knitting

Coat is suitable for a Maltese/ Miniature Poodle.
Materials:
1 ball of 8 ply yarn
3.75mm needles
4.00mm needles.
Instructions.
• Using 3.75mm needles cast on 50 stitches.
• Knit 4 rows of garter stitch.
• Change to 4.00mm needles.
• Knit 3 stitches, knit in the front and the back of the next stitch (to increase a stitch), knit 44 stitches, increase in the next stitch, knit 3 stitches.
• Knit 3 stitches, purl 44 stitches, knit 3 stitches. (On each purl row, knit the first 3 stitches, and the last 3 stitches while you are increasing).
• Increase 1 stitch at the each end of every second row until there are 76 stitches.
• Increase 1 stitch at the each end of every third row until there are 84 stitches. (mark the last row with a piece of coloured thread)
• Work even (without increasing, and not knitting the 3stitches on the purl row) until knitting measures 20 cm.
• Divide leg openings: knit 14, turn.
• Next row: knit 2 stitches together, purl to end.
• Work 23 rows on these 13 stitches.
• Break off yarn and place these 13 stitches on a stitch holder.
• With right side facing, rejoin yarn.
• Next row: knit 56, turn.
• Work 24 rows on these 56 stitches.
• Break off yarn and place stitches on a stitch holder. With right side facing, rejoin yarn.
• Next row: knit 2 stitches together, knit to end.
• Work 24 rows on these 13 stitches.
• Using 3.75mm needles, pick up 51 stitches around the first leg opening. Work 3 rows of single rib (knit1, purl 1), then cast off loosely. Repeat this for the second leg opening.
• With 4mm needles, attach yarn and knit 13 stitches, pick up 6 stitches from the edge of the leg opening, knit 56 stitches from the stitch holder, pick up 6 stitches from the edge of the next leg opening, knit 13 stitches from the stitch holder. (94 stitches)
• Next row: purl.
• Shape neck: knit 11, knit 2 together, knit 6, knit 2 together through back of loop, knit 52, knit 2 together, knit 6, knit 2 together through back of loop, knit 11. (90 sts)
• Next row: purl.
• Next row: knit 10, knit 2 together, knit 6, knit 2 together through back of loop, knit 50, knit 2 together, knit 6, knit 2 together through back of loop, knit 10. (86 sts)
• Next row: purl to end.
• Continue decreasing as set until 62 stitches remain.
• Collar: using 3.75mm needles, knit 28 rows of single rib.
• Cast off loosely.
• Finishing off: Weave in all loose threads. Join seam from collar to the coloured thread. Sew a piece of elastic at the back end of each side of the coat to allow the dog’s legs to slip through and anchor the coat.
Could easily be made larger by adding a few stitches and making a little longer.
The pattern given is just for a single coloured coat, but other colours can be added in as you knit.

knitting