Sole Salvo For Purl Soho: Lucky Dog Sweater
Tapping into her day job as a fashion designer, Sole Salvo‘s runway-inspired dog sweaters are for lucky dogs, indeed. And thanks to her Lucky Dog Sweater, your dog, too, can dress like the puparazzi might be around every corner!
For dogs of most shapes and sizes, from yorkies and bulldogs to greyhounds and golden retrievers, the Lucky Dog Sweater Pattern uses 2 x 2 rib details to contour around the body for a smart and comfortable fit and also to lend a little drama to the collar.
The simple construction is in the round, from tail to head, and is also customizable with well-placed tips for shortening, lengthening, and widening. Plus, girls and boys get different shaping in the belly area, so everyone’s comfy!
Sole remembers that designing this sweater for Purl Soho was her artistic refuge at the beginning of quarantine. In full lock down, the creation of stitch after stitch and the feeling of yarn between her fingers became her solace. We couldn’t relate more!
The yarn that offered so much comfort and satisfaction is our Linen Quill Worsted, a mix of fine highland wool, alpaca, and linen. It’s toasty for chilly dogs on chilly days, and it’s also seriously beautiful, rustic but subtle, durable but very special, too!
And if you’re wondering why someone might hand knit a sweater for their dog, who is, after all, just walking to the dog park to catch a ball or two, the answer is simple. It’s because nothing beats knitting for someone you love!
Designed for Purl Soho by Sole Salvo and modeled by Fern (left), Roxy (middle), and Leila (right).
Materials
- 1 (2, 2, 3, 3, 4) skein(s) of Purl Soho’s Linen Quill Worsted, 50% fine highland wool, 35% alpaca, and 15% linen. Each skein is approximately 164 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 125 (170, 250, 340, 460, 590) yards required. We used the colors Vintage Celadon and Red Poppy.
- US 6, 16- or 24-inch circular needles (depending on size you are making)
- A set of US 6 double pointed needles
- Stitch markers, including one unique
- Stitch holders or scrap yarn
Sizes
XXS (XS, S, M, L, XL)
To fit chest circumference of approximately 12-14 (14-16, 16-20, 20-24, 24-28, 28-32) inches, with 1-3 inches of ease
Finished Chest Circumference: 14¾ (16¾, 20½, 24½, 28¼, 32) inches
Finished Neck Circumference: 11 (12¼, 14¼, 16, 17¾, 19¼) inches
Finished Length From Base Of Neck To Base Of Tail: 11½ (12¾ 15½, 17¾, 21¼, 23¾) inches
Sample: The sweaters shown here are sizes XXS, Small, and Medium, worn with 4, 5, and 6 inches of ease.
Gauge
19 stitches and 27 rows/ rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
Pattern
The Lucky Dog Sweater is available for purchase as a PDF download only.
PRINT
What level of difficulty is the Lucky Dog sweater?
Hi Melinda,
Thanks for writing in! I would consider this an easy intermediate pattern, it is very straight forward and includes a few more advanced techniques like short rows and slip slip purls!
Please feel free to reach out with any more questions you have!
Best,
Gianna
I just placed a yarn order (plus the pattern) for the Lucky Dog Sweater. I purchased just one skein if yarn. Could you please make it three and add to my credit card .
Thank you 😊
Suzanne
Hi Suzanne,
Please email us at customerservice@purlsoho.com and we can help you further from there!
All the best,
Gianna
can you make this for a cat
Hi Tatyana,
Thanks for reaching out! I am sure you can make this pattern for a cat! Possibly making the body fit a bit more narrow to accommodate a cats more slender shape.
Please let us know how this goes, happy knitting!
Gianna
Does your free shipping extend to Canada? Is there a bundle with yarn and pattern or should I order separately?
Hi Deanne,
Thanks for writing in! Our economy shipping rate is free just in the US, but we can ship absolutely anything to Canada for $8! There is not a yarn bundle for this pattern so you can order it separately!
All the best,
Gianna
Any suggestions for yarn alternatives? We live in a place that can get really cold in the winter (-40C with windchill) and my small 10lb pups would prefer something a bit cozier.
Thanks so much for any suggestions.
Hi Lianne,
Thanks for reaching out! Our Linen Quill Worsted is a wonderfully warm and hearty yarn but any worsted weight will work for this pattern! Our 100% Merino Worsted Twist is excellent, I would also recommend Manos Del Uruguay Maxima and Serpentina, Madelinetosh Tosh Merino, Woolfolk Tov or Anzula For Better or Worsted (and its machine washable!)
