Dog Sweater Color Work

Mike · 10-26-2010, 03:21 PM

No pattern, I just make it up as I go. I'll make a chart for the color work.

It goes 5 rows in the round, about 20 back and forth, about 20 in the round, the rest back and forth.
I want a fair isle snowflake type design.

I'm thinking cut the strands on the in-the-round parts and have 25 tails to weave in. Am I thinking wrong?
Would I be better off (fewer tails) to do intarsia for the 20 row section?

Daylilydayzed · 10-27-2010, 03:34 PM

I would do the intarsia if I was knitting it.

hyperactive · 10-27-2010, 04:22 PM

intarsia does not work so hot in the round - you will have to do it stranded.
Really, it is not so much of a problem, to do stranded work with woven inside (check my blog if needed). If you carry your yarn for very many stitches (like across most of the piece) it will be awkward no matter what. Fit in some more flakes or "other pattern" like 1 by 1 chessboard or something to use both colors enough.

If you work back and forth, do stranding as well, but do not carry the yarn of the motive all the way to the edge. just carry it a few stitches past the motive and back from that spot in the WS rows.

25 tails to work in on one dog... I would not like that (and should it not be an even number? 50 in 25 rows?)

Mike · 10-27-2010, 05:32 PM

I did the 5 rows cutting the strands. Looking at the 20 row part I could cut it down to about 5 bobbins/ends but then I figured I could also knit back and forth and seam that small section and have nothing to weave in except the seam yarn.

Ahh yes, 5 rows = 10 strands. My head was all mathed out trying to figure in all the increases done in 5 rows to get the underside ribbing to match the neck, come out 2x2 and fit in the color work.

It's interesting, I'm not sure if I would want to do a human size sweater like this.

OffJumpsJack · 10-27-2010, 08:41 PM

And that's a good thing as it means it is a smaller size (fewer stitch) for doing such work.

I'd also suggest a 2 x 2 checker board pattern on the belly (fair isle) for in the round sections.

That would also make the belly as thick as the color work on the back. An the belly is less furry and closer to the snow and cold. Although with your dog, you may have to teach her how to tunnel through the snow.

Mike · 10-27-2010, 09:16 PM

I'm sure I'll have to be shoveling the backyard her whole life, I've had a Doxie before and the 2" ground clearance doesn't work well in the snow.

Maybe once she gets to full size I could do a pattern all around but for now I'm ribbing half (2x2) so they will fit longer. Color work is new to me so I'm sure I would destroy the stretch if I tried it in ribbing.
However I can do double knitting with ribbing and do the same type of color work, but that's something else I would want to wait for the final size with.

The first two took me about a day to make, and about a day for her to grow out of with the first one. Now they're taking almost a week, but I'm also ahead with this one and hope it lasts through winter.

hyperactive · 10-27-2010, 09:47 PM

I'd love to see a pic or two of that dog in sweaters.
Does she need warmth? Or is this fashion? I think necessity.

But it sounds cute to work in the speed of growing.

You could knit things flat and make the belly a ribbing section that gets buttoned to the other side (and you can reset the buttons or make several button holes). Then it fits a LOT longer and better.

Mike · 10-27-2010, 10:13 PM

I have to make a back or side button cardi for quick morning attire.

I think necessity, but this one is a longhair and my last one was shorthair. The last one definitely needed it, he even liked them in the house so he could sleep and be warm where ever he wanted. For the new one she shivers when it's 40�F. She doesn't have all her hair yet but even with hair there will only be 11lbs of dog there.
Once she figured out it's warmer with them on she stopped minding them.

My old dog is so hot blooded I'm sure he would fight a sweater no matter how cold it was. He won't even stay in the bed any more. I'm glad I don't have to make him sweaters because he's 70lbs.

melmac51 · 10-29-2010, 05:00 AM

Originally Posted by Mike

I have to make a back or side button cardi for quick morning attire.

I think necessity, but this one is a longhair and my last one was shorthair. The last one definitely needed it, he even liked them in the house so he could sleep and be warm where ever he wanted. For the new one she shivers when it's 40�F. She doesn't have all her hair yet but even with hair there will only be 11lbs of dog there.
Once she figured out it's warmer with them on she stopped minding them.

My old dog is so hot blooded I'm sure he would fight a sweater no matter how cold it was. He won't even stay in the bed any more. I'm glad I don't have to make him sweaters because he's 70lbs.

You have a 70 lb doxie???????

Mike · 10-29-2010, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by melmac51

You have a 70 lb doxie???????

LOL, no, a 70lb Springer Spaniel. The vet said she saw that on his chart and was ready to chew me out and then she saw him. I would've been mad if I had got chewed out since they kept on telling me to put more weight on him when he was 60lbs.