Merry Santas

Knitted Christmas jumper for dogs in DROPS Alaska. The piece is worked with Nordic Santa pattern. Sizes XS - M. Theme: Christmas.

DROPS 228-54
DROPS Design: Pattern no x-462
Yarn group C or A + A
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Sizes: XS - S - M
Dog’s measurements:
Chest: approx. 28/32 – 40/44 – 48/52 cm
Length of back: approx. 24 – 32 - 40 cm
Examples of breeds: XS = Chihuahua, S = Bichon Frisé, M = Cocker Spaniel

MATERIALS:
DROPS ALASKA from Garnstudio (belongs to yarn group C)
150-150-200 g colour 04, grey
50 g colour 02, off white
50 g colour 10, red
50 g colour 61, wheat
50 g colour 06, black

NEEDLES:
DROPS CIRCULAR NEEDLE SIZE 5 MM: Length 40 cm.
DROPS CIRCULAR NEEDLE SIZE 4 MM: Length 40 cm.
DROPS DOUBLE POINTED NEEDLES SIZE 5 MM.
DROPS DOUBLE POINTED NEEDLES SIZE 4 MM.
The technique MAGIC LOOP can be used – you then only need circular needle of 80 cm in each size.

KNITTING TENSION:
17 stitches in width and 22 rows in height with stocking stitch = 10 x 10 cm.
NOTE: Needle size is only a guide. If you get too many stitches on 10 cm, change to a larger needle size. If you get too few stitches on 10 cm, change to a smaller needle size.

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EXPLANATIONS FOR THE PATTERN:

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RIDGE/GARTER STITCH (worked back and forth):
Knit all rows.
1 ridge = knit 2 rows.

PATTERN:
See diagram A.1. The pattern is worked in stocking stitch.

INCREASE TIP (evenly spaced):
To work out how to increase evenly, count the total number of stitches on the needle (e.g. 60 stitches) and divide by the number of increases to be made (e.g. 10) = 6. 
In this example, increase by making 1 yarn over after each 6th stitch. On the next round work the yarn overs twisted to avoid holes.

CASTING-OFF TIP:
To avoid the cast-off edge being tight you can cast off with a larger size needle. If the edge is still tight, make 1 yarn over after approx. each 4th stitch at the same time as casting off; the yarn overs are cast off as normal stitches.

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START THE PIECE HERE:

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JUMPER FOR DOGS – SHORT OVERVIEW OF THE PIECE:
The neck and body are worked in the round as far as the front legs, then continued back and forth between the legs and over the back. When the holes for the front legs are finished the piece is joined and continued in the round, before casting off under the tummy and finished back and forth. Edges are worked around the front legs and body to finish.

NECK:
Cast on 48-60-80 stitches with short circular needle/double pointed needles size 4 mm and grey DROPS Alaska. Work rib (knit 2, purl 2) in the round for 7-8-9 cm. Change to short circular needle/double pointed needles size 5 mm. Knit 1 round and increase 2-10-10 stitches evenly spaced – read INCREASE TIP = 50-70-90 stitches. Insert 1 marker at the beginning of the round; the yoke/body is measured from here!

YOKE:
Continue with stocking stitch and grey for 3-3-5 cm. REMEMBER THE KNITTING TENSION!
The beginning of the round is just above the one front leg. Now work A.1 (= 5-7-9 repeats on the round) until the piece measures 4-4-7 cm from the marker.
Now the piece is divided for the front legs.

BACK PIECE:
Work the first 20-20-30 stitches and place them on a thread = 30-50-60 stitches on the needle. Continue back and forth over these 30-50-60 stitches and cast on 1 stitch at the end of the first 2 rows = 32-52-62 stitches. Continue A.1 as before with 1 edge stitch in GARTER STITCH on each side – read description above.
When A.1 is finished, continue with grey until the piece measures 9-11-13 cm from the division and on the last row from the wrong side cast off the 1 edge stitch on each side = 30-50-60 stitches. Cut the strand.

SECTION BETWEEN THE LEGS:
Place the 20-20-30 stitches from the thread on circular needle size 5 mm and cast on 1 stitch at the end of the first 2 rows = 22-22-32 stitches. Continue A.1 as before with 1 edge stitch in garter stitch on each side.
When A.1 is finished continue with grey until the piece measures 9-11-13 cm from the division, on the last row from the wrong side cast off the 1 edge stitch on each side. Keep the stitches on the needle.

Now join the piece together as follows:
Start from the right side with grey and work the 20-20-30 stitches on the needle, cast on 4 stitches, then work the 30-50-60 stitches on the back piece and cast on 4 stitches = 58-78-98 stitches.

Continue in the round until the piece measures 16-21-29 cm from the marker. There is approx. 3 cm left (measured along the tummy and 8-11-11 cm along the back). Try the jumper on and work to desired length.
Place the first 20-20-30 stitches on a thread (= mid-under tummy) = 38-58-68 stitches on the needle. Continue back and forth and cast off stitches at the beginning of each row as follows: 3 stitches 1 time, 2 stitches 1-2-2 times, 1 stitch 1-2-2 times, 2 stitches 1-2-2 times and 3 stitches 1 time on each side = 16-26-36 stitches.
Place the remaining stitches on a thread. The piece measures 21-29-37 cm from the marker.

EDGE AROUND THE LEGS:
Use double pointed needles size 4 mm and knit up 40 to 56 stitches with grey, inside the 1 edge stitch around the leg opening. The number of stitches should be divisible by 4. Work rib (knit 2, purl 2) in the round for 3 cm. Cast off with knit over knit and purl over purl - read CASTING-OFF TIP.
Work a similar edge around the other leg.

EDGE AROUND BODY:
Now work an edge around the body, starting mid-underneath. Work from the right side using circular needle size 4 mm and grey. Knit up 80 to 104 stitches (including the stitches from the thread). The number of stitches should be divisible by 4. Work rib (knit 2, purl 2) in the round for 3 cm. Cast off with knit over knit and purl over purl - remember CASTING-OFF TIP. The piece measures approx. 24-32-40 cm from the marker along the back and 19-24-32 cm from the neck under the tummy.

KNOT:
Make a knot at the top of every Santa hat. Tie the knot around a stitch. Cut 2 lengths of colour off white. approx. 10 cm. Place strands together, use a needle and pull strands through the top off white stitch so that both yarn ends are on the right side of piece, on each side of stitch. Tie a knot, then tie another knot but in the opposite direction - see figure. Cut the yarn ends approx. ½ cm long. Repeat at the top of on each Santa hat.

Diagram explanations

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