Just be sure to work up a gauge swatch with whichever yarn you decide on to insure that your gauge is consistent with the pattern!
Please let us know how this works out, happy knitting!
Gianna
What colors are on the dogs pictured?
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for writing in! We used the colors Vintage Celadon and Red Poppy!
All the best,
Gianna
When I went to check out I didn’t get the 10% off that was supposed to be through tonight. How can I get it?
Hi Kimberly,
Please email us at customerservice@purlsoho.com and we can help you further from there!
All the best,
Gianna
I have a chihuahua male, can the underside of the sweater be made smaller to accommodate him without affecting the looks and fit of sweater?
Hi Ana,
Thanks for reaching out! The pattern is written with instructions for a few variations depending on the size and gender of the dog to insure the most comfortable fit without changing the overall look of the sweater!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Do you have suggestions for yarn to use for southern California weather?
Hi Karen,
Thanks for writing in! I would recommend our yarn Lantern or Blue Sky Worsted Cotton! Be sure to work up a gauge swatch with whichever yarn you decide to use to insure that your gauge is consistent with the pattern!
Please let us know how this turns out!
All the best,
Gianna
I am looking for a wool that has lanolin in it because it sheds rain which we have a lot of. I am looking for the Irish ☘️ look
Cathy
Hi Cathy,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately we don’t have any yarns that contain much lanolin, but I would recommend our yarn Good Wool since it is the most natural from the sheep yarn we carry and may have a bit on lanolin in it!
All the best,
Gianna
Cute pattern
Where would I address errors in the pattern?
Thank you
Hi Rhonda,
Thanks for reaching out! You can contact us directly at customerservice@purlsoho.com
Best,
Gianna
I have a bichon frise dog and when I measure him, the instruction indicates for a small dog. But I am afraid it will be too large. Do you have sample dog breeds that fit the sizes xxs, xs, s, etc just so I can get an idea?
i.e. large – German shepherd, medium – German pointers…
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for reaching out! For size reference, the sweaters shown in the photos for the pattern are sizes XXS (worn by Fern with 23⁄4 inches of ease), S (worn by Roxy with 2 inches of ease), M (worn by Leila with 1 inch of ease)!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Do you have any guidance if we’d like to make buttonhole (or larger) hole for the leash by the back of the neck or near the chest area for a harness?
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for reaching out! We do have a tutorial for a Four-Row Yarn Over Buttonhole!
I hope this helps!
Gianna
I am doing a size small for my little dog, so I cast on 62 stitches … in the shirt tail + belly section for female dogs I added 2 stitches with the M1L and M1R … so I was at 64 stitches going into the “join underside + work belly” section … I am interpreting the part where it says to work in stockinette and rib pattern and repeat an increase round every 6 rounds (for a total of 5 more times) because she is size small (the 3rd one in) … increasing 2 stitches every 6 rows 5 times only yields 10 extra stitches … for a total of 76 stitches not 98 … I’m not sure how to get from 76 to 98. Please help! Thank you!
Hi Monique,
Thanks for reaching out! Going in to the “join underside + work belly” section you should have 64 stitches, the you are working the joining Round (right side): [K2, p2] twice, place marker (pm), knit to last 8 stitches, pm, [p2, k2] twice. Then you should be using cable cast method to cast on 22 stitches. Place unique marker and join for working in the round, this should leave you with 86 stitches going into the shaping!
I hope this helps clarify things!
All the best,
Gianna
Hi there,
I’m currently in the Short Row 2 section of the Yoke portion of the pattern. Is it correct that I should have 11 stitches between the two non-unique markers before I do the P2tog? Somehow I’ve got 12 stitches between the two markers, even though I have the correct number of total stitches. Do you have any idea what I’ve done wrong here?
Hi Filippa,
Thanks for writing in! I believe you are on the right track, not sure where 11 stitches is coming from but it should be an even number of stitches that you are working between the markers in order to keep the rib stitch accurate (sm, k2, *p2, k2, repeat from * to next marker) So 12 stitches should be correct!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
I’m starting the yoke portion. I can do the wrap/turn but don’t understand it. After I turn I’m 10 stitches before the unique marker. How many stitches do I knit and what am I increasing.?
