Easy Dog Coat

Is your pooch in need of an extra layer of warmth when out for daily walks? This simple quilted design from Corinne Bradd will be a winner for canines and sewers alike!

Essentials

Fabric: Bichon Frise range, plain white cotton
Lightweight quilt wadding
Bias binding
Anti-snag hook and loop fastener

1 Download and print the templates. Measure the length of the dog from the neck to the base of the tail, then adjust the length of the pattern accordingly on the fitting line. Measure around the neck and shoulders of the dog, allowing for a 10cm overlap at the front. Halve this measurement and add the extra width to the back fold line of the coat.

2 Cut out the adjusted coat pattern from newspaper, and lightly tape the body straps to the sides of the coat with a 5cm overlap. Wrap it around the dog to check the fit, adding length to the straps if necessary to give a 10cm overlap on the curved ends. Cut the pieces from fabric, wadding and lining, adding a 5mm seam allowance.

3 Layer the main coat pieces together and pin. Use a long straight stitch and a quilting guide to topstitch diagonal lines over the surface in both directions. Trim the edges of the coat if necessary before zig zag stitching and using bias binding.

4 Layer the two sets of fabric for the straps, right sides together, and place them onto the wadding. Stitch around the edges, leaving the short, straight one open. Clip the curves and turn right side out. Topstitch around the edges and zig zag stitch across the open end. Lay the coat face down on a flat surface, pin the straps across the middle, with the curved ends inwards and the raw ends 3cm away from and parallel to the edges.

5 Topstitch the raw ends of the straps to the coat, fold the ends over the seam, and topstitch a cross-box pattern to secure. Topstitch 8cm lengths of a hook and loop fastener to the ends of the straps, running the tape in the same direction as the strap and ensuring it is sewn to the topside of one strap and the underside of the other. Stitch the fastener tape to each neck end in the same way.

6 Cut two 13cm squares from fabric and lining. Pair up and stitch, right sides together, on all of the edges, leaving a gap in the centre of one. Turn out and press in the raw edges of the gap. Topstitch along the top edge of each square before positioning it at the hips on each side of the coat and topstitching around the remaining three sides to make the pockets.