the next st, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc in each remaining st around. Join. Turn. (41, 48, 55, 70 sts)

Rnd 11: Ch 1, ext sc in each st to the next post st, skip each of the next 2 sts, fptr around the next post st, ext sc in the skipped ext sc, fptr around the skipped post st, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, skip each of the next 3 post sts, fptr around each of the next 3 post sts, working in front of the fptr just made, fptr around each of the 3 skipped post sts, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, skip each of the next 2 sts, fptr around the next post st, ext sc in the skipped ext sc, fptr around the skipped post st, ext sc in each remaining st around. Join. Turn. (41, 48, 55, 70 sts)

Rnd 12: Ch 1, ext sc in each st to the next post st, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc in the next st, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, bpdc around each of the next 6 post sts, ext sc in each of the next 3 sts, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc in the next st, bpdc around the next post st, ext sc in each remaining st around. Join. Turn. (41, 48, 55, 70 sts)

Repeat Rounds 9 – 12, ending with an even numbered round, until your crochet dog sweater measures 8” (10”, 12”, 14”) including the neck ribbing.

Final Round: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (41, 48, 55, 70 sts)

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

I hope you’ve enjoyed making your Cabled Dog Sweaters and that they’re enjoyed by lots of local dogs in need. <3 Please share a photo of your finished sweaters with me in my Facebook group: A Crocheted Simplicity Crochet Community Group.

More Free Crochet Pattern for Pets I Think You’ll Love

• Chewy’s Easy Crochet Dog Sweater