Sweater Dog Carrier

You might have a sweater that you no longer wear but that doesn't mean that the sweater is no good anymore. It doesn't matter if the sweater is too small, has a pulled thread, or even has a stain on the sleeve; an ordinary sweater can be easily turned into a cool dog purse. The purse is a helpful accessory that allows you to carry your dog around in style.

The best sweater is a wool one. Choose an adult's sweater for a medium dog or a child's sweater for a small dog. If you don't have a sweater that you want to cut look around at thrift stores and yard sales. You'll have no trouble finding a cheap sweater and, once you have it, you'll be on your way to making the dog purse.

Lay the chosen sweater in front of you so that the collar faces you and the arms are to the sides. Cut off the arms, staying close to the seam. These can be used to make doggie sweaters, later. For now, make a couple more cuts to finish the shape of the dog carrier. Cut from one shoulder, down, then do the same on the other side, cutting through the front as well as the back. If you drew a line between the two underarms, you would cut down to that line. Then, cut horizontally between those two cuts and remove a large rectangle from the sweater. You should still have the two shoulder seams.

Turn the sweater inside-out. Pin the bottom of the sweater together and sew straight across, using a straight stitch. Fold the armholes under, pin them in place, and sew around each one. Fold the new neckline under, pin in place, and sew around it.

The above design makes a tote but, to turn it into a doggie purse, you'll need to cut a hole for the dog's head. One way to do this is, when you're cutting off the sleeves, cut one sleeve way down below the underarm seam. This will create a deep dip in the side of the finished purse, and the dog can simply hang his or her head over the edge.

Another way to create a peephole for the dog is to just cut a hole on the side of the new purse. Cut a head-size hole, pin all the edges down, then sew around the hole. Then, just put your dog in the purse, and carry it anywhere you go.