How to make a pet raincoat

1. Materials & tools

Materials (medium dog)

• Main fabric (water-repellent fabric, laminate or nylon) — about 110 cm wide × 80 cm (43 × 31 in)
• Lining fabric (mesh or light cotton), if lining
• Hook-and-loop — 2.5 cm (1 in) wide × 15 cm (6 in), for the two strap overlaps
• Optional: reflective tape for night walks

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Pets” → “Pet raincoat” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter back length, chest, neck, ease, strap overlap and strap cut width. Presets cover small, medium and large dogs. The strap lengths are worked out from the part of the neck and chest the cape does not cover.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Measure your dog
   Measure the back from the base of the neck to the base of the tail, the chest at its widest, and the neck where the collar sits. Measure standing.
2. Trace the pattern
   Trace the cape (center back on the fold) and the neck and belly straps, with the strap notches (2 cm stitching allowance at one end, the overlap at the other).
3. Cut
   Cut one cape and two straps. Use clips rather than pins on laminate.

4. Sewing

4-1. Make the straps

1. Fold each strap in quarters lengthwise, press and topstitch both edges.
2. Sew the hook side of the hook-and-loop to the underside of the overlap (beyond the notch).
3. Make both — the neck strap is short and the belly strap long, so keep them apart.

4-2. Finish the edges

1. For a single layer, turn the edges under twice and stitch. Ease the curves in as you fold, or bind them with bias tape.
2. If lining it, sew main and lining right sides together, leave a gap, turn and topstitch.

4-3. Attach the straps

1. Stitch the 2 cm allowance of the neck strap to the underside of one side, 3 cm below the top edge. Stitch the belly strap to the same side at the chest notch.
2. Sew the loop side to the right side of the opposite edge. The straps go under the throat and belly and fasten there.
3. The straps are sized to the part of the neck and chest the cape leaves uncovered, plus the overlap. A longer loop side lets you adjust for a thick coat.
4. Stitch each one as a rectangle with a cross — a dog pulls at these constantly.
5. Fit the cape to the dog and check the positions before sewing them down.

4-4. Reflective tape (optional)

1. Stitch reflective tape along the back or the hem for visibility in the dark.

✏️ Laminated and coated fabric keep every needle hole. There is no unpicking, so fit the cape to the dog and mark the strap positions before you sew. Clips, not pins.

5. Tips & variations

• Do not reduce the ease: it goes on over a coat of fur, so the preset ease is not generous — it is necessary.
• Keep the hem short: too long and it tangles in the back legs. To the base of the tail is enough.
• Skip the hood: dogs dislike having their ears covered. Covering the neck is as far as most will accept.