Checkerboard Knit Dog Sweater with Bow Free Pattern

Checkerboard Knit Dog Sweater with Bow – Free Pattern

Introduction

This little sweater is made for the small dog in your life who deserves to be the best-dressed pup on the block. Worked flat in one easy rectangle and seamed up the sides, it uses simple slipped stitches to create a bold cobalt-and-orange checkerboard with no colorwork charts or stranding to fuss over. The worsted-weight acrylic is soft, warm, and completely machine washable, so muddy walks are no problem. Finished with a tiny orange bow at the neck, it looks like a boutique buy but knits up in a weekend.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted weight acrylic yarn — approximately 200 yards cobalt (Color A) and 50 yards orange (Color B).
• Needles: 5.0 mm (US 8) straight knitting needles.
• Notions: Tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends, scissors, and a tape measure.
• Finished size: Fits a chest of 14–16 inches with a 10-inch back length.

Abbreviations

• CO – cast on: create the starting stitches.
• BO – bind off: finish stitches so they don't unravel.
• k – knit stitch.
• p – purl stitch.
• sl1 wyib – slip one stitch purlwise with the yarn held in back of the work.
• sl1 wyif – slip one stitch purlwise with the yarn held in front of the work.
• rep – repeat.
• RS / WS – right side (public side) / wrong side (inside).
• sts – stitches.

Gauge

18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Knit a small swatch, measure a 4-inch section, and switch needle sizes if your stitch count is off — the sweater's fit depends on it.

Tips Before You Start

• Keep the slipped stitches loose. If they pull tight, the checkerboard squares will pucker and the fabric will lose its stretch.
• Always carry the unused color loosely up the side edge rather than cutting it — you'll need it again within a few rows.
• Count your stitches after every pattern row. The stitch count stays at 64 throughout the body, so any drift means a slipped stitch went wrong.
• Try the sweater on your dog (or measure against a favorite harness) before seaming so you can adjust the leg opening placement if needed.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Body (worked flat in one piece)

Row 1 (set-up): With A, CO 64 sts.

Rows 2–5: Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 4 rows (64 sts).

Row 6 (RS): With A, k all sts (64 sts).

Row 7 (WS): With A, p all sts (64 sts).

Row 8 (RS): With B, k4, [sl1 wyib, k7] rep to last 4 sts, k4 (64 sts).

Row 9 (WS): With B, p4, [sl1 wyif, p7] rep to last 4 sts, p4 (64 sts).

Row 10 (RS): With A, k all sts (64 sts).

Row 11 (WS): With A, p all sts (64 sts).

Row 12 (RS): With B, k8, [sl1 wyib, k7] rep to last 8 sts, k8 (64 sts).

Row 13 (WS): With B, p8, [sl1 wyif, p7] rep to last 8 sts, p8 (64 sts).

Rows 14–15: With A, work as Rows 10–11 (64 sts).

Repeat Rows 8–15 for the checkerboard pattern until the piece measures 6 inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

Leg Opening

Next row (RS): Work in pattern across 16 sts, BO 8 sts, work in pattern to end (56 sts on needle; 8 sts bound off).

Next row (WS): Work in pattern across 40 sts, CO 8 sts, work in pattern across 16 sts (64 sts).

Continue Body

Next rows: Continue in the checkerboard pattern (Rows 8–15 repeat) until the piece measures 10 inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a WS row (64 sts).

Top border: Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 4 rows (64 sts).

Final row: BO all sts.

Bow (make 1)

Row 1: With B, CO 12 sts.

Rows 2–9: Work in stockinette stitch (knit on RS rows, purl on WS rows) for 8 rows (12 sts).

Final row: BO all sts.

Assembly and Finishing

Fold the body in half with right sides together, aligning the cast-on and bound-off edges. Using the tapestry needle and a length of Color A, sew the side seams, leaving the leg opening open. Turn the sweater right side out. To make the bow, wrap a short length of Color B tightly around the center of the bow rectangle several times to cinch it, then knot and trim. Sew the bow to the front neck edge with a few secure stitches. Weave in all ends on the wrong side. Block lightly by misting with water and patting flat to dry — do not stretch the slipped-stitch squares out of shape.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Color swap: Try charcoal and mustard, or cream and sage, for a whole different look — the mosaic pattern works with any two contrasting colors.
• Two leg openings: For a dog that needs more freedom of movement, bind off and cast on a second 8-stitch opening on the opposite side, mirroring the first.
• Bow alternatives: Skip the bow for a boy dog, or swap it for a small knit flower or a contrasting garter-stitch collar band.