How to make a pet vest (dog & cat)

1. Materials & tools

Materials (a small-to-medium dog)

• Fabric (jersey knit, cotton, linen) — about 30 × 50 cm (12 × 20 in), varies with size
• Bias tape or rib knit for the neck and front-leg openings — enough for each circumference

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 vest” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the chest, body length, belly length, neck, front-leg position, front-leg width and ease, or pick a cat / mame-shiba / small / medium / large preset. Recommended seam allowance 0.7 cm.
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. Cut the back panel
   Cut one back panel — narrow at the neck, widening gently toward the hem.
2. Cut the belly panel
   Cut one belly panel with large front-leg cut-outs.
3. Finish the edges
   Zigzag or overlock the seam edges of each piece.

4. Sewing

4-1. Sew the sides

1. Place the back and belly panels right sides together and sew both sides behind the front-leg openings.
2. Press the seams open or to one side.

4-2. Finish the neckline

1. Measure the neckline and cut bias tape or rib into a loop about 85–90% of the neckline length.
2. Sew it on while stretching slightly, then press the seam allowance inward.

4-3. Finish the front-leg openings

1. Sew bias tape or rib around each front-leg opening, taking the large curves slowly.

4-4. Hem

1. Triple-fold the hem, press, and topstitch 2 mm from the edge.

5. Tips & variations

• How to measure: chest at the widest point behind the front legs; body length from neck base to tail base. Allow 4–6 cm ease for small dogs, 6–10 cm for large dogs.
• Easier dressing: snaps or hook-and-loop at the back or belly make changing quick — hook-and-loop is especially fast.
• Dog vs cat: for cats, add a little more ease (about +2 cm) and widen the front-leg openings so it feels more like a vest and they tolerate it better.