PLEASE NOTE: Some folks have had an issue with this tutorial. While we revisit the pattern, please check the comments for tweaks to make.
Do you include your pets in your holiday celebrations? We do! We have ever since our only โkidโ was a furry terrier mutt. Now us humans are outnumbered by animals by a six-to-one ratio (literally), and we still make sure all of our animal friends have gifts on Christmas morning!
The star of the Christmas morning show for the puppies and kitties (and honestly, the humans) are our holiday stockings! We hit up the Meijer Pets department and get all of our stocking fillers affordably and in one stop. We like to load up the stockings with new toys, treats, leashes, and collars.
Each of the animals gets one big, special present each year, too. This year, our special present to our dog Ivy is a homemade custom dog coat!
Ivy is our first ever short-haired dog, and she does not tolerate the cold Midwestern winters well. The first time I saw her shivering by our patio door, I knew it was time to make her a coat.
I made one coat a few months back from a pattern I found at a local sewing shop, but the sizing was all offโit never stayed on Ivy. For a coat to keep my dog warm it has to actually, you know, stay on her!
So I went back to the drawing board and worked on a pattern for a dog coat that you can customize for the size of your dog right at home. This version fits Ivy SO much better, and the best part? It is a super easy beginner sewing project that you can finish in less than an hour, start-to-finish.
I hit up my fabric stash to find the fabric for the coat, and then I headed to my local Meijer store to get all the notions. Did you know that Meijer has an amazing craft section including tons of sewing supplies?
I was able to get all the supplies for the coat and all the goodies to stuff in Ivyโs stocking in one stop! Meijer really is one of the best ways to save time during the holidays.
Alright, let me show you how to get started making this custom dog coat. First up, the materials youโll need.
Materials
- Pattern printable
- Pattern paper (you can buy specific paper, but any large, blank paper will doโold wrapping paper, newsprint, kraft paper, etc.)
- Measuring tape
- Pencil or pen
- Ruler
- Scissors
- 1 yard fleece*, for the outside
- 1 yard sherpa/faux fur*, for the lining
- Coordinating thread
- Sewing machine (you can sew this by hand, too)
- Sewing needle
- 12โ of 1-inch wide sew-on hook-and-loop fastener
- Iron and ironing board
- Straight pins
- Disappearing ink pen
* This amount of fabric will work for most dogs. If you have a tiny dog, youโll have quite a bit left over, and if you have a very large dog, youโll need to get more. My philosophy is that itโs always better to err on the side of having too much fabric than not enough.
Step 1: Make the Pattern for Your Custom Dog Coat
Dogs are all shapes and sizes, so weโre going to custom-make a patternโit sounds complicated, but I promise itโs a breeze! Itโs the best way to make sure the coat fits your dog beautifully. And I made a printable for you to make the process even simpler.
First, you need some measurements. Get out your measuring tape, and measure the spots on your dog to fill in the printable. I recommend being generous with your measuringโdon’t make the measuring tape too tight. I sewed with a 3/8″ seam allowance here and didn’t add it to my pattern because I knew I measured loosely. Dogs fluctuate in weight just like humans do, so it’s nice to have a little bit of space to be able to adjust. Write all those measurements down in the spaces provided.
Next, using the measurements you just took, recreate the shape at the bottom of the printable to scale on a large sheet of pattern paper, wrapping paper, newsprint, or any other large sheet of paper. This shape will look very boxy.
Then, take any of the sharp corners or edges and round them to make a smooth curve.
Cut the pattern out, then label with the green pattern markings from the printable, as well as what it is and who it was sized for.
Step 2: Cut Out Your Fabric
I like to use one piece of faux fur/sherpa for the lining and one piece of fleece for the outside, but you can mix this up all you want and use whatever materials work for you. Wool would be greatโit stays warm even when itโs wet. You could also use an oilcloth for the outside with a fleece lining for warmth and rain-resistance. Itโs up to you! I would recommend getting a washable material. Dogs get dirty!
Using the pattern piece, place the top of the pattern on the fold of the outside fabric, pin down, and then cut. Repeat with the lining fabric.
Step 3: Assembly
Place the two pieces of fabric, right sides together, on a flat table, and pin all the way around.
Using a sewing machine, or carefully sewing by hand, sew all the way around the coat, except leave about 3โ open on one end.
Turn the coat inside out, making sure all the flaps and corners are flattened well. You might want to use an iron at this point, although honestly, I never have much luck with an iron on fleece.
Fold under the unfinished edge from the hole you left open and pin. Then topstitch to close the opening, and continue to stitch all the way around the coat about 1/4โ from the edge of the fabric to finish. If you are stitching by hand, you can skip the topstitch for the entire piece (it’ll take you ages), and instead use a ladder stitch to finish the open end only.
Step 4: Add Hook-and-Loop Fastener
Place the first batch of hook-and-loop fastener on the chest strap by pinning the rough side of a 2โ piece to the outside fabric in the middle of one of the sides of the chest strap. If youโre sewing this for a medium or large size dogโof if you just have a particularly rambunctious dog like I doโI recommend using two strips of hook-and-loop fastener on each strap. Pin the soft side of the fastener to the middle of the lining side of the other chest strap. Repeat with the belly band straps.
