Vest Ideas for Your Dog

There is almost nothing sweeter than a furry friend wearing a stylish vest. From trendy to whimsical, any vest will be sure to pull in plenty of compliments. Keep your companion warm and looking great with these vest ideas.

Knitting and Crocheting

If you have the proper craft skills, then put them to good use and make your furry friend a super sweet and toasty warm vest. If you don’t personally crochet or knit, find out if any of your friends or family do. Grandmothers are a good bet, and many possess this once-common skill. This kind of vest is both stylish and warm.

Matching Vests for You and Your Pup

If being twins with your dog is your cup of tea, make matching vests out of practically anything. You can either buy yourself a vest and then make a smaller one for your four-legged friend, or create both vests from scratch. Quilted vests are a good style that look great on both humans and their pets, and will keep you both warm when the weather turns chilly.

Summer Vest

Even if you do not live in a chilly climate, you can still dress up your pup. Simply choose a fabric that is lightweight and breathable, so your dog does not get overheated. Find a simple pattern and make it work for his (her) specific body shape and size.

Old Doggie T-Shirt

Practically every dog owner has at least a few doggie t-shirts laying around. Whether your little friend won them at a competition, or was given them as a Christmas gift at some point, you can recycle these t-shirts as trendy vests.

Simply cut off the sleeves, fold the material under 1/2 inch all the way around, pin and sew into place. Then cut down the front centre from top to bottom, and sew under on each side. Add buttons if you like. If using buttons or any embellishments, sew firmly into place and use the vest only when supervising your dog, as loose parts can be a hazard to him.

Dog Harness Vest

This vest is as useful as it is stylish. If your dog is constantly trying to drag you around, you can actually make a vest for him that will protect his neck from being hurt as it normally would when he is overzealous while wearing a leash. By simply searching terms such as “dog harness pattern” or “dog harness vest pattern”, you will find a variety of different harness vests to suit your personal ability and your dog’s shape and needs.

Creating a vest for your favorite pooch is fun and a great outlet for your creative side. Finding a style of vest that suits your small best friend as well as deciding a specific purpose for making the vest will help you narrow down the possibilities. From there, you can choose the materials, yarns, colors and embellishments that will make the vest as unique as your pup.

Have fun with the process and be sure to snap a few photos when your favorite animal is enjoying his new look.