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This easy crochet sweater for large dogs is stylish, warm, and fun to crochet too! Learn how to crochet a dog sweater for big dogs using this free crochet pattern.

Easy Crochet Dog Sweater for Large, X Large, and XX Large Dogs

This free crochet sweater pattern for large dogs, extra large, and extra extra large dogs is perfect for our long-legged furry friends. One thing I noticed while designing the extra small, small, and medium dog sweater pattern is that with larger dogs it can be difficult to get their long legs into conventionally styled dog sweaters. If your tall pet doesn’t like their legs manipulated into a sweater with leg holes – who can blame them? – they’ll love you for using this pattern as it incorporates a flap with buttons. Simply slip the collar over their head and fasten below.

This dog sweater tutorial uses the Thicket (aka Suzette) stitch. This is the same stitch as I used in the smaller three sizes of dog sweater pattern, The Dandy Dog Sweater, which means that if you’ve got a mix of breeds and different sizes of dogs, all of them can match! Dawww!

Find the ad-free, printable version of this pattern on Ravelry and Etsy. Thank you!

I love everything about this sweater. It is easy to crochet, it works up fast, and all of the dogs so far have loved it. If you’re needing smaller dog sweaters, you’ll want to use this pattern instead.

Measuring your dog for a crochet sweater

The most important measurement when determining which size to make is their chest measurement. You’ll want to measure the widest part of their chest, just behind their front legs. Because virtually all crochet will stretch as it is worn/used, I have taken this into account when designing this pattern. If your dog is in between sizes, I would go with the larger of the two.

Whether you’re headed to the dog park in style, or your large dog just likes being warm, you’re sure to love this pattern!

Large Dog Sweater Materials:

For both of my dog sweater patterns we are using Brava Worsted yarn. The color that Jessee is wearing in these photos is “Caution”. Of course, you could substitute with any worsted weight yarn you have on hand as well.

Brava Worsted Weight Yarn

-approx. 550 yards for L

-approx. 650 yards for XL

-approx. 750 yards for XXL

Crochet hook in size H/5mm

(6) 1” (or 1.25″) Buttons

Gauge: 14 sts x 13 rows = 4”

Gauge pattern:

Row 1: Ch-18. (sc, dc) in 2nd ch from hook. * sk next ch, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * 6 more times. Sk next ch, sc in last. (17)

Rows 2 – 14: Ch-1, turn, * (sc, dc) in next st, sk next st * repeat between * * 7 more times. Sk next st, sc in last. (17) Measure for gauge.

Note: Always make your swatch slightly larger than it needs to be so that when you measure you are only including inside stitches, not the outside stitches that are not uniform in shape.

Pattern Notes:

The chain at the beginning of the row does not count as a stitch.

Pattern written using US terms.

Odd numbered rows are “right side”.

Front post/Back post stitches are used for the collar. There is a tutorial for these stitches here.

The body of this sweater uses the Thicket (aka Suzette) stitch. There is a tutorial for that stitch here.

Find the ad-free, printable version of this pattern on Ravelry and Etsy. Thank you!

Pattern:

Collar:

Round 1: Fhdc– (63, 73, 83) (or ch- (64, 74, 84), hdc in 2nd chain from hook and in each to end.) Join to top of first st with sl st. Stitch count: (63, 73, 83)

Round 2: Ch-1, do not turn, * fphdc around next st, bphdc around next st * repeat between * * around, fphdc around last st. Join to top of first fphdc with sl st. Stitch count: (63, 73, 83)

Round 3: Ch-1, turn, * bphdc around next st, fphdc around next st * repeat between * * around, bphdc around last st. Join to top of first bphdc with sl st. Stitch count: (63, 73, 83)

Round 4: Ch-1, turn, * fphdc around next st, bphdc around next st * repeat between * * around, fphdc around last st. Join to top of first fphdc with sl st. Stitch count: (63, 73, 83)

Rounds 5 through 10: alternate rounds 3 & 4. Stitch count: (63, 73, 83)

Chest/Body:

