Remember the doggy bandana I knitted for Miekie (seen here modelled by Tess) as part of last year’s Stitching Santa?
It was from the book Woolly Woofers by Debbie Bliss.
I bought it as much for the quirky illustrations as for the actual content – just look at this backdrop for the so-called Teacup Yorkie!
Well, our other Yorkie, Fifi, has been to the Vet’s a lot recently as she’s an old dog that needs a bit more regular attention. She is much happier wearing a dog coat than those awful cones, but she doesn’t really have enough. I thought this little coat would be a quick and simple knit to go with the fleecy coat I made the other week.
Most of the coats in the book are in there sizes; small,medium and large, but this particular design was specifically for Toy breeds and only available as ‘one size fits all’.
I should have been wary at that statement as both Tess and Fifi are a Toy Yorkshire Terrier, yet Tess is literally twice the size of Fifi.
Undeterred, I cast on using a super chunky yarn in two colours which were dictated by the two half-balls of Lion Brand that had been languishing at the bottom of my ‘leftovers’ bin for months now. There should just about be enough to make a tiny coat.
The gauge was only slightly bigger than the tension gauge suggested in the pattern so I carried on to the end, playing yarn chicken (again!) and winning with just 6″ to spare.
I tried the finished coat on Fifi and….
…..it was HUGE!
It could probably have gone around her twice and the end flopped well past her tail. She even looked the other way in an effort to communicate her humiliation.
So I tried it on Tess…..and it fit perfectly.
It looks just like it does in the book – nice and snug around the chest and not too long in the body.
She was even happy to pose for the camera.
There’s only one tiny issue, and that’s the fact that she has thick hair (and lots of it) and never really gets cold enough to warrant wearing a coat, so if anyone has a little dog that would wear it, let me know and I’ll send it to you.
March 2, 2017 at 8:13 pm
Awwww poor Fifi. It is bad when you are too small to wear a small coat. Bless her heart. No doggies here. Hopefully you can find a little one that can use it. It is cute as can be. Maybe you can alter it to fit her. You are the queen at the sewing machine!
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March 6, 2017 at 1:40 pm
I’ll give it another go with thinner yarn and smaller needles – I need another evening project anyway. I don’t think it can be altered to fit on the sewing machine, unfortunately.
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March 2, 2017 at 10:57 pm
Will you try again in a smaller ply perhaps to get a fit for Fifi? I love the image of you playing chicken with your ball of yarn and needles … 😉
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March 6, 2017 at 1:41 pm
I was just trying to use up some odds and ends of yarn and it worked – apart from the fact that it doesn’t fit! Yes, I’ll try again with smaller needles.
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March 2, 2017 at 11:12 pm
Aww, they both look so cute!
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March 6, 2017 at 1:42 pm
I know – any dog in a coat can’t fail to look cute!
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March 2, 2017 at 11:17 pm
Awww Such a shame it turned out a wee big to large, I’m sure Fifi would have appreciated the extra warmth and really suited the colours too! If no-one has a sizeable suitor, maybe a few nips and tucks could bring it into size 😉 Well done on the Guesstimations though – maybe we should make this a little side line to future makes LOL 😉
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March 6, 2017 at 1:44 pm
It is a shame as the yarn is really soft and cosy for her – and I quite liked the colours, too. I don’t think it can be taken in on the sewing machine, unfortunately, so I’ll just have to make another one.
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March 3, 2017 at 7:16 am
Oh dear! Better try again with slightly thinner yarn I guess!!!
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March 3, 2017 at 8:41 am
Yep, that’s the way forward!
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March 3, 2017 at 8:50 am
It looks lovely on Tess – it’s a shame it doesn’t fit her.
I’m sure you’ll be able to adapt the pattern now to make another for Fifi who needs it most.
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March 6, 2017 at 1:47 pm
Yes, making another one that actually fits shouldn’t be too much of a problem I don’t think, and she does love to wear a coat.
