Raingear for Rover

Worked in a thick, hard-wearing cotton yarn, this is a classic-style coat for a smart, proud pet. The buckles make the chest straps and belt easy to adjust for the perfect fit.

Yarn
4 (4: 5: 5: 6: 7: 7) 1 ½ oz/50 g balls of Rowan Handknit
Cotton in taupe/Linen 205

Needles and extras
Pair each of US 6 (4 mm) and US 7 (4 ½ mm) knitting needles 2 (2: 2: 3: 3: 3: 3) 2 in/5 cm buckles

Tension/Gauge
19 sts and 28 rows to 14 in/10 cm over stocking/ stockinette stitch using US 7 (4 ½  mm) needles.

Abbreviations
Kfb = knit into front and back of st to increase one st.
Pfb = purl into front and back of st to increase one st.
S1 1p = slip one stitch purlwise from left needle on to right needle.

Coat
Using US 7 (4 ½ mm) needles, cast on 48 (52: 56: 62: 66: 72: 86) sts.
Row 1 (RS) Kfb, К to last st, Kfb. 50 (54: 58: 64: 68: 74: 88) sts.
Row 2 Pfb, P to last st, Pfb. 52 (56: 60: 66: 70: 76: 90) sts.
Rows 3-6 Rep rows 1 and 2 twice. 60 (64: 68: 74: 78: 84: 98) sts.

Row 7 (fold line) (RS) P to end.
Row 8 Rep row 2. 62 (66: 70: 76: 80: 86: 100) sts.
Row 9 Rep row 1. 64 (68: 72: 78: 82: 88: 102) sts.

Row 10 Pfb, P2, si 1p, P to last 4 sts, si 1p, P2, Pfb. 66 (70: 74: 80: 84: 90: 104) sts. (Slipped sts form hem fold lines.)
Row 11 Rep row 1. 68 (72: 76: 82: 86: 92: 106) sts.
Row 12 Pfb, P3, si 1p, P to last 5 sts, si 1p, P3, Pfb. 70 (74: 78: 84: 88: 94: 108) sts.

Row 13 Rep row 1. 72 (76: 80: 86: 90: 96: 110) sts.
Row 14 P6, si 1p, P to last 7 sts, si 1p, P6. Row 15 К to end.
Rows 14 and 15 are repeated to form patt.
Cont straight/even in patt until coat measures 8 (8 ½: 10 ½: 12 ½: 14: 15: 15 ½) in/20 (22: 27: 32: 36: 38: 40) cm from fold line, ending with a WS row.

Shape neck
Keeping patt correct throughout, cont as foil:
Next row (RS) Patt 32 (34: 36: 39: 41: 43: 50), then turn, leaving rem sts on a holder.

Cast/bind off 3 sts at beg of next row. 29 (31: 33: 36: 38: 40: 47) sts.
Dec 1 st at neck edge of next 5 rows. 24 (26: 28: 31: 33: 35: 42) sts.
Work straight/even until coat measures 13 ½ (14: 17 ½: 19 ½: 21 ½: 24: 25 ½) in/34 (36: 45: 50: 55: 61: 65) cm from fold line, ending with WS row.

Next row (RS) K2tog, К to end. 23 (25: 27: 30: 32: 34: 41) sts.
Next row P to last 6 sts, si 1p, P3, P2tog. 22 (24: 26: 29: 31: 33: 40) sts.
Next row K2tog, К to end. 21 (23: 25: 28: 30: 32: 39) sts.
Next row P to last 4 sts, si 1p, P1, P2tog. 20 (22: 24: 27: 29: 31: 38) sts.

Next row K2tog, К to end. 19 (21: 23: 26: 28: 30: 37) sts.
Next row P to last 2 sts, P2tog. 18 (20: 22: 25: 27: 29: 36) sts.
Next row (fold line) (RS) P to end.
Next row P to last 2 sts, P2tog. 17 (19: 21: 24: 26: 28: 35) sts.

Next row K2tog, К to end. 16 (18: 20: 23: 25: 27: 34) sts.
Rep last 2 rows twice more. 12 (14: 16: 19: 21: 23: 30) sts.
Cast/bind off on WS.

