Letters
One Lucky Dog
Dear Ann,
Wednesday was a very momentous day.
Olive got a new sweater.
Due to skipped grooming appointments while in isolation, Olive has gotten quite shaggy. Her capsule collection of indoor/outdoor sweaters is a tighter squeeze these days. On the upside, the additional fluff means she’s warmer without a sweater, but at 11 1/2 years old, she’s gotten used to having clothes on when it’s cold out, so I had a vague intention of knitting her a new one.
I kept seeing cute photos of the Lucky Dog Sweater by Sole Salvo. Then, Dana Williams-Johnson made one for Jellybean, and I knew I had to cast on. (More of Dana’s dog sweater pattern picks here.)
My version used almost all of two balls of Rowan Felted Tweed Aran, but I think double-stranding Felted Tweed in the regular DK weight would have worked equally well, and provided some fun marling opportunities.
a new sweater needs a good shake.
The appeal of this pattern is the engineering.
The penguin profile.
The pattern is written for a broad range of dog sizes, with options to tailor it to male and female dogs and to dogs with various degrees of barrel-chestedness.
It’s really clever, and the end product is an aerodynamically tailored piece of dogswear. This pattern, by the inventive mind behind Haute Dogue, is sure to become a classic.
The only modification I made to the size XS female version was to eliminate the cuffs on the front leg openings. I never quite see the point of those loose sleevelets, especially on a short-legged dog—they are stinkin’ cute, though, so maybe they don’t need a point? In any event I didn’t have enough yarn and would have had to do them in a third color. So I turned the page and moved on, as is my wont.
Olive is not complaining (any more than usual). Maybe on the next one she’ll get wee elbow-length sleeves.
I will be knitting this little sweater again for sure. It’s a delightful, quick, palate cleanser, plus the fun of seeing my girl looking so fantastic and cozy.
Love,
Kay
Olive looks pawsitively gorgeous!
I agree – love your sweater, Olive!
Olive is STYLIN’!
Olive looks so stylish. Please what breed of dog is she? She has a beautiful face.
We don’t know but she looks just like a chihuahua/Cairn terrier cross called a Cairnchi. She’s about 10 pounds.
Agree, it is a clever knit. I’ve knit two as gifts and both pups are happier (and warmer) here in Minnesota.
Very chic sweater AND wow! that quilt is soooo beautiful.
Oh, Olive, you are such a model! I love the photo of you looking out the window, and dreaming of a warm day.
This is a GREAT pattern. I have made two of these, on opposite ends of the size spectrum. First I made one for my sister’s beagle mix (size XS), then I made one for a family friend who has a mastiff (size L). The latter I modified to eliminate one of the sleeves because Norman is an amputee dog. Instead of knitting the front and back separately, I just knit around the whole front and back flat until the one armhole was finished, then joined again in the round. You can see the finished sweater on my Ravelry projects. I agree that the little sleeves are not very functional but are pretty darn cute, haha! Now I need to make one (or more!) for my mini-dachshund!
Haha, it would help if there was a link to the project, wouldn’t it?
https://www.ravelry.com/projects/affiknitty/lucky-dog-sweater-2
I love Norman’s sweater! He looks so snugly bundled and handsome.
Oh my gosh, I just saw this! Thank you so much! His mom was thrilled with it too. 🙂
Such a cute pattern. I am having trouble envisioning how to put it on a wiggly dog. Maybe a video?
Olive, you and your new sweater look so stylish and warm and cozy!! Olive, dear, please tell us about the quilt you are sitting in as you peak out the window. It looks so dear and must be made of stories.
I just pull it over her head and stick her arms through.
I saw that pattern on Dana’s Edit and loved it. Now you (and Olive) have convinced me that I have to make a couple for Rocco and Toby! The boys will be stylin’!
Roux, who looks a bit like Olive, clearly needs one of these. I am about to start a test knit but this may be the next project after that. I will try it with two strands of felted tweed and some marling – that is a great idea.
Oh Olive. ❤
Perfect timing! I was looking for a sweater for Speck – the newest (and smallest) member of our pack. Thanks for sharing!
Olive is a fashion icon!