Hi Mary,
Thanks for reaching out! Once you complete the wrap you will be turning the work and then going directly on to the next row of instruction and working back across the row from the point of the wrapped stitch. So for Short Row 1 (right side): K1, ssk, [k2, p2] twice, remove marker, k2, wrap and turn (wrp-t, Special Instructions) you then should have 75 (85, 103, 121, 139, 157) stitches. Then for Short Row 2 (wrong side) picking up right after you wrap and turn as the last instructions for row 1: [P2, k2] twice, p1, slip slip purl (ssp, see Special Instructions), p1, sm, k2,
*p2, k2, repeat from * to next marker, sm, p1, purl 2 together (p2tog), [p2, k2] twice, remove marker, p2, and then you wrp-t. 73 (83, 101, 119, 137, 155) stitches.
I hope this helps!
Gianna
Hi, I’m a bit lost on short row 2 as well. By this point I’ve had three markers on my project (one for the beginning of the round, and two for the edges of the ribbing section). Short row 1 has you remove one marker, then row 2 mentions slipping two markers and then removing one. What’s being removed where? Did I miss adding a marker somewhere? Should there be a marker on both ends of the added center/chest section?
Hi Emily,
Thanks for writing in! So at the beginning of the yoke section (row 1) you should have 2 makers already placed and then you place a third in that first round, so you should have 3 going into the next rows! You then remove one of them during the 1st short row!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi, I am also having problems with short row 2 . I’ve followed the instructions to * to the next marker,sm,p1, purl 2 together, then it’s says to (p2,k2)twice but this would break the pattern and then it says to remove the marker again(this would be the unique marker all the way across the back. I’m confused. Are my markers in the wrong place?
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for reaching out! My best guess is that your markers may be in the wrong places and it also sounds like you may be missing one stitch marker since there should be 3 including the unique maker (which should not move!) going into Short Row 2, and then you will remove one of the stitch markers in Short Row 2.
I hope this helps but please feel free to reach out with any more questions!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hello! The dog that I want to knit this sweater for is larger than the XL size measurements. His chest is 36″ and from the base of his neck to the base of his tail is 30″. Do you have adjustments in the pattern for a dog of this size? Thanks!
Hi Rochelle,
Thanks for reaching out! At this time we don’t have written instructions for a size larger than the XL, but thank you for expressing your interest and I will be sure to pass this along to the rest of the team!
All the best,
Gianna
Hi. Very excited to make this for my dog. I’m ready to start the chest section but confused about the step to M1r at the start of the row. Doesn’t that need to come between two stitches? Pasting the instructions below:
Row 1 (right side): M1R, p1, *k2, p2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k2, p1, m1L. [14 (18, 22, 30, 38, 46) stitches]
Hi Tricia,
Thanks for reaching out! For this step you will be M1R on the very first stitch of the row, using the stitch below ad you normally would if the increases was happening further in the row!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
I’m at a loss for this section of the pattern as well. I’ve got 36 stitches on my needle. I understand where to m1r and m1L.
What I’m confused about is the p1, *p2, k2. If I follow this it doesn’t follow the already established ribbing pattern.
Am I supposed to purl the stitch that was just made?
Hi Jaime,
Thanks for reaching out! For the Row 1 (right side): M1R, p1, *k2, p2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k2, p1, m1L. and then on the reverse side you K2, *p2, k2, repeat from * to end of row which will re establish the rib pattern!
I hope this clarifies things, happy knitting!
Gianna
I am looking forward to making this as a gift. I am pretty sure that I need to make a medium (35 pound mutt, beagle like) but when I look at the pattern, I can’t see where I should follow for Medium. can you help? Thank you!
Hi Maureen,
Thanks for writing in! That is such a sweet gift idea! On the last page of the pattern you can find all of the size information, the sizes are XXS (XS, S, M, L, XL) so for a medium you will be following the instructions for the 3rd number within the parentheses! For example in the cast on section it says to Cast on 46 (54, 62, 70, 78, 86) stitches, so for the size medium you would cast on 70 stitches!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Thank you, Gianna! I overlooked it the first time. It’s coming along great, and your online tutorials are super helpful!
