25 Holiday Knitting & Crochet Patterns for Pets: Dog Sweaters, Stockings & Cozy Beds

Let’s be honest: your pet is going to end up in the holiday photo anyway, so you might as well knit their outfit! Pet patterns are the ultimate quick-win holiday projects. Small-dog sweaters only take a ball or two, a stocking comes together in a single weekend, and a cat toy takes one evening and a few scraps from your stash.

We handpicked 25 standouts from the Yarn.com pattern library—including sweaters, beds, stockings, and toys—grouped by project type, craft, skill level, and price. Plus, if a pattern calls for a yarn that’s low in stock or discontinued, we’ve included a ready-to-ship substitute so you can cast on right away.

Holiday pet patterns at a glance

Measure First, Cast On Second

Pet sweaters rarely fit based on weight alone. After all, a 12-pound Dachshund and a 12-pound Italian Greyhound need completely different shapes! Before choosing a size from a pattern photo, take a few moments to measure your pup:

• Chest: Measure around the fullest part of the ribcage (just behind the front legs). This is your key measurement for fit!
• Neck: Measure around the base of the neck where a collar sits, keeping two fingers under the tape for comfortable stretch.
• Back Length: Measure along the spine from the neck to just before the tail starts.

Match your dog's numbers directly to the pattern's final finished dimensions rather than standard S/M/L labels. For deep-chested, narrow-waisted dogs, you may need to mix sizes (e.g., using a larger size's length with a smaller size's neck). And a quick tip for male dogs: keep the underside short enough so it stays clean during bathroom breaks!

Meet Olly, one of the stars of our "Dogs of WEBS" series from a few years back. This photo was too cute not to share! We don't have the original pattern on our site, but if you want to make your pup a festive topper, the Christmas Tree Dog Hat – Holiday Dog Beanie on Ravelry gets you a similar look.

Christmas Dog Sweaters & Coats to Knit

If you're looking to make a splash this season, these cable, Fair Isle, and festive Santa suit designs are the ultimate holiday projects for your pooch.

Since many of these Debbie Bliss patterns feature Rialto Aran (which is currently low in stock), we recommend substituting Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran for your holiday reds and rich blacks. Both are Aran-weight, machine-washable yarns, but Cashmerino offers 98 yards per 50g ball compared to Rialto’s 85. You’ll get a bit more coverage per ball, though you'll want to work a quick gauge swatch first—the cashmere-merino blend is exceptionally soft with a slightly gentler drape than the original.

Debbie Bliss Santa Dog Coat Knitting Pattern

Knit · intermediate · $5.00 PDF

Debbie Bliss' Santa coat has a bold black belt and buckle and a cabled collar, so your dog looks like Santa from the side and from above. It's the one to make if the dog is going to be in the holiday card photo. Because it's a coat, it's easier to get on than a pullover.

Yarn pick: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in Crimson or Ruby, with Black for the belt.

Mabel's Christmas Sweater

Knit · confident beginner with charts · $5.38 PDF

Suzy Rai designed this close-fitting sweater for Mabel, a miniature schnauzer. It's worked in two pieces with a fully charted Fair Isle Christmas band, and the pattern includes a plain version if you'd rather skip the colorwork. The finished chest is 44cm (about 17 inches), so it's a good fit for small terriers and schnauzers. Check your dog's chest against that number before you start.

Yarn pick: The pattern suggests Rowan Pure Wool Worsted. Valley Yarns Valley Superwash is a machine-washable worsted, and Crimson, Emerald, and White are all in stock for the colorwork.

Debbie Bliss Festive Collection Ebook Knitting Pattern

Knit · all levels · $10.00 PDF

If you want to knit the dog and the rest of the house at the same time, this ebook bundles a Santa dog coat with a holiday stocking, cabled slipper socks, and hot water bottle covers. It's good value if you'd make more than one of them.

Yarn pick: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran for the dog coat and slippers. It's one of the two yarns the ebook was written for.

Debbie Bliss Apres Ski Knitting Pattern

Knit · advanced · $5.00 PDF

Inside, this pattern is called Après Hound: a Fair Isle dog sweater knit flat and seamed, with ribbing around the leg holes, neck, and hem. The Fair Isle is charted only, so it's best for knitters who have done stranded colorwork before. It comes in two sizes, with finished lengths of 16¼ and 19¾ inches.