With RS facing, rejoin yarn to rem sts and, keeping patt correct throughout, cast/bind off 8 (8: 8: 8: 8: 10: 10) sts, patt to end. 32 (34: 36: 39: 41: 43: 50) sts.

Next row Patt to last 2 sts, P2tog. 31 (33: 35: 38: 40: 42: 49) sts.
Cast/bind off 2 sts at beg of next row. 29 (31: 33: 36: 38: 40: 47) sts.
Dec 1 st at neck edge of next 5 rows. 24 (26: 28: 31: 33: 35: 42) sts.
Work straight/even until coat measures 13 ½ (14: 17 ½: 19 ½: 21 ½: 24: 25 ½) in/34 (36: 45: 50: 55: 61: 65) cm from fold line, ending with a WS row.

Next row (RS) К to last 2 sts, K2tog. 23 (25: 27: 30: 32: 34: 41) sts.
Next row P2tog, P3, si 1p, P to end. 22 (24: 26: 29: 31: 33: 40) sts.
Next row К to last 2 sts, K2tog. 21 (23: 25: 28: 30: 32: 39) sts.
Next row P2tog, P1, si 1p, P to end. 20 (22: 24: 27: 29: 31: 38) sts.
Next row К to last 2 sts, K2tog. 19 (21: 23: 26: 28: 30:37) sts.

Next row P2tog, P to end. 18 (20: 22: 25: 27: 29: 36) sts.
Next row (fold line) (RS) P to end.
Next row P2tog, P to end. 17 (19: 21: 24: 26: 28: 35) sts.
Next row К to last 2 sts, K2tog. 16 (18: 20: 23: 25: 27: 34) sts.
Rep last 2 rows twice more 12 (14: 16: 19: 21: 23: 30) sts.
Cast/bind off on WS.

Collar
Using US 6 (4 mm) needles, cast on 83 (87: 103: 107: 111: 137: 145) sts.
Row 1 (RS) *K1, P1, rep from * to last st, K1.
Last row is repeated to form moss/seed st patt.
Work 3 rows more in moss/seed st.

Next row (RS) K1, P1, K1, P3tog, work in moss/seed st to last 6 sts, P3tog, K1, P1, K1. 79 (83: 99: 103: 107: 133: 141) sts.
Work 3 rows more in moss/seed st.
Rep last 4 rows 3 (4: 4: 5: 5: 7: 7) times more. 67 (67: 83: 83: 87: 105: 113) sts. Cast/bind off in moss/seed st.

Main belt
Using US 6 (4 mm) needles, cast on 9 sts.
Work in moss/seed st as for collar until belt measures
18 ½ (22 ½: 24: 26: 29: 31: 33 ½) in/47 (57: 61.5: 66.5: 74: 79: 85) cm from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.

Shape end
**Keeping moss/seed st patt correct throughout, cont as foil:
Next row Patt 3, work 3tog, patt 3. 7 sts.
Next row Patt to end.
Next row Patt 2, work 3tog, patt 2. 5 sts.
Next row Patt to end.
Next row Patt 1, work 3tog, patt 1. 3 sts.
Next row Work 3tog.
Fasten off.**

Front strap
Using US 6 (4 mm) needles, cast on 9 sts.
Work in moss/seed st as for collar until strap measures 4 in/10 cm from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
Rep from ** to ** to shape end as for main belt.
Make 0 (0: 0: 1: 1: 1: 1) more front strap in same way.

Front buckle section
Using US 6 (4 mm) needles cast on 9 sts.
Work in moss/seed st as for collar until front buckle section measures 4 in/10 cm from cast-on edge. Cast/bind off in moss/seed st.
Make 0 (0: 0: 1: 1: 1: 1) more front buckle section in the same way.
Belt loops (make 2)
Using US 6 (4 mm) needles, cast on 12 sts.
Beg with а К row, work 3 rows in st st.
Knit 1 row (fold line).
Beg with а К row, work 7 rows in st st.
Knit 1 row (fold