You know how sometimes the simplest projects turn into the most fun? That's exactly what happened with these dog sweaters. I occasionally petsit for a sweet Maltese named Boy. He just got a haircut recently, and let's be real—he obviously needed a sweater. Living in Slovenia in the fall with a fresh haircut? Yeah, that tiny guy was cold. So I decided to make him one.
The beginner-friendly version
I just wanted something simple: top-down, worked in one piece, nothing complicated. Because here's the thing—crochet is so beautiful that even a simple, basic sweater looks amazing. You don't need fancy stitches or complicated colorwork to make something special.
I started at the neckline with a bit of ribbed texture (just fpdc and bpdc alternating), then worked straight down in half double crochet. Added openings for his little front legs, continued down the chest, and finished by decreasing toward the back so it ends before his tail.
Done. Simple. Functional. And Boy looked adorable in it.
But then... alpine stitch
You remember my alpine stitch obsession, right? Of course you do. I can't help myself.
After finishing the basic sweater, I thought: what if I made Boy another one, but with that gorgeous raised alpine stitch texture? Those dimensional vertical stripes created by the front post stitches would be perfect for a tiny dog sweater.
So I made it. Same construction—top-down, one piece, leg openings—but this time with alternating fpdc, dc, and sc rows to create that signature alpine stitch raised texture.
Now Boy has two new sweaters. One simple and cozy, one textured and fancy. He's the best-dressed Maltese in Ljubljana.
Made-to-measure for any dog
Both patterns are written to be adjustable for any dog size. I've included instructions for taking your dog's measurements (neck, chest, length, leg spacing) and adjusting the pattern as you work.
The round count and stitch count will vary depending on your dog's size, but the construction stays the same. Just follow the even/odd round sequence to maintain proper shaping, and you'll end up with a custom-fit sweater.
Beginner dog sweater:
- Easy difficulty
- Simple hdc body with ribbed neckline
- Worked in one piece from neck to tail
- Adjustable to any size
Alpine stitch dog sweater:
- Intermediate difficulty
- Alpine stitch raised texture
- Same construction, elevated look
- Adjustable to any size
Both patterns include full video tutorials because some steps (like positioning the leg openings) are way easier to show than explain in writing.
Which one should you make?
If you're new to crochet or want a quick project: go with the beginner version. It's straightforward, works up fast, and looks great.
If you love texture and want something that looks more intricate: try the alpine stitch version. It's not hard—just alternating stitch patterns—but the result is gorgeous.
Or, you know, do what I did and make both. Your dog (or the dog you petsit for) will lick you… I mean thank you!
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