Easy Chihuahua Sweater Pattern; can be modified for larger dogs

Make sure to check out a few variations of this sweater I did, in a slide show at the bottom of this post...!

Using thick and quick chenille and size N hook,

(one skein of thick and quick (Lion's Brand) was just enough for this sweater sized for a chihuahua)

chain 25, join with sl st to beg ch, ch 1

Forming turtleneck:

Round one:

sc  in each chain around; join with *(sl st to beg sc, ch 1) here and at the end of each round as indicated by asterik *

Round two:

sc in back loop only of each sc around, * (see round 1) 25 sc, 1 ch

Round three:

Repeat round two until last sc, 2 sc in last sc; 26 sc * join to ch of round two, ch 1

Round four:

Repeat round three

(From here, turn work at end of row.  For ribbed effect, stitch in back loop of previous stitches)

Row 1, back of sweater

hdc in 16 of the sc from last row of neck, ch 1, TURN

Row 2

2 hdc in first hdc, hdc across till last of row 1, 2 hdc in remaining hdc of row 1.  ch 1, turn. ; 18 hdc

Row 3

same as row 2; 20 hdc

Row 4
(if back is now wide enough to fit your animal, follow row 4 instructions.  If your animal needs the back to be wider than it is at this point, follow row 3 instructions until desired width is accomplished)

hdc across, ch 1, turn

Rows 5 +

Repeat Row 4 until desired back length is reached.  For my Chihuahua, I repeated row 4 ten times.

Fasten off.
Attach yarn to the third sc (from last row of neck, same side of neck that back starts) so there'll be an even number of empty neck sc on each side, between the back and the underpiece.

Underpiece:

Row 1

8 hdc in sc of neck piece, ch 1, turn  (or enough stitches across for width that suits your dog best)


Rows 2 - 7

hdc in each hdc of previous row, inc 1  in each end of each row

(You can cut the number of rows here or add rows, depending on size and gender of your animal)

When desired length for under  piece is completed, do not fasten off, but ch 1 and turn work sideways.

Belt 


First part of belt, extending from underneath piece, around to middle of back of dog

ch 1, sc in the side of the underneath piece, approx. 4 stitches depending on the width you'd like the belt to be
ch 1, turn

row 2

sc in each of 4 sc across, ch 1, turn

Rows 3 and on

Work same as row 2

  to proper length for your dog:

  until this part of  the belt would reach around animal to middle of its back, plus 1.5 "

Fasten off when desired length is met for belt.


Second part of Belt

Attach yarn to opposite corner side of the underneath piece for rest of belt piece, opposite the first belt part.

Repeat Rows 1 through ? as you just did for the other side, stopping just before the last two rows that would make this part of the belt the same length as the first.


Second to last row

After ch 1, turn, sc in first sc, ch 2; skip 2 sc, sc in last sc ch 1, turn
(Makes hole for button or crocheted flower or heart)

Last row:
sc in first sc, sc in next two ch, sc in last sc; fasten off.
weave in all loose endings and then

Attach a large button or you can make any number of cute crocheted "buttons" - hearts, flowers, circle, etc.  by using patterns easily found on Ravelry in their free pattern search.  When I put some of my little "buttons" on paper, I'll post them so you'll have something more to chose from and will find them easily.

Now that the basic sweater is made, think of all the possibilities you can to make this sweater uniquely yours - or your dogs, I should say.  For a female I would add some edging to the back and neck, probably in a contrast color such as white.  You could also add flower motifs all over the back or make some wings as a bat would have.
With this basic pattern there are endless possibilities to challenge the creativity you possess, so get creative and have some fun with it.  If you do something extra special to this pattern for your dog, please post a link to it's photo online somewhere.  (Flickr or Photobucket for example, or Ravelry!)
I would love to see the ideas you came up with for your dog sweater.