How to Customize a Dog Coat Pattern (Part One)
Learn how to customize a dog coat pattern by mapping your dog’s measurements to it and editing the four sizing zones
This is the sixth post in my series on how to measure your dog and customize pattern sizes. Over the past few weeks, I have been talking about how to measure your dog to make a custom fit dog coat. This week I will look at how to customize a dog coat pattern by mapping your dog’s measurements to these four zones:
- Neck
- Chest Girth (Circumference)
- Back Length
- Withers Position
Have You Measured Your Dog Yet?
Hopefully you have measured your dog at this point and jotted down your numbers. If not, be sure to download the 4-Steps to Fit Your Dog Checklist and Workbook. Find the download button at the bottom of this post. This will provide you with the full details on how to measure your dog and a workbook to fill out. Be sure to check out the other posts in this series to delve into tricks for getting the right measurements.
Once you have your measurements in hand it’s time to map them to a pattern. We’re going to look at the Cozy Coat pattern. This is a great pattern to work with as it is easy to customize both the fit and style.
Let's Compare the Size Chart to the Pattern
As you can see, the Dog Size Chart on the left has three colours: The Neck (Green), the Chest (Orange) and the Back (Blue). You can match these three measurements to the Cozy Coat pattern by matching up the coloured zones. There is one last Purple Zone I have added. Check out “Where the Heck are the Withers” where I explain, you guessed it, where the Withers are! You’ll learn how important the Withers position is when sizing a pattern. The Purple Zone on the pattern allows you to adjust for the Withers position.
Where to Cut the Pattern to Customize
You can cut the pattern open in each of these zones to add or remove space as required by your measurements. Note that each of these zones are on “flat” areas, meaning they are not on a curve. It is always easiest to alter a pattern on an area that isn’t curved.
Check in Next Week to Customize a Dog's Pattern
In next week’s post I am going to go into part two of customizing a pattern. I will take a dog’s measurements and map them to the Cozy Coat pattern and then adjust the pattern to fit the dog.
Get a Step-By-Step Guide and Workbook
Do you need help measuring your dog? Download my 4 Steps to Fit Your Dog Guide and Workbook and I’ll walk you through the step by step process to take all the measurements you need to make a simple dog coat your dog will love!
There's even a video you can watch that shows you exactly how to do it!
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My Vision for Transformation
My vision is not only to teach you the steps to making a dog coat but, more importantly, provide the opportunity for you to experience the creativity and pride that comes from making dog wear from scratch. It's not about the fabric or the needles or threads. It’s about magically transforming those components into functional dog wear.
My hope is to inspire and encourage you on your transformational journey so that you can master the art of dog wear design.
I'd love to hear what size you dog fits into or if you have any questions I can help you with. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions about deciding how to pick your dog coat pattern size.