Outrageously Adorable Dog Knits: 25 must-have styles for the pampered pooch. Caitlin Doyle

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       Dedicated to Ivy, Poppy, Tilly, Percy, Ruby, Jade, Casper, Elmo, Coco, Carla, Schnitzel, and Harry Potter. Thanks for the sniffs and licks.

       Introduction/Author’s Note

      Have you ever been all dressed up with no place to go? Well, imagine having the whole world at your (four) feet, but not a stitch to wear! Never fear; this book removes that bane of shame for your loyal best friend.

      Your pooch adores you and has gone to so much trouble to show it. Just consider all that work Max put into chewing your slippers just so to ensure they epitomize worn-in comfort. Or the energy Bella has expended in growling away the mailman to keep unwanted bills at bay. It’s time to return their gallant efforts. And what says “I love you” better than a flashy, one-of-a-kind superhero costume for patrolling the house? Or a hand-knit holiday sweater to complement the family photos on Christmas morning against a backdrop of shredded wrapping, courtesy of Olive the puppy?

      Amusement is mutual: our pawed pals delight us, as we must surely fascinate them with our strange behaviors, such as relegating perfectly decent “trash” to a can and greeting the wrong end of fellow humans. However, of course, not all dogs like to be paraded for our entertainment. But some simply revel in the attention. If your pampered pup is one of the latter, you’ll be all too familiar with the signs: lapping up the limelight at every dinner party; showing off tricks to each and every new guest; leaving you in a heartbeat if a more captivating lap becomes available; posing perfectly at the first sign of a camera phone. If you share your home with such a diva, get some knitting needles pronto and start crafting some haute couture duds for your little angel.

      Do remember that, like humans, dogs have their individual likes and dislikes. Some seem to love a good dress-up—even if it’s at the grasping hands of an enthusiastic toddler. But others may have delicate ears, a sensitive paw, a strong aversion to wearing hats . . . or perhaps a more finely tuned fashion palate than yours. Don’t push it. We love our fur kids, and our job as their keepers is to ensure that they’re happy and healthy. So, before embarking on a time-consuming display of affection by knitting Milo an intricate cowboy hat, first test out whether he minds having his head adorned. If he is happily behatted, knit away! If he’s not, perhaps choose some other delightful apparel to express your adoration. We employed the same caveat during our photo shoot—please rest assured, no dogs were harmed or humiliated in the making of this book.

      Once you’ve ascertained your pet’s style preferences, it’s time to start knitting. This book will guide you to create bespoke knitwear for your cherished pooch—as well as setting you merrily on your way to developing your own designs. For novice knitters, simple patterns are clearly marked, while further embellishments and more complex outfits ensure that experienced woolsmiths are catered for, too. Most items can be tweaked to fit dogs of any size and shape—simply follow the individual pattern’s measurement instructions. However, some garments are less straightforward and, as such, come in a one-size-fits-most format. Please consider your dog’s statistics carefully before beginning a project.

      The designs in this book have been carefully chosen to accommodate all levels, with a range of knitwear options, from fun Halloween costumes, to everyday sweaters for snuggling up in front of the fire on a cold winter’s night, and everything in between. The wonderful knitters involved in this project come from a variety of backgrounds, but every one is passionate about sharing the joy of their craft and creating unique and wearable designs. Please read more about them in the Contributors section here and check out their websites for more inspiration.

      So, get those needles clacking and prepare to be showered with praise for your fine crafting skills and your pet’s dashing outfits. Enjoy your knitting adventure!

       Dogs can’t knit. But they sure can wear it well.

       Getting Started

      Make a Slipknot

      1 Cross the yarn into a loop and pinch closed with your thumb and forefinger, holding the short end of the yarn underneath.

      2 With the longer yarn length, make a second loop over and around the tip of your forefinger.

      3 Pull the second loop through the first.

      Casting On

      1 Hold a needle in your left hand and tighten the slipknot around it. This is your first stitch.

      2 Insert the right-hand needle into the stitch, crossing it behind the left needle. Loop the yarn behind and around the right needle.

      3 Draw the right needle under the left needle, catching the loop and transferring it across. You have created your second stitch. Continue until you have a row of stitches.

      Knit Stitch

      1 Hold the stitched needle in your left hand and the free needle in your right, keeping the yarn at the back of your work. Insert the right-hand needle into the first stitch, crossing behind the left needle.

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