Oh, my! My diva Westie girl, Ms Tiger, would rock one of these! Her white fur makes a great contrast – and her Westitude may be tested in (or test me!) measuring as I go and getting her arms in!
But that’s the price of beauty! Olive looks pawsitively stylin’!
I’m happy to know that Jellybean is a sweater influencer too. LOL
Olive looks fantastic (of course), and the sweater looks good on her. She just needs some accessories…maybe a jaunty beret and a string of pearls….
I need that pattern for my 9 pound
Very lucky Olive.
You’ve inspired me. I just ordered some felted tweed to make one for my Shar-pei/pit mix. I wish he wasn’t an extra large!
More knitting = more fun? He will look splendid!
Olive is a doll – what a great sweater. And I can really relate to that feeling of a “tighter squeeze” in my sweaters these days!
I’m afraid my dogs would chew up the wool. Has anyone had issues with their dogs devouring their sweater?
I don’t have an answer for this one, but I’m glad to hear of a misbehavior that Olive doesn’t do!
I had to do a double-take. I rescued a pup in Sept who looks so much like Olive! I don’t know what breed/mix my pup is but she must be partially whatever Olive is! Please share if you know her lineage!
Thanks!
Love the quilt she’s on, too!
Now, you need to tell us all about that very pretty quilt that Olive is sitting on. It has a story to tell.
It was made by a woman who had an upholstery shop. The main blocks are vintage Swedish tea towels with hand-embroidered monograms and dates in the 1930s, the sashing is squares from an upholstery fabric sample book, there are a few circle appliques of fussy cuts of lovely embroidery from other tea towels. The backing and binding are plain cream linen. I suspect there is an old quilt inside because it’s very thick and heavy, a workout to make the bed with it on.
The quilt is pretty spectacular! Thanks for the details. Consider it coveted. Or is it coverleted?
Love this Purl Soho pattern!
It’s perfection, really well designed and well presented.
Olive looks great in her new sweater. Extra points for a patchwork dog sweater modeled on a patchwork quilt, all shapes and colors complimentary,
Oh Olive! Smooch! You are so beautiful and have just that touch of attitude the best models can carry off. Canine Vogue will be sending Annie Leibovitz out for a shoot soon.
Love the sweater. The colors are gorgeous.
I agree about the sleeves on dog sweaters. Why? And the sleeves are often way too big. Except those made by the Crafty Hong Sisters . Their bespoke sweaters have fitted sleeves that are not way bigger around than the pooch’s leg.
We all bow down to the crafty Hong sisters. Absolute queens. They should have a Netflix series.
Olive is such a lovely dog, she gets even prettier as she gets older – or maybe i just like shaggy dogs. And kudos for the reaching-across-the-aisle red in her sweater, in perfect keeping with yesterday’s Inaugural Address theme!
So adorable. LOVE the color-blocking. Have been noticing the overall weather trend as being less..frozen, so legless sweaters for Olive probavly will get the most wear.
I can never be bothered to take them off her in the house so it’s for the best, I think.
If I had a dog, I would feel a strong urge to cast on and knit this doggy sweater for him! I love this garment! 😉
Good pattern. I’ll check it out. I always have trouble with proper fit. Thank you
The most stylish dog in the Hamptons! I do so love Olive. She looks fab for her age!
We got a puppy this summer! She is now 7 months old. She’s a golden doodle, but not a full standard size as her dad was a mini. My 11 year old daughter has been begging me to knit a sweater for Ripley. I’m not really sure she needs it as she doesn’t seem to mind the cold we’ve had so far here in Southern Ontario, Canada, but I’m going to make her one anyway, if only to stop the my daughter from pestering me. I’ve been contemplating this pattern since I saw the recommendation from Dana and I think this lovely letter about Olive’s new sweater has sealed the deal! I’m off to purchase the pattern and stash dive to see what my yarn options are. Thank you for the additional inspiration!
Olive looks so sweet. Her sweater is beautiful. It looks perfect on her❤️
The extra fur is adorable!
I agree that it’s a great looking sweater on a great looking dog! I am knitting it for my boy, but am finding the yolk section confusing. I ripped out, back to the point where the back is put on a holder. Now, I have for figure out where the markers go and also whether the short row shaping is on the back of the sweater or in the ribbed section. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!
*yoke