Embroidered Cozy Dog Coat

Connor, with his short hair, needs a little help to keep comfortable and toasty warm during a cold Minnesota winter. His stylish overcoat allows him to romp and roll in the snow without risking frostbite!

Dogs come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, so adjust the following instructions appropriately when making a coat for your own pooch.

First, using a tape measure (and a handful of dog treats to reward patience), measure the dog around the neck (below where the collar sits, not at the narrowest point), around the chest at the ribcage, and from the base of the neck to the tail. Write down the measurements, as they'll be used to create a pattern to make a coat with a perfect fit.

Measurements we used to create the coat:
**Neck and front of chest (around back of neck to around the front of the chest):
23 inches

**Chest (around ribcage): 32 inches

**Base of neck to tail: 24 inches

I'll create a pattern piece by drawing on a large piece of tag board. First, take the chest measurement and divide by two, then add one inch for seam allowance. This will be the width measurement for the main section of the pattern.

Then, take the neck to tail measurement, and add one inch for seam allowance. This will be the height of the main section.

Draw a rectangle on the tag board using the measurements. Leave at least 8 to 10 inches of excess on the top edge of the shape, and 4 inches on each side.

These are the measurements that I used: The chest measurement was 32 inches, divided by two, plus one inch, is 17 inches.

The neck to tail measurement was 24 inches, plus one inch is 25 inches, so the size of the rectangle for the main section of the coat is 17 inches wide by 25 inches high.

Now I'll prepare the pattern template for the neck straps. Take the neck to front of chest measurement, and add four inches for overlap of the ends of the straps. Divide that number by three. Then, draw a line the length of that measurement on the tag board.

Our neck to front chest measurement was 23 inches, plus four inches, divided by three, is 9 inches.

Mark the center of the line by measuring and dividing by two.

Draw a line using the same measurement as the first line (mine is 9 inches) perpendicular to the first line.

Then, draw two 1 1/2 inch lines out from the end of the second lines (draw the lines perpendicular to the second line).

Draw lines connecting the ends of the line as shown. Cut out the shape by cutting around the outer lines.

Next, on the top edge of the main pattern section, measure and mark in equal distances on each side, leaving about three inches in the center. I'm measuring in about 6 1/2 inches in from each top corner.

Next, place the neck strap pattern piece on one of the top corners of the main pattern shape. Position the neck strap pattern with the inner bottom corner aligned with the mark you just made, and the center aligned with the top corner of the main pattern (the neck strap pattern will be at about a 45 degree angle pointing to the outside of the main pattern shape).

Trace the shape only around the areas of the neck pattern that extend to the outside of the main pattern (shown in red). Repeat this step for each top corner of the main pattern shape.

Next, round off the bottom corners of the pattern shape. I used a plastic lid as a template.

Round off the corners of the ends of the neck strap shapes.

Round off the inner corners of the neck straps (at the top edge of the main pattern shape). Draw a curved line about one inch into the shape as shown.

Then, draw a straight line from the top of the bottom curved line to the top curved line.

Cut out the shape.

Now the pattern is complete and it's time to prepare the outer shell of the coat. Pin the pattern piece to the fabric (I used denim) and trace the shape. Then, cut out the shape.

I'm placing the design a little higher than the exact center. To do this, measure down a couple of inches higher than the center, starting from the top center of the main section of the fabric, and make a mark. Draw a vertical straight line from the top center through the mark you just made. Then, draw a horizontal line (perpendicular to the first line) through the center mark. These lines will be used for hooping.

Create a paper template of the design by printing it at full size from an embroidery software program. Poke a hole in the center of the design, and align it with the center point on the fabric. Make sure the design fits well within the shape. There should be at least 5 to 6 inches of excess fabric between the edges of the design and the edges of the fabric.

Spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together, aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.

Embroider the design. After the design has finished, trim away the excess stabilizer from the back side of the fabric.

Now I'll prepare the pattern piece for the chest straps. Take the chest measurement and divide by two. Then, take that number and divide by two again and add two inches (for the overlap of the ends of the straps) -- this is the length  measurement for the chest strap pattern.

Draw a rectangle on the tag board using this measurement for the length, and 3 inches for the width (adjust for smaller dogs).

The chest measurement I'm working with is 32 inches, so 32 divided by two is 16, 16 divided by two is 8, plus 2 is 10 inches. So, my rectangle measurement is 3 inches wide by 10 inches long.

Round off one of the ends on each corner. Cut out the shape.

Use the chest strap pattern piece to cut two pieces of the outer shell fabric.

Cut two pieces of the fleece (inner lining fabric) by pinning the pattern to the fabric and cutting out the shapes.

Align the outer shell pieces with the fleece pieces, right sides together, and pin in place. Sew a 1/4 inch seam around the sides and curved end only. Leave the straight end open for turning.

Cut small slits in the fabric around the curved edge being careful to not cut any of the stitches.

Turn right side out, press the seams with an iron, and top stitch a 1/4 inch seam around the sides and curved end.

Cut a 2 1/2 inch length of Velcro. Attach the loop side to the end of one of the straps on the fleece side. Attach the hook side to the outer shell side of the other strap. The Velcro can be pinned in place, or spray the backside with a bit of temporary adhesive and smooth the Velcro in place. Sew a seam around the entire outer edges of the Velcro to secure it in place.

Lay the embroidered outer shell on top of the fleece, right sides together. Pin in place, and cut out the shape.

Measure and mark the center sides of the backside of the outer shell by measuring and dividing by two.

Insert the chest straps between the outer shell and inner lining fabric (match the outer shell and inner lining fabric of the straps with the outer shell and inner lining) with the curved end pointing to the inside. Position the straps so that they are parallel with the bottom edge of the coat.

Leave about 1/4 inch of the straight end of the straps extending out past the outer edges of the outer shell and lining fabric. Pin in place and sew a 1/2 inch seam around the corners of the bottom edge, the sides, and the top. Leave about 3/4 of the bottom edge open for turning.

Turn the coat right side out and press the seams. Turn the fabric of the bottom opening in 1/2 inch and press. Top stitch a 1/4 inch seam around the entire shape. Stitch back and forth over the ends of the straps to reinforce them.

Cut another 2 1/2 inch length of Velcro and add the loop side to the inner lining side of one end of the neck straps. Add the hook side to the outer shell side of the end of the remaining neck strap.

And now give a howl, because you're done! Customizing it to your pooch's size and shape might take a bit of math and mental agility, but your furbaby will be oh-so-appreciative, and toasty warm during the winter!