Yarn pick: Called for in Rialto Aran, and the camel main color is out of stock right now. Swap to Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran and choose your own four-color palette.

Debbie Bliss Aran Doggy Knitting Pattern

Knit · intermediate · $6.00 PDF

This is a fisherman's Aran sweater in dog form, with rope cables and a rolled collar. The cables are written out line by line, not charted, which some knitters find easier. Sizes are S/M and M/L with chest widths of 18¾ and 20½ inches.

Yarn pick: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in Ecru (101), the color the sample is knit in, and it's in stock.

Blue Sky Fibers Bird Island Dog Sweater Knitting Pattern

Knit · intermediate · $9.00 PDF

It's modeled by Blue, the Blue Sky Fibers company dog. This sweater is knit in one piece, and the leg openings are made as you go, so there's very little seaming. The graphic stripes are intarsia, and they come in five sizes from a 13¼-inch to a 25¾-inch chest.

Yarn pick: Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok 50. Storm Cloud, the main color in the pattern, is in stock. October Sky is low, so try Midnight Sea or Spun Gold as the stripe.

Doggie Dottie

Knit · intermediate (stranded colorwork) · $9.00 PDF

Kate Oates' sweater is worked top-down and seamless, with dots sprinkled through the yoke. The leg openings are shaped with short rows, so it's roomy at the shoulder. Eight standard sizes cover dogs weighing 3 to 120 lbs, and there's a worksheet to customize the fit for your breed. That makes it one of the best options for an unusual body shape.

Yarn pick: Check the pattern for yarn weight, then choose a superwash wool so the sweater survives the washing machine.

Fiber Trends 211X Dandy Dog Sweaters Knitting Pattern

Knit · confident beginner · $6.00 PDF

This pattern has three ribbed sweaters (beaded rib, hearts rib and mock cable rib) with turtleneck and other neck options. Rib stretches, so these fit a wide range of dogs, and the pattern needs anywhere from 150 to 650 yards of worsted, depending on size.

Yarn pick: Paintbox Yarns 100% Wool Worsted Superwash or Valley Yarns Valley Superwash in a holiday red or green.

Crochet Dog Sweaters

Crochet makes a thicker, sturdier fabric than knitting at the same weight, which is useful for a dog who likes rolling in the snow. These three patterns are all beginner-friendly in technique.

Ready to Roam Dog Sweater

Crochet · beginner · $7.50 PDF

Jess Coppom of Make & Do Crew built this sweater from basic shapes, double crochet, and simple seams, so it looks much more complicated than it is. It comes in nine sizes from very small to very large, with notes on measuring and customizing. It also offers a regular seam or a button fastening for dogs who don't like getting dressed.

Yarn pick: The pattern gives yarn details. Choose a washable yarn in the weight it calls for.

Cable Crochet Dog Sweater

Crochet · confident beginner · $7.19 PDF

There's a single cable down the back and post-stitch ribbing at the edges. It fastens under the neck and the belly, so it never has to go over the dog's head. It's written for a medium dog (about 12 by 8 inches finished), with notes on adjusting the size, and needs one skein plus a second for larger sizes.

Yarn pick: Written for Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran in Champagne White, which is out of stock. Pillar Red or Racing Green would make it a holiday sweater, and both are in stock.

Debbie Bliss Crochet Dog Coat Set Pattern

Crochet · beginner · $5.00 PDF

You get two coats in one pattern: a granny-square version (charted) and a striped one, each in two sizes. Granny squares are perfect for using up leftover holiday colors.

Yarn pick: Called for in Rialto Aran. Use Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in Black (300) for the granny-square background, with Crimson and Ecru for the squares.

Free Dog Sweater Patterns

You don't need to spend a dime to dress your dog in style. We’ve rounded up three free downloadable dog sweater patterns, each tailored to suit a different style and skill level.

Buster Dog Coat Pet Clothing Knitting Pattern

Knit · Free download

A ribbed, button-front cardigan with a shawl-style collar. In red it's a classic holiday look, and the ribbing gives it stretch across the chest.