Hi Maureen,
Thanks for writing in and thank you for your kind words! I am so glad I could help and that you find our tutorials useful, I can’t wait to hear how the dog sweater turns out!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi Again,
I am at the part where I need to join the chest and the back, and the pattern is not making sense to me. It says:
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 seven (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) more times. “Do not turn work at end of last row.Join Chest + BackWith right side facing you, place Back stitches onto right end of needles (opposite end of where yarn is attached).Joining Round 1: With right side still facing you, place unique marker for beginning of round, cable cast on 2 stitches, then working across Back stitches”
If I am working opposite to where the yarn is attached, do I carry it over? I am not picturing what I need to do, and would love some help. Thank you,
Maureen
Hi Maureen,
Thanks for reaching out again! I am happy to help! So you begin by orienting the work so that the right side facing you, you then are going to place Back stitches onto right end of needles, the opposite end of where yarn is attached (so that when you join your work in the round the yarn is at the end and ready to use.) You will then work the first round to join the work! So for that with right side still facing you, you will place your unique marker for the beginning of round, cable cast on 2 stitches, then start working across the Back stitches!
I hope this clarifies things!
Warmly,
Gianna
Would the xxs fit a four pound chihuahua?
Hi Karen,
Thanks for reaching out! The XXS size should would for a chihuahua, but I do recommend measuring the dog and comparing it to the sizes of the pattern to insure that is the correct size!
Warmly,
Gianna
I have a deeper-chested dog. If you do the additional increases in the increase rounds in the belly, do you need to do additional decreases in the yoke to ensure that the neck is not overly large? If so, how would you suggest doing those additional decreases?
Hi Galena,
Thanks for reaching out! If your dog is particularly deep chested you can remove a round between Increase Rounds, and add 1 or 2 more Increase Rounds. Just be sure to keep track of how many additional increases you made, and add that to your stitch total. This shouldn’t cause the need to add extra decreases in the neck area!
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Gianna
I see an errata noted on RAVELRY but I cannot find on your website. Is there an errata for this pattern ? I just purchased it and want to start it right away.
Hi Teresa,
Thanks for reaching out! yes you can find our Errata here!
Warmly,
Gianna
Your link to the Errata works, but there is nothing for the Lucky Dog Sweater there. Please clarify. Thanks.
Hi Sharron,
Thanks for reaching out again! It is in the errata but it is under the full title “SOLE SALVO FOR PURL SOHO: LUCKY DOG SWEATER” not Lucky Dog Sweater, so you will just need to scroll down a bit further to the S section!
Warmly,
Gianna
Just here to say that my very large rhodesian ridgeback is also named Fern, and she will be getting one of these sweaters this winter <3. Thanks for the adorable pattern and beautiful yarn!
Hi Alex,
Thanks for reaching out! That is wonderful, I bet Fern will love this beautiful sweater! Please let us know how this turns out!
Warmly,
Gianna
I am making this for a male Boston Terrier. I finished the rib and I’m not sure where to go from there. The next instruction title is Shirt Tail and Belly: Female Dogs. If I skip that section and go to Join Underside and Work Belly I am missing the two stitches that are increased. What part of the section under Female Dogs should I follow? There is no male section. Help! I can’t continue.
Hi Carolyn,
Thanks for reaching out! There is in fact a section for Male dogs! It is titled Shirt Tail + Belly: Male Dogs, and you can find it directly under the Shirt Tail + Belly: Female Dogs section! Once you complete the rib section you will move directly down there.
I hope this clears things up!
Warmly,
Gianna
That section isn’t on my download. The section following Shirt Tail and Belly: Female Dogs is followed by Join Underside + Work Belly. I seem to be missing something.
Hi Carolyn,
Thanks for writing in again! It should be just past the section Join Underside + Work Belly (since that is a sub section for the Shirt Tail and Belly: Female Dogs) It could be on the next page of your download if you aren’t seeing it on the same page as the Shirt Tail and Belly: Female Dogs sections. It will be the next section in the larger font.
I hope this clears things up!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hello. Is there a machine washable yarn (with the same gauge) you’d suggest as a substitute? Thanks!
Hi Pauline,
Thanks for reaching out! We have a few machine washable worsted weight yarns you could substitute for this pattern! I would recommend Anzula For Better or Worsted, MADELINETOSH Tosh Merino, MANOS DEL URUGUAY Serpentina or even Blue Sky Worsted Cotton! I do always suggest working a gauge swatch when using a different yarn than recommended in the pattern to insure that you are consistent!
I hope this helps and please let us know how it turns out!
Warmly,
Gianna