Round 11: Ch-1, do not turn. * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * around. Join to top of first sc with sl st. Stitch count: (64, 74, 84)

Round 12: Ch-1, turn, * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * (7, 8, 10) more times, sc in next st, (hdc, sc) in next st, sc in next, (sc, dc) in next. Repeat between * * around. Join to top of first sc with sl st. Stitch count: (66, 76, 86)

Round 13: repeat round 12. Stitch count: (68, 78, 88)

Round 14: Ch-1, turn, * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * (16, 18, 21) more times, sc in next st, (hdc, sc) in next st, sc in next, (sc, dc) in next. Repeat between * * around. Join to top of first sc with sl st. Stitch count: (70, 80, 90)

Round 15: Ch-1, turn, * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * around until you have 4 sts remaining. Sc in next st, (hdc, sc) in next st, sc in next, (sc, dc) in last st. Join to top of first sc with sl st. Stitch count: (72, 82, 92)

Round 16: Ch-1, turn, * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * (8, 9, 11) more times, sc in next st, (hdc, sc) in next st, sc in next, (sc, dc) in next. Repeat between * * around. Join to top of first sc with sl st. Stitch count: (74, 84, 94)

Round 17: repeat round 16. Stitch count: (76, 86, 96)

Round 18: Ch-1, turn, * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * (18, 20, 23) more times, sc in next st, (hdc, sc) in next st, sc in next, (sc, dc) in next. Repeat between * * around. Join to top of first sc with sl st. Stitch count: (78, 88, 98)

Round 19: repeat round 15. Stitch count: (80, 90, 100)

Round 20: Ch-1, turn, * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * (9, 10, 12) more times, sc in next st, (hdc, sc) in next st, sc in next, (sc, dc) in next. Repeat between * * around. Join to top of first sc with sl st. Stitch count: (82, 92, 102)

Round 21: repeat round 20. Stitch count: (84, 94, 104)

Round 22: Ch-1, turn, * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * (20, 22, 25) more times, sc in next st, (hdc, sc) in next st, sc in next, (sc, dc) in next. Repeat between * * around. Join to top of first sc with sl st. Stitch count: (86, 96, 106)

Round 23: Ch-1, turn, * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * around until you have 4 sts remaining. Sc in next st, (hdc, sc) in next st, sc in next, (sc, dc) in last st. Join to top of first sc with sl st. Stitch count: (88, 98, 108)

Round 24: Ch-1, turn, * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * (10, 11, 13) more times, sc in next st, (hdc, sc) in next st, sc in next, (sc, dc) in next. Repeat between * * around. Join to top of first sc with sl st. Stitch count: (90, 100, 110)

Round 25: repeat round 24. Stitch count: (92, 102, 112)

Round 26: Ch-1, turn, * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * (22, 24, 27) more times, sc in next st, (hdc, sc) in next st, sc in next, (sc, dc) in next. Repeat between * * around. Join to top of first sc with sl st. Stitch count: (94, 104, 114)

Round 27: Ch-1, turn, * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * around until you have 4 sts remaining. Sc in next st, (hdc, sc) in next st, sc in next, (sc, dc) in last st. Join to top of first sc with sl st. Stitch count: (96, 106, 116)

Round 28: Ch-1, turn, * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * (11, 12, 15) more times, sc in next st, (hdc, sc) in next st, sc in next, (sc, dc) in next. Repeat between * * around. Join to top of first sc with sl st. Stitch count: (98, 108, 118)

Round 29: repeat row 28. Stitch count: (100, 110, 120)

Round/s (30, 30 – 32, 30 – 34): Ch-1, turn, * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * around. Join to top of first sc with sl st. Stitch count: (100, 110, 120)

Place a stitch marker in the last stitch made. (Makes it easier to count below) Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Chest flap:

Looking at the “right” side (see pattern notes), attach yarn in (9th, 11th, 11th) stitch to the right of the chest seam. (should be a sc)

Row 1: Ch-1, (sc, dc) in same st. * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * (7, 8, 9) more times. Stitch count: (18, 20, 22)