Yarn pick: Berroco Vintage, the yarn it was designed for. It's a washable wool-acrylic blend.

Modernist Dog Sweater Pet Clothing Knitting Pattern

Knit · Free download

Bold black-and-white triangles make this one for dogs who'd rather be stylish than festive.

Yarn pick: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice, as written.

The Dragon Slayer Dog Sweater Pet Clothing Knitting Pattern

Knit · Free download

A hooded green sweater with a red ridge of dragon spikes from the hood to the tail. It's not strictly a Christmas sweater, but the red and green fits right in.

Yarn pick: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice in Kelly Green, with a red for the spikes.

Stockings & Toys (Good for Cats, Too!)

Let’s be realistic: convincing a cat to wear a sweater usually ends with an oversized sweater and a very grumpy pet. Thankfully, felines prefer their holiday cheer in a much more practical form—a stocking crammed with goodies and something small to pounce on!

Best of all, these feline-approved projects offer immediate gratification for knitters. Stockings come together in just a couple of days, while small toys can easily be finished during movie night using tiny bits of leftover yarn from your stash. If you need a last-minute gift that’s fun, fast, and scrap-friendly, start right here.

Just for Furries Pet Stockings

Knit · confident beginner · $3.98 PDF

Amanda Berry designed two stockings, one for dogs and one for cats, and each comes with its own toy (a bone for dogs, a fish for cats). You don't need to know how to knit socks: the shaping is simple increases and decreases, worked flat and seamed. The decoration is charted stranded colorwork.

Yarn pick: Paintbox Yarns Simply DK in Paper White, Red Wine, and Racing Green. It's the same acrylic DK the pattern uses.

Puppy Stocking

Knit · confident beginner · $7.00 PDF

This is a bulky Christmas stocking with a colorwork bone on the leg and foot. It's written as a quick last-minute holiday make.

Yarn pick: The sample is Brooklyn Tweed Quarry, which we don't carry. Valley Yarns Valley Superwash Bulky comes in Red, White, and Forest, which together make a perfect stocking palette. Swatch first, because Quarry is a lofty bulky and gauge may differ.

Knitted Cat Toys

Knit · beginner · Free download

Three small toys (a fish, a ladybird, and a bird), each 10 to 15cm long, knit flat in DK and seamed. This is the best scrap-yarn project on the list.

Yarn pick: Leftover Paintbox Yarns Simply DK. Stitch the eyes with yarn rather than using safety eyes, and stuff the toys firmly so there's nothing loose for a cat to chew.

Pet Beds & Blankets to Unwrap

If you want to make something your pet will use every single day, you can't go wrong with a cozy handmade bed. Just keep in mind that a project this size is a real investment of your time and stash! Before casting on, make washability your top priority—because between muddy paws and shed fur, that bed is going to spend a lot of time in the laundry. Choose a sturdy, machine-washable yarn so your hard work stays looking fresh through endless naps.

Harbor Pet Bed

Crochet · beginner · $5.99 PDF

A sturdy round bed with 7-inch sides, worked in single and double crochet. There's an optional faux-fur pad, and two sizes: a 15-inch bed for pets under 8 lbs and a 19.5-inch bed for pets under 14 lbs. It needs roughly 800 to 1,050 yards of bulky yarn.

Yarn pick: Paintbox Yarns Simply Chunky. It's machine-washable acrylic, inexpensive at bed-sized yardage, and there are plenty of colors in stock.

Valley Yarns Correa Knitting Pattern

Knit · adventurous beginner · $5.99 PDF

Susan Baron's Correa bed is a good first project for flat stranded colorwork in super bulky yarn, so it grows quickly. Both cats and dogs like it, and it comes in two sizes.

Yarn pick: Valley Yarns Valley Superwash Bulky, the yarn it's designed for. It's machine-washable superwash merino, and Red, White, Forest and Emerald are all in stock for a holiday version.

Bowl/Yorkie Bed Pet Bed Knitting Pattern

Knit · beginner (felted) · Free download

A 10-inch bowl bed for small dogs and cats. It's knit with two strands held together, then felted into a dense fabric that holds its shape.

Yarn pick: Cascade 220 in Christmas Red and Christmas Green. It has to be regular 220, not superwash: superwash wool is treated so it won't felt, and your bowl would stay floppy.

