YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post

Higgin's Mom · 10-26-2004, 06:42 PM

Those increases help determine size. I have used 6 increases for Higgins, who weighs about 6.5 lbs. You may only want to increase a total of 5 times for your pups. If you want more width around, increase 6 times or more. Then when you have 60 stitches (or 58 if you only increase 5 times), you may only want to knit 1 or 2 rows even for a smaller sweater, or 5 or 6 rows for a larger one. This is the part that covers the dog's chest.

NOW THEN, you are going to separate the front (chest and tummy) from the back (over the dogs back) and make "armholes." The rule is 1/3 of the stitches become the front and 2/3 become the back. You will need to juggle the stiches around on your needles so that the 18 or 20 chest stitches are on one needle and the back 40 are on the other two needles. Now knit in stockinette stitch (K1 row, P1 row) BACK AND FORTH on just the chest stitches. For a really small dog, knit for 2 more inches, for a bit larger size, knit 2.5 or 3. I like to make Higgins armholes 3 inches. When the chest part is 2-3 inches, leave on the needle, but cut yarn. Now go back and knit the 40 or stitches of the back -- back and forth in stockinette stitch -- to the same length as the chest. At this point you need to JOIN the back to the front and start knitting AROUND on the needles again. Voila! You have armholes! Now you just need to knit that little sweater as long as you would like it. Little girl dogs can take a pretty long sweater. Higgins, however, will pee all over it if it's too long and goes over his you-know-what. So it's a matter of choice. When you are almost at the length you want, switch back to ribbing at K1, P1 for an inch or a little more.

You can now leave the armholes plain OR put in sleeves. Just pick up about 22 to 26 stitches around the armhole and knit in stockinette stitch OR ribbing for as long as you want the sleeve. Rib for at least a half inch if you use stockinette stitch.

I have inserted fun fur around the neckline and sleeves for fun.
The next one I make, I think I will use smaller needles for the ribbing parts and just do a rolled stockinette stitch. Could be cute.

My phone number is 207-582-0216 if you want to give me a call for further explanations.

I love knitting and it helps my osteoarthritis, too!

Mary Ellen

10-26-2004, 06:42 PM	#7
Higgin's Mom YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 852	Those increases help determine size. I have used 6 increases for Higgins, who weighs about 6.5 lbs. You may only want to increase a total of 5 times for your pups. If you want more width around, increase 6 times or more. Then when you have 60 stitches (or 58 if you only increase 5 times), you may only want to knit 1 or 2 rows even for a smaller sweater, or 5 or 6 rows for a larger one. This is the part that covers the dog's chest. NOW THEN, you are going to separate the front (chest and tummy) from the back (over the dogs back) and make "armholes." The rule is 1/3 of the stitches become the front and 2/3 become the back. You will need to juggle the stiches around on your needles so that the 18 or 20 chest stitches are on one needle and the back 40 are on the other two needles. Now knit in stockinette stitch (K1 row, P1 row) BACK AND FORTH on just the chest stitches. For a really small dog, knit for 2 more inches, for a bit larger size, knit 2.5 or 3. I like to make Higgins armholes 3 inches. When the chest part is 2-3 inches, leave on the needle, but cut yarn. Now go back and knit the 40 or stitches of the back -- back and forth in stockinette stitch -- to the same length as the chest. At this point you need to JOIN the back to the front and start knitting AROUND on the needles again. Voila! You have armholes! Now you just need to knit that little sweater as long as you would like it. Little girl dogs can take a pretty long sweater. Higgins, however, will pee all over it if it's too long and goes over his you-know-what. So it's a matter of choice. When you are almost at the length you want, switch back to ribbing at K1, P1 for an inch or a little more. You can now leave the armholes plain OR put in sleeves. Just pick up about 22 to 26 stitches around the armhole and knit in stockinette stitch OR ribbing for as long as you want the sleeve. Rib for at least a half inch if you use stockinette stitch. I have inserted fun fur around the neckline and sleeves for fun. The next one I make, I think I will use smaller needles for the ribbing parts and just do a rolled stockinette stitch. Could be cute. My phone number is 207-582-0216 if you want to give me a call for further explanations. I love knitting and it helps my osteoarthritis, too! Mary Ellen