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March 3, 2017 at 11:48 am
Aw too bad. You did a really nice job on that too. I attempted once to make fleece coat for my dog (shepherd mix with short hair) and she hated it. She stood stock still and laid her ears back demanding I remove it. The only thing she tolerates is her life vest for the boat. She has just 3 legs and can’t swim so not wearing it is not an option. I’d like a dog to dress. 🙂
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March 6, 2017 at 1:51 pm
Luckily, it was a quick make so I can make another one that (hopefully) fits. It didn’t occur to me that dogs with only three legs can’t swim – obvious, now I think about it.
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March 6, 2017 at 3:46 pm
Well she probably could swim but only in a circle! Haha
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March 3, 2017 at 4:19 pm
Shame, it does look lovely on Tess and she looks like she loves it. Obviously our Mr H is too big for it, but your photos of the unhappy-with-it Fifi have reminded me of the looks of disdain I got when i knitted some coats for homeless dogs years ago and made him model one 🙂
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March 6, 2017 at 1:54 pm
I don’t suppose Hicks has ever needed a coat, judging by the look of his fur! I can picture his forlorn look whilst modelling, too!
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March 6, 2017 at 4:16 pm
No, and can you imagine how wet and muddy it would get if he did?! Will see if I can dig the pic out and make a wee blog post of it.
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March 3, 2017 at 5:26 pm
Your models are super cute! And never come across the term ‘playing yarn chicken’ before and love it: so appropriate. This post really made me smile 🙂
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March 6, 2017 at 1:55 pm
It’s a good phrase, isn’t it? Not my invention, I might add, but it describes it perfectly.
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March 3, 2017 at 7:27 pm
Too bad it’s not quite the right size ..it looks soooooo cute
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March 6, 2017 at 1:57 pm
I know, but I’ll make her another one so she won’t have to do without:)
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March 6, 2017 at 2:09 pm
Thank goodness ~ a dog mutiny is NOT the way forward LOL
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March 4, 2017 at 12:55 am
So sorry the first version hasn’t worked out for you, Sheila, but know the second one will be keeping her comfy soon!
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March 6, 2017 at 1:58 pm
Thanks Del, I’ll try again with smaller needles and yarn!
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March 4, 2017 at 2:35 pm
She does look very very cute.
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March 6, 2017 at 11:33 am
Fifi looks so cute, and cuddly. I totally understand her need for coats and sweaters. After years of Miekie not wanting to wear them at all, she now loves them, as she is also getting older and appreciate the extra warmth, specially when I am at work and the heaters are not on in the house.
Lol, but her look says everything. 🙂 She will await a second attempt I am sure.
Enjoy the week, I hope it is a lovely Spring week, we are still enjoying warm days and rains. No sign of Fall just yet.
🙂
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March 6, 2017 at 2:01 pm
No luck with nice Spring weather yet – I think this has been the wettest week so far! Still mild, though, so Fifi doesn’t actually need a coat on all the time. She stands there shivering, staring at me if she gets cold and I swear I can see her smile when I put a coat on her!
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March 7, 2017 at 8:17 am
🙂 I think we are still hanging on to the warmer weather here for a while. We are loving the days and weather to much. 🙂
We shall send Spring to you in a bit.
Have a great week.
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March 7, 2017 at 3:31 pm
You know they hate it when they refuse to look at the camera! Classic humiliated pose by Hicks – poor thing!
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May 22, 2017 at 5:12 am
This is adorable!
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May 22, 2017 at 7:47 am
Thanks! It went to a dog charity in the end.
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May 22, 2017 at 8:07 am
That’s perfect! I have a yorkie too. I used to dress her up but Hawaii is just too hot for that 😿
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May 22, 2017 at 8:08 am
Oh good grief – Hawaii?! I dream of going there one day!
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May 22, 2017 at 8:09 am
We are stationed out here with the Navy and I don’t ever want to leave 🌺🌈🏖
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May 22, 2017 at 8:10 am
I’m not surprised – what a post!
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