The best-dressed dogs will love this cuddly dog coat - a very popular pattern which has twice featured in the pages of the magazine.

MATERIALS
Cleckheaton Machinewash 8ply Crepe (50g balls):
Main Colour (MC): 2 (3, 3, 4) balls. Contrast Colour (CC): 1 (1, 2, 2) ball/s.
One pair each 3.25mm (No 10) and 4.00mm (No 8) knitting needles.
One 3.50mm crochet hook or the required size to give correct tension.
Two stitch-holders
Knitters needle (for sewing seams and embroidery)

MEASUREMENTS
Fits chest 45 (50, 55, 60) cm, length incl collar 40 (40, 42, 42) cm.

TENSION
This item has been designed at a tension of 22 sts and 30 rows to 10cm over stocking st, using 4.00mm needles.

METHOD

Back
Using 3.25mm needles and CC, cast on 51 (57, 63, 69) sts.
1st row. K2, *P1, K1, rep from * to last st, K1.
2nd row. K1, *P1, K1, rep from * to end.
Rep 1st and 2nd rows twice.
Change to 4.00mm needles MC **
Work 2 rows stocking st.
Shape back. Note. When turning take yarn under needle and onto other side of work, sl next st onto right hand needle, take yarn under needle and back to original position, sl st back onto left hand needle, then turn and proceed as instructed. This avoids holes in work.
1st and 2nd rows. Work to last 12 sts, turn.
3rd and 4th rows. Work to last 10 sts, turn.
5th and 6th rows. Work to last 8 sts, turn.
7th and 8th rows. Work to last 6 sts, turn.
9th and 10th rows. Work to last 4 sts, turn.
11th and 12th rows. Work to last 2 sts, turn.
13th row. Knit to end.
Cont in stocking st across all sts, beg with a purl row, until longest point measures 36 (36, 38, 38) cm from beg, ending with a purl row.
Leave sts on a stitch holder.

Front
Work as given for Back to **.
Work 16 rows stocking st.
Shape front. Cast off 7 sts at beg of next 2 rows … 37 (43, 49, 55) sts.
3rd row. K1, sl 1, K1, psso, knit to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1.
4th row. Purl.
Rep 3rd and 4th rows 4 (6, 8, 10) times … 27 (29, 31, 33) sts.
Work 34 (30, 30, 26) rows stocking st. Leave sts on stitch holder.

Back side edgings
With right side facing, using a 3.25mm needles and CC, knit up 91 (91, 97, 97) sts evenly along side edge of Back, include lower band.
Work 7 rows rib as given for Back, beg with a 2nd row.
Cast off loosely in rib.

Front side edgings
With right side facing, using 3.50mm hook and CC, work 2 rows dc evenly along side edges of Front, include lower band. Fasten off.

Polo Collar
With right side facing, using 3.25mm needles and CC, knit across sts from front stitch holder, knit up 6 sts across Back Side Edging, knit across sts from Back stitch holder, then knit up 6 sts across other Back Side Edging … 90 (98, 106, 114) sts.
1st row. K2, *P1, K1, rep from * to end.
Rep 1st row 30 (30, 36, 36) times.
Cast off loosely in rib.

To make up
Using Knitting-Stitch and CC, embroider "DOG" from Graph to Back, positioning as illustrated above, noting to centre embroidery across work, placing first row approximately 13cm from cast-on edge. Join Collar seam, reversing seam for last half of Collar. Fold Collar onto right side. Place Front Side Edgings underneath Back Side Edgings at base of collar and slip-stitch for 1cm to hold in position.
Position Front cast-on edge approximately 13cm from Back cast-on edge. Stitch edge of Front Side Edgings (from cast-on edge to beg for Front shaping) to knit-up row on Back Side Edgings (so that seam does not show on right side of work).

For pattern or stockist information contact Australian Country Spinners on (03) 9380 3888 or (outside Melbourne) 1800 337 032.

Key for Knitting St embroidery, worked across 29 sts:
= MC- Stocking St fabric
= CC - 'Knitting St' embroidery