Sew hook-and-loop fastener pieces down using coordinating thread.
If you donโt need to add a hole for a harness loop, youโre all done! Put it on your puppy and go for a walk. If you do need a harness hole, move onto step five.
Optional Step 5: Make Hole for Harness Loop
Transfer the harness loop marking to your dog coat using the measurement you took, and then using the buttonhole setting on your sewing machine, create a buttonhole large enough to fit your leash through.
And thatโs it! Look how cozy and cute she looks in her brand new custom dog coat.
I snatched it up right after these photos and packed it away in her stocking until Christmas morning, along with (most) of the other goodies I found at my Meijer store. I did sneak her a bully stick from her stash for being such a good sport while I measured and photographed her!
Itโs going to be a happy Christmas for this puppy. Happy holidays!
Want more DIY gifts like this one?
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- No-Sew Blanket Scarf. Keep everyone cozy with these easy, warm scarves.
- Cinnamon Dough Ornaments. Your tree will smell wonderful with these homemade ornaments. They also make fun gift tags!
- Salt Dough Ornaments. We give you step-by-step instructions to make these fun ornaments.
- Kettle Corn. Make some sweet and salty kettle corn for your next movie night, or package some up for a gift.
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I cannot find where to print a pattern. Letters are too light to see for directions.
Hi, Judy! If you click on Jump Directly to Project at the top of the post it will take you to the Materials list. The very first thing on the list is the Pattern Printable. If you click that link it will open the document for printing! If you’re having trouble finding it, here’s a direct link, as well: https://wholefully.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/wholefully-dog-coat.pdf Let us know if you’re still having trouble and we’ll help get it sorted for you!
I have been doing these coats for years and years for many a dog in different sizes and colors . And even my whole neighborhood of dogs as well as family members. Glad to see it is catching on.
I have tried printing the pattern and instructions but none of the diagrams you show are printable. is there an easier way of printing the whole pattern. I would like a copy of this pattern and instructions on hand and in paper form. Please advise as to where is would go to print this. Most places have a print box but I’ve checked and rechecked for this.
Hi, Denise! The printable pattern is linked right in the post! Under the very first image at the top of the page is the Project-at-a-Glance box. At the bottom of that box you’ll see Jump Directly to Project. Clicking that will take you directly to the start of the project instructions which is the materials list. The very first thing under Materials is “Pattern Printable” and if you click on those words, it will open the PDF that you can print or download. Please let me know if you have any issues finding it!
Oh my gosh I love this project, can’t wait to get started. BTW my dog’s name is Ivy too!
Thanks so very much for these instructions. I, too, had purchased a pattern from a national brand. HA! Same awful results. This way of making your own pattern with measurements is the way to go. The sewing part is very quick. My pup wasn’t the best at “suffering” all the measurements, and fittings. Anyway…. it was a huge success!
So happy to hear it, Sammi! Thanks for taking the time to tell us about it. We hope you and your pup are very happy and warm this season!
Thank you for the pattern, I am excited to try it. I have a bit of an unusual question for you. Can you tell me the breed of your dog. The reason I ask is that we adopted a dog about a year ago that looks identical to your dog except his coloring is brindle. He was a stray that someone picked up and couldn’t keep so we have no history for him. He is a great dog, and we have really enjoyed him, but would love to know more about his breed. I would love to send you a picture of him to show you how much they look alike.
Thank you,
Marilyn
She’s a black lab and boxer mix!
New sewer here (thanks to Covid / masks) and I was able to make this pattern in one evening for our new Covid puppy. My 6 year old even helped me with the measurements and the beginning of it! I made it with a fleece bottom and used an old raincoat for the top piece and hope it will keep her warm and dry. THANK YOU!!
ps. I NEVER comment on anything… but so pleasantly surprised that I had to say thanks ; )
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment, Jamie. We’re so happy to hear that this was a success for you!
Wish colors for pattern were darker. I could not read lighter ones on my kindle. Did not print pattern as printer wasn’t working. Drew my own.
Yay! I can’t wait to try this. I’ve been trying to find a coat for my great dane but they are never long enough to cover her back. I think this’ll be perfect. She gets so cold in the winter and doesn’t want to go outside to use the bathroom! Diva.
Happy sewing!
Amazing! You have a very nice tutorial and it seems pretty easy! I have brain damage and I am paralyzed and even with these challenges, I think i can make this!
Your dog is identical to mine
Aww!
I made this for my dog, but the waistband ended up being enormous! On the instructions, where it says to take 1/2 the body circumference to make the band, should that arrow go all the way to the top (not just the top of the band?). The chest strap was also massive but I put that down to poor measuring on my part๐
Hi, El! The arrows are correct on the image. The belly band is 1/2 the body circumference minus the coat depth measurement plus 1 inch. So if you only used the the measurement for 1/2 the body circumference that’s why the band was so big! Let us know if you’re still having issues getting the band sized correctly and we’ll help troubleshoot more if needed. =)