Schemes for making knitted clothes for Chihuahuas with your own hands

Chihuahua is a miniature breed that requires special attention and careful care. Like other dogs, she loves the outdoors. Since the Chihuahua's coat is not very warm, it cannot survive without clothing in cold weather.

There are many options to diversify your miniature pet's wardrobe. Specialized stores offer a huge selection of clothing made from different materials and in different price categories. But you can not only buy it, but also sew or knit it yourself. The main thing is to choose a suitable pattern, take the correct measurements and prepare the necessary materials.

Chihuahua wardrobe

Previously, it was almost impossible to see a small dog on the street in clothes. For most, this caused not only tenderness, but also surprise. Today this is an everyday reality. Chihuahuas are very susceptible to cold.

Dogs feel comfortable at temperatures above +15°C. At lower temperatures, animals freeze because:

• Due to their miniature size they are close to the ground.
• They have an accelerated metabolism and burn through calories quickly.
• The coat is not thick and “stress shedding” often occurs due to the shyness of the breed.

To keep the dog warm, it needs clothing. A Chihuahua's basic wardrobe can consist of several things:

• winter overalls made of padding polyester or holofiber;
• overalls made of waterproof fabric with fleece for cold rainy weather in the autumn-spring period;
• blanket to protect the back;
• raincoat with hood;
• knitted warm sweater for dry, cool weather;
• several pairs of boots with waterproof soles.

You can supplement your wardrobe with other things that are more used as decoration: dresses, hats, sundresses, panties, T-shirts, shorts.

Required tools and materials

Before you make your own clothes for a Chihuahua, you need to prepare materials and tools in advance. If it is a knitted item, you will need yarn, knitting needles or a hook.

For sewing, in addition to fabric, you may need:

• needles of different sizes;
• threads;
• scissors;
• pins;
• buttons, Velcro, zippers and other accessories.

Particular attention should be paid to the choice of fabric. For a winter overall, it should be warm but light. For the top it is better to take nylon - it does not get wet. Make the lining from padding polyester or holofiber. Faux fur is unlikely to keep a dog warm, and real sheepskin is very heavy for a Chihuahua. It is better to take a dark color. To prevent your dog from getting lost in the snow, it is advisable to add several inserts made of fabric in colorful shades. For demi-season jackets and overalls, choose waterproof materials in non-staining colors. It is better to make the lining from natural satin. It is recommended to sew a blanket and duster for the summer from natural breathable fabrics that do not create a greenhouse effect.

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Types of clothing

The materials and cut of clothing for a Chihuahua dog depend on the time of year, the functions performed and the wishes of the owner.

Let's list the main types of clothes that should be in a baby's wardrobe.

Summer

Summer clothes should be light and loose, made from natural fabrics. Light colors are best. Dark colors are undesirable.

A T-shirt, shorts, and light overalls will perfectly protect your Chihuahua from sunlight, grass juice, and dust. You can put a hat on your head to protect you from sunstroke.

Winter

Chihuahuas cannot stand cold weather and get very cold. To protect the animal from illness, he should buy a jacket or warm overalls. Synthetic fabric retains heat best. Synthetic padding or fleece are used as filler.

The boy Chihuahua onesie may have a hood, or you can buy a winter hat separately.

Don't forget about home clothes. If the apartment is cool in winter, the dog needs a warm knitted jacket, which you can make with your own hands. It should be soft and comfortable. The main thing is that it retains heat well.

Demi-season

The off-season is characterized by high humidity and frequent rains. A wet Chihuahua may get sick.

For walks during light rain, you can buy a raincoat. In case of high humidity, your dog will benefit from a waterproof overall that will protect his belly from water and dirt.

Decorative outfits

Many owners love to please their little friends with beautiful holiday outfits. They will not only protect the dog from bad weather, but will also attract attention.

You can make a New Year's costume for your Chihuahua with your own hands. To do this, you just need red cloth, white fur and an hour of free time. But your pet will greet the chimes dressed up.

Dresses look great on Chihuahua girls.

Shoes

Not all dogs like to wear shoes, but they play a big role in protecting your pet.

Reliable boots will save your paw from cuts, punctures, and insect bites. You won't need to wash your Chihuahua's feet after a walk. And in winter, the baby will not have to walk barefoot in the cold snow.

How to take measurements

For clothes to fit perfectly on your dog, they must be tailored to measure. They need to be removed correctly so that the item does not end up being tight or too loose. It is better to measure all parameters with a centimeter tape. The dog should be relaxed and calm. It is better to choose the time for measurement after a meal, before bedtime, when the animal is tired or sleepy.

Mandatory measurements for Chihuahuas:

• head circumference - measured along the frontal part, capturing the widest part of the ear at the bottom;
• muzzle circumference - measured with the mouth closed;
• neck girth;
• chest circumference - measured behind the forelimbs;
• chest width - the distance from one to the other;
• abdominal circumference - measured under the hind limbs;
• limb length;
• back length - the distance from the withers to the base of the tail;
• the length of the belly - in females is equal to the length of the back, in males - the distance from the neck to the genitals.

Sewing clothes with patterns

You can make patterns yourself, or you can use ready-made ones, of which there are plenty on the Internet and handicraft stores. The main thing is to correctly adapt the scheme to the measurements of a specific dog.

Transferring measurements to patterns

When transferring the Chihuahua's measurements to the pattern, you need to leave room for seams. The pattern pieces will be sewn together, so you need to add 1-3 cm on each side so that the finished item does not turn out to be tight.