Debbie Bliss Argyle Bean Bag Dog Bed Knitting Pattern

Knit · intermediate · $5.00 PDF

An argyle panel worked in intarsia, with the diagonal lines added afterward in duplicate stitch. It's finished with a fabric back and a zipper, so you can take the cover off to wash it. It measures 26½ by 23½ inches.

Yarn pick: Called for in Debbie Bliss British Wool Aran, which has very few colors in stock. Paintbox Yarns Wool Mix Aran has a much deeper color range for the five argyle shades.

Pet Blanket

Knit · intermediate · $6.73 PDF

Martin Storey alternates striped garter squares with Fair Isle paw-print squares. It works as a dog blanket or as a gift for a dog lover.

Yarn pick: Rowan Felted Tweed, as designed. It's wool, so this one is a hand-wash blanket.

For the Pet Person on Your List

Let’s be honest: pet parents spend all year spoiling their four-legged best friends, so why not give them a treat this holiday season? Whether you’re knitting a cozy beanie for freezing early-morning walks, a dog-themed sweater that proudly shows off their pet-parent status, or a handy hands-free leash pouch, these patterns are designed with dedicated pet owners in mind. They’re practical, thoughtful, and guaranteed to bring a smile on those cold park trips.

Talk to the Paw

Knit · confident beginner · $6.50 PDF

A mostly garter shawlette or scarf with paw prints that appear to wander across it, and it's easier than it looks. It takes one 400-yard skein of fingering weight or five 80-yard minis.

Yarn pick: Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok Light, a fingering-weight wool.

Kitty Invisibility Cloak

Knit · intermediate · $8.07 PDF

A shawl inspired by Mrs. Norris from Harry Potter. It's a garter triangle joined to a lace triangle with paw-print motifs as you knit, with no seams and only four ends to weave in. It uses one solid and one variegated skein of sock yarn.

Yarn pick: Any two skeins of sock yarn you love together.

Best in Show Dog Blanket

Crochet · intermediate (C2C) · $12.00 PDF

A 64-page corner-to-corner blanket pattern with nine breed graphs, from doodles and retrievers to chihuahuas and huskies, plus a paw-print border. Make the whole pack, or crochet just one square of their dog as a pillow cover.

Yarn pick: The pattern gives yarn details. Choose colors to match the dog.

Matching yarn to pet projects

Not sure how to wash a finished pet knit? Our guide to caring for your handknits covers it, and wool vs. acrylic explains which fiber holds up better to pet hair and the washing machine. For more holiday makes, browse the full Christmas knitting patterns collection.

Shop pet clothing patternsShop Christmas patterns

FAQ

How do I measure my dog for a knitted sweater?

Measure the chest at its widest point just behind the front legs, the neck where a collar sits, and the back from the base of the neck to just before the tail. Choose the pattern size by finished chest measurement, not by the size name or the dog's weight.

Are there free dog sweater knitting patterns on Yarn.com?

Yes. The Buster Dog Coat, the Modernist Dog Sweater and the Dragon Slayer Dog Sweater are all free downloads. The Bowl/Yorkie felted pet bed and Amanda Berry's Knitted Cat Toys are free too.

What is the best yarn for a dog sweater?

A machine-washable yarn, because it will get muddy. Acrylic such as Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran is inexpensive and easy to wash, and a superwash wool or wool blend such as Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran is warmer and softer. Aran or worsted weight suits most dogs.

Is there a Christmas sweater pattern for a dog?

Yes. Try the Debbie Bliss Santa Dog Coat, Mabel's Christmas Sweater with a charted Fair Isle band, or the Debbie Bliss Festive Collection ebook, which includes a Santa dog coat and a stocking.

Can I knit something for my cat?

Most cats won't wear clothes, so go for toys, a stocking or a bed. Amanda Berry's Knitted Cat Toys are free, the Just for Furries Pet Stockings include a cat version with a toy fish, and the Correa and Harbor beds suit cats as well as small dogs.

Can I crochet a dog sweater as a beginner?

Yes. The Ready to Roam Dog Sweater uses only double crochet and simple seams and comes in nine sizes. The Debbie Bliss Crochet Dog Coat Set is also rated beginner.