knitting a specific dog sweater

Hi all,
I’m SMP and I live in NY. I am making this specific pattern which goes with this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYHwIa3PyVc
It’s from Yarnspirations and it’s a medium sweater.
The instructions are confusing. There’s a slip stitch pattern which I’m fine with. The video went step by step with you for the first 10 rows and then left you.
So with a medium size, you cast on 65 stitches. You make a simple ribbing for the neck and then you start shaping the body with a pattern of increase row, (by 1 on either end) then another increase row (same way) and then an even row.
You are supposed to stop when you get about 2 inches from the leash slit or basically when you started the body after the neck ribbing was completed.
For a medium sweater you are supposed to go until you have 101 stitches and then start the front legs. The problem is that by the time you have 101 inches, you are way, way past 2 inches from the leash slit.
Weirdly, there is no variation for the size of the dog, all sizes should start the front leg markings at 2 inches. I went to 2.5 inches but I’m still just at 90 stitches.
I believe that I am not reading the pattern correctly. Can someone PLEASE HELP? I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Thank you!!
the link for the pattern is: file:///C:/Users/smpra/Downloads/knitting%20pattern%20which%20goes%20with%20video%20with%20marly%20bird.pdf

Welcome to KH. Your link is to a file on your computer, easy to do, but we can’t access it.

On Ravelry

Now I’ll see if I can find an answer to your question. Someone else might be faster than me.

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Does your gauge match that given?
Gauge
18 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches
in Stitch stripe pattern stitch

If your row gauge is other than that given that could explain the problem. What is your row gauge over 4"?

You might need more or fewer rows to achieve the best length for your dog. If you need to adjust the increases to have enough stitches at the right length, I’d best leave that to someone else.

Continue to work in pattern stitch
without shaping until sweater
measures 2" [5 cm] from leash slit
or fits dog from neck edge to front
legs, end with a 5th, 11th or 17th
row of pattern.

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Are you also increasing at each end of the first two rows, then working one row with no increases? Then that 3 row pattern repeats.
Next 2 Rows: Increase (as directed above), work pattern to last st, increase.
Next Row: Work 1 row in pattern without shaping.

That should take you 27rows to go from 65sts to 101sts. That’s more like 3 inches if you’re on row gauge. Does that length fit your dog?

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In the video Part 1 that you linked to, it looks like more than 2 inches from the leash opening to the legs (~42min).
Also, there is a Part 2 if you would like to follow.

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Hi Salmonmac,
Yes, I am increasing as written and as directed in the video. It’s my son’s dog and I am using one of his dog’s sweaters as my guide. The sweater I have starts the leg holes at 2.5 inches, so I decided to do that but as you pointed out, that’s not enough rows to get to 101 stitches, I’m only at 90 stitches. The dog, Kona, is a corgi and has a long body, so it should probably be OK if I take the length to 3 inches or so. He’s quite wiggly and hard to measure so I thought using his sweater would be an easier guide.
At the worst, his sweater might scrunch a little on his chest if I increase the length to 3 inches, I suppose.
My issue is that I was worried I was reading the pattern wrong. In the video, Marly the presenter, gets to 2 inches pretty fast while making a small size.
I did use the recommended yarn and the correct needles indicated in the pattern, so it’s hard to understand why there would be variation in the number of rows it would take to get to 2 inches in length.
You cast on different number of stitches for the size of the dog, but why would the number of rows make a difference in length? It would only make a difference in width, right?
Thank you so much for doing the math there of 27 rows. I really appreciate that because I thought I just wasn’t getting the math right and I was very confused.
Yes I do plan to follow Part 2 of the tutorial. She ends Part 1 with marking for the leg holes which I haven’t done yet so I didn’t start part 2 yet.
I really appreciate your help, Thank you!

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This is the dog in question who is causing my confusion!

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Hi GrumpyGramma
Yes, my gauge is working out. Maybe 20 stitches, but yes around 18 rows is working out to 4 inches. I bought their recommended yarn and I’m using the specified needles from the instructions.
I do have a question. How do you count the stitches? Pushed together, or spaced apart or what?
Thanks! Please see below for the very cute dog who is causing my consternation!

I understand gauge but explaining it…there I fail. @salmonmac is excellent at this. I’ll try to find a video, that’s my best effort.

Finding a quick video on gauge proved futile. In this one she talks a lot and I think you don’t need to be super accurate for this project so just measuring on the knitting you already have should suffice and be fine. She shows how to count stitches and rows.

Long ago I wanted to do a sweater for a chihuahua and couldn’t find a pattern that worked with the yarn I had on hand. I finally gave up, got an approximate circumference measurement of the dog from my daughter and knitted a tube like a sock top with two leg openings, sort of like a fingerless mitt. I called it a mutt mitt and it worked for my grandson’s dog. I’ve not done another. She checks clearance sales and has an abundance of sweaters she buys cheap.

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I have no answers for you. But I wanted to say your link works fine for me.

Sounds like you are on the right track. Using a current sweater is very clever.
The sweater in the video looks like more than 2 inches from the leash opeining to the legs but it’s hard to tell.
The number of stitches will determine the width but the number of rows will determine the height or length of the sweater knitting it as in this video and pattern.
It’s a very fancy sweater for a very appealing little dog. Have fun and please let us see the finished sweater (maybe even on the model dog).

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Thank you Salmonmac. You gave me the confidence to just go on. I will give it a go and see what happens. I hope to show off little Kona in his sweater soon!
thanks again.
SMP

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Thank you! I will watch it after work!

To envision how more rows = more length, the rows are what are making the stripes. More rows = more stripes = more length.
Also–using the same yarn and needles as the pattern says doesn’t guarantee that you will knit to the same gauge. That’s why it’s recommended to do a swatch in the stitch you’ll use for the item. I prefer wooden needles, which tend to produce tighter stitches, so usually have to go up one or two sizes to match the pattern gauge.
And PLEASE post a pic of Kona in his sweater when you finish!

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HI ColoCro,
Thank you so much for the explanation. I have wooden needles, but I didn’t notice a difference, I will check that out in the future. I will definitely post a picture of KONA when I finish–thanks for the encouragement!
SMP

Hi GrumpyGramma,
Thanks, I watched the video. It was good.
SMP

hi all. I finished the sweater!
here it is being modeled by the lucky recipient!

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Adorable dog and sweater!

ty so much! I learned some new techniques along the way. thanks to all who responded to give me confidence!

Very smart! Colours are perfect for your cute dog too.

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