Rows 2 – (23, 25, 27): Ch-1, turn, * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * to end. Stitch count: (18, 20, 22)

Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Back flap:

Looking at the “right” side, mark the (14th, 16th, 18th) stitch to the left of the chest flap. (should be a sc)

Row 1: Ch-(16, 18, 20), (sc, dc) in marked stitch, *sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * (27, 29, 31) more times, ch-(16, 18, 20). Stitch count: (90, 98, 106)

Row 2: (sc, dc) in 2nd ch from hook. *sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * to end. Stitch count: (90, 98, 106)

Row 3: Ch-1, turn. * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * to end. Stitch count: (90, 98, 106)

Row 4: (buttonhole row) Ch-1, turn, sk first st, (sc, dc) in next. Sk-3 sts, (sc, dc) in next. * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * (39, 43, 47) more times. Sk-3 sts, (sc, dc) in last. Stitch count: (86, 94, 102)

Row 5: Ch-1, turn. Sk first 2 sts, (sc, dc, sc, dc) in hole. * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * (39, 43, 47) times. (sc, dc, sc, dc) in hole, sk next st, (sc, dc) in last. Stitch count: (90, 98, 106)

Rows 6 – 8: Ch-1, turn. * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * to end. Stitch count: (90, 98, 106)

Row 9: (buttonhole row) Ch-1, turn, sk first st, (sc, dc) in next. Sk-3 sts, (sc, dc) in next. * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * (39, 43, 47) more times. Sk-3 sts, (sc, dc) in last. Stitch count: (86, 94, 102)

Row 10: Ch-1, turn. Sk first 2 sts, (sc, dc, sc, dc) in hole. * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * (39, 43, 47) times. (sc, dc, sc, dc) in hole, sk next st, (sc, dc) in last. Stitch count: (90, 98, 106)

Rows 11 – 13: Ch-1, turn. * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * to end. Stitch count: (90, 98, 106)

Row 14: (buttonhole row) Ch-1, turn, sk first st, (sc, dc) in next. Sk-3 sts, (sc, dc) in next. * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * (39, 43, 47) more times. Sk-3 sts, (sc, dc) in last. Stitch count: (86, 94, 102)

Row 15: Ch-1, turn. Sk first 2 sts, (sc, dc, sc, dc) in hole. * sk next st, (sc, dc) in next * repeat between * * (39, 43, 47) times. (sc, dc, sc, dc) in hole, sk next st, (sc, dc) in last. Stitch count: (90, 98, 106)

Row 16: Ch-1, turn, sk first st, * (sc, dc) in next, sk next st * repeat between * * (43, 47, 51) more times. Sc in last st. Stitch count: (89, 97, 105)

Row 17: Ch-1, turn, sk first 2 sts, * (sc, dc) in next, sk next st * repeat between * * (42, 46, 50) more times. Sc in last st. Stitch count: (87, 95, 103)

Row 18: Ch-1, turn, sk first 2 sts, * (sc, dc) in next, sk next st * repeat between * * (41, 45, 49) more times. Sc in last st. Stitch count: (85, 93, 101)

Continue decreasing until you reach row (43, 45, 47) ending with (35, 39, 43) sts. Do not fasten off.

Turn work clockwise to add finishing edge. Sc in each st/row end around the entire dog sweater, placing 3 scs in each corner. Fasten off using Invisible Join.

Sew buttons onto chest flap, making sure they line up with the buttonholes. You’re done!

Find the ad-free, printable version of this pattern on Ravelry and Etsy. Thank you!

I would love to see a photo of your furry friend in their dapper new dog sweaters! Please share a photo with me by tagging @HeartHookHome on Instagram and Twitter, or share in the Heart Hook Home Crochet Community on Facebook.

More for pets:

Dandy Dog Sweater: Easy Crochet Dog Sweater Pattern

Free Dog Toy Crochet Pattern Using T-Shirt Yarn

Easy Homemade Pumpkin Dog Biscuits