Each owner takes care of the health of his pet. Some breeds of dogs are not adapted to cold weather and temperature extremes, freeze and often fall ill. Therefore, in addition to their own wool, they need additional clothes as a heater. The pattern of overalls for dogs should be individual. After all, the parameters may differ even in dogs of the same breed.
How to take measurements?
Measurements are necessary in order to build an appropriate pattern. Of course, you can find a standard pattern for a particular breed. But even in this case, they may not coincide with the parameters of your animal, for example, in completeness. If you yourself do not know how to build patterns, find the standard one and make adjustments to it in accordance with the measurements made.
How to take measurements from a dog so that they correspond to reality and are correct? The first thing to do is put the pet in the rack. If the dog is lying or sitting in the process, it cannot be adequately measured. When a dressmaker takes measurements from a person, he needs to stand straight. It’s the same with the animal.
The second rule of how to take measurements from a dog: record volume indicators as they are, without allowances! Each material shrinks, has a different elasticity, and so on. The pattern of overalls for dogs is built strictly by standards, and allowances depend on whether the outfit is knitted or sewn, from which fabric and yarn.
What measurements should be taken?
Useful advice on how to take measurements from a dog: to correctly measure an animal, imagine how the finished product will sit on it. This technique will help you better understand where the dog ends in the neck and begins the chest. Then unpleasant surprises during fitting can be avoided. Especially if you sew or knit a jumpsuit yourself. If you order it from experienced tailors, this tip will facilitate the process of measuring the animal.
Now you know how to measure a dog for coveralls. We list the main ones:
- chest girth, measured in its widest part;
- back length: from the withers (the place where the body begins to pass to the neck) to the beginning of the tail;
- abdominal volume: measured in the narrowest place slightly above the hind legs;
- neck: measure where the collar is usually located;
- length from front paw to hind, distance determined from the side of the abdomen;
- foot height (necessary to determine sleeve length);
- distance from neck to armpits;
- the volume of the hind paw at the widest point in the sitting position (this is the only measurement that can be taken in this way);
- distance between paws in front.
This data is enough to sew or tie a jumpsuit for the dog.
Knitted jumpsuit
How to measure a dog for knitting? The rules are no different from the main ones. Before you start knitting clothes for your beloved pet, decide on the model (with what sleeves, with or without a hood, on buttons, rivets or Velcro). After that proceed to the choice of yarn. There are no special restrictions: you can knit both from woolen and from cotton threads.
Be sure to tie a 10 by 10 centimeter sample, wash and dry it. This will make it clear whether the knit will sit or stretch afterwards. This will need to be considered when knitting. Make the calculation of the required number of loops depending on the measurements taken. By the way, a knitted jumpsuit can be made without a pattern, just apply the product to the dog in the process. Of course, in this way to tie will be the easiest option.
We sew the jumpsuit ourselves
If you are not a lover of knitted things or simply do not know how to knit, you can sew the jumpsuit yourself or order in a special studio. Of course, this is not too cheap fun. Therefore, many tend to sew clothes on their own to insulate their beloved dog.
How to take measurements from a dog, you know. Based on them, make the simplest pattern of overalls, which should consist of:
- two halves of the main part of the overalls, with one-piece sleeves (legs);
- a wedge that covers the chest and abdomen, it is sewn between two main parts.
The length of the trouser leg is adjusted depending on the height of the paws of the dog, you can adjust it with a mandatory preliminary fitting. Only after the connected parts will sit on the dog, without limiting it in movements, can they be stitched. Assemble the bottom of the leg with elastic. In order for the jumpsuit to be warm and protect from rain, it can be double-sided: from the top - raincoat fabric, and the bottom layer - flannel fabric.