Knitting for Dogs: Irresistible Patterns for Your Favorite Pup -- and You! (Paperback)

by Kristi Porter (Author)
Key Phrases: stockinette stitch, garter stitch, seed stitch, Everyday Sweaters, Houndstooth Pattern, Haute Coats (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Who loves you, baby?

Your dog does, that's who, and there's no creature more deserving of a hand-knit expression of that love. Plus, he'll look darn cute in any number of the more than twenty easy-to-follow patterns in Knitting for Dogs. It's the perfect way to spoil the pet that spoils you with affection.

You'll find designs here for every kind of dog, from sequined sweaters for your toy dog princess to a handsome sport coat with racing stripes for your L or XL big boy. But why stop there when you can knit a hat with Fair Isle trim or fingerless Aran gloves to match your pet's jaunty sweater? And because accessories make the dog, there are patterns for everything from a cat-shaped squeaky toy to a walk-in-the-park shoulder bag for carrying keys, doggie treats, and the all-important plastic bags.

With foolproof instructions on how to properly measure a dog so that the project comes out just right, Knitting for Dogs will provide hours of entertainment for you and turn even the average pooch into the envy of the dog-run set. So whether you're a beginner or expert knitter, on the cutting edge of fashion or all about what's practical, you'll find something here to please both you and your canine companion.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Fireside (October 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743270169
• ISBN-13: 978-0743270168
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #195,335 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for small dogs!, November 9, 2005

By	Shannon Okey "knitgrrl.com" (Cleveland, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I own several knitting-for-dogs books, and it seems many concentrate on tiny dogs (Jill Eaton's PuppyKnits is an example of this). If you don't own a dachshund or a pug, you're out of luck. What's great about this book is the wide range of pattern sizes, plus information on how to custom-fit items to your dog.

The photos are adorable, the patterns are great, and even if your dog hates sweaters, there are knitted accessories for you to make, too. My dog's a big fan of the tugging toy. Even though I design most of my own knits, using patterns from this book has given me a base for customization (using different yarn or pattern stitches, etc). It's hard for me to decide which pattern to knit next!

Well worth the money -- this book would also be a great holiday present for your favorite dog-loving knitter!

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Stylin' Canines!, November 9, 2005

By	Mira "RealityChecque" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Truly a find for knitters whose sense of style reaches beyond knitting for their two-legged friends! Now your four-legged friends can enjoy the same knitted fashion wears you've enjoyed for years! Kristi does a fabulous job providing patterns for knitters of all levels and all size dogs with easy to follow instructions. The legwarmers are priceless!!!

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A little challenging, a little strange, December 20, 2005

By	Erin McNeill (Williamsburg, VA) - See all my reviews

As a beginning knitter, I thought dog sweaters would be a great place to start. After all, even the most pampered pooch won't complain about a lumpy sweater or a mistake. Since I have whippets, I picked this book up since the patterns can be made larger for bigger-than-toy breeds.

However, the author assumes readers already know the fundamentals of knitting and I was glad I had a separate guide book to explain some of the techniques. Some designs use a patter with a key, but the key is found in an earlier design, making things a little complicated to keep up with. Photos are great, but for more than one sweater they chose two colors that photograph nearly the same, so it is hard to follow what the end result looks like. All these minor things add up to a book I wouldn't recommend for a beginner.

I also found that some of the designs were just pain ugly. A few interesting patterns made it a worthwhile purchase, but in the "haute couture" section, the designs were odd and unattractive, like a sweater covered in little balls of yarn. Occasionally I got the feeling that the designs were created mostly to showcase the author's and the author's friends' yarn companies. There are 3 or 4 real winners, however, so pick it up if you think it is worth it for a handful of designs and the extras, like a cute, practical satchel or a chew toy.