On a note! After cutting out the pattern from the fabric, you need to baste all the details with a needle and try it on the dog. If the clothes fit well, they can be sewn on a machine. To make it easier to transfer measurements onto paper, it is better to draw it into 8x8 cm squares. Carefully transfer the pattern onto the resulting grid.

Overalls

A jumpsuit should be an integral part of every Chihuahua's wardrobe. It fits well to the body, protects from cold, wind, and moisture.

Manufacturing process:

• transfer measurements onto paper;
• fold the prepared fabric in half, make a pattern of 2 halves (don’t forget about seam allowances);
• cut out the lining parts in the same way;
• fix the details of the outer and inner parts with needles and pins, sew them, do not process the sleeves;
• sew a strip at the bottom equal to the width of the chest;
• sew one of the top seams with a stripe, sew a zipper into the other;
• sew a collar to the edge (it can be knitted);
• fasten the remaining parts;
• process the seams of the neck and sleeves.

Sweater

This wardrobe item can be knitted or made from an old children's sweater. For knitting, yarn containing 50% wool and 50% acrylic is suitable. A product made from such threads will not stretch or shrink when washed.

You can use a regular sock pattern. In the places of the front paws, cut 7-10 loops and re-cast them after 5 rows. Then knit in the round up to half of the animal’s belly. Cast off half the stitches and knit only the back. Finish knitting when the length of the product reaches the base of the tail.

If you use a child's jacket to make a sweater, you will need its sleeve. Cut it off and adjust it to the length from the withers to the tail. The bottom of the sleeve will be the collar for the dog. Make slits for the front legs. Cut off some of the fabric on the stomach so that it does not get wet when urinating. Finish the edges with seams.

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blanket

A blanket is a garment similar to a cape. It warms the dog's back and does not hinder its movements.

Sewing instructions:

• measure the length of the back, neck circumference;
• connect the collar and back along the BAB line;
• sew the edges of the collar to create a circle;
• sew a belt to the bottom edge;
• wrap the belt around your back and secure the product;
• the belt can be made wider so that it covers the stomach;
• You can sew a warm lining to the back of the blanket.

DIY clothes for Chihuahua

For those owners who like handicrafts, the option of sewing or knitting clothes for a Chihuahua is suitable. It will not be difficult for craftsmen to make a new thing with their own hands. In addition, this method is a great money saver.

How to take measurements?

To sew or knit a costume for a dog, you will first need to take measurements of the animal. During the “procedure” the dog should stand calmly with his head raised, legs straight and back extended.

Taking measurements consists of determining the following parameters:

1. Chest circumference. Measurement is carried out behind the front paws. The measuring tape is placed perpendicular to the spine.
2. Back length. The reference point is the place where a normally tightened collar falls freely. The end point is the base of the tail.
3. Neck circumference. Measured with the collar loosely attached.
4. Hind leg circumference. In some dogs, which are characterized by active behavior and great playfulness, the muscles in these places are very well developed, therefore, the girth size is quite large.

Fabric selection

The material is selected depending on the climate in general, and the season in particular. The choice is also influenced by the specific purpose of the clothing, which depends on the location (is it a park or an ordinary yard), frequency and nature (whether the pet likes to play, run or, conversely, has a calm disposition) of walks.

The main types of fabric for suits include the following:

1. Material for home clothes. In this case, preference is given to cotton, flannel and fleece.
2. Raincoat material. In this case, raincoat fabric is perfect. It has a water-repellent effect and dries quickly. It is not recommended to use rubberized fabric, as it disrupts heat transfer and the animal will feel uncomfortable.
3. Material for winter “clothes”. The main task of such a wardrobe is to keep your pet warm during the cold season. The top layer consists of raincoat fabric, and the bottom layer is made of padding polyester, which serves as insulation. Fleece or flannel is used as lining.

Raincoat

Sewing

When sewing clothes, you need to make sure that the product does not turn out to be too tight. A bulky suit will greatly restrict a small dog’s movements.

For example, we can consider the process of sewing a tracksuit. To do this you will need:

• cotton fabric or knitted velor;
• clasp;
• needle and thread;
• scissors;
• soap.

The sewing process is as follows:

1. Sewing Chihuahua clothes with your own hands begins with a pattern.

It looks something like this:

Approximate pattern

1. Then, using soap, apply it to the fabric, leaving a couple of centimeters as a reserve (for seams).
2. The fabric needs to be basted at the seams.
3. For reliability, the product can be tried on your pet.
4. Secure the fastener on the belly side of the suit.
5. Then the material is stitched and the seams are processed.
6. The product can also be decorated with stickers and other accessories.

The presented algorithm is suitable for sewing any type of clothing for a pet. The most important thing is to take the measurements correctly and make the pattern correctly. For example, for a jumpsuit the pattern looks like this:

For overalls

And for shorts you will need this diagram:

Future shorts

Knitting

A great alternative to overalls is a sweater. This type of clothing for Chihuahuas is best suited for knitting. To do this you need to take measurements:

• chest circumference;
• neck girth.

The sweater is knitted on five knitting needles. The armholes of the sleeves are made on a separate knitting needle - just like the fingers of mittens. In the future, these loops will serve as the basis of the sleeve. The ideal material for a sweater is soft wool (for example, mohair). Acrylic, a synthetic hypoallergenic fabric, is also suitable. It is recommended to additionally insulate the back of the backrest. To do this, about 20 rows of loops are tied along the back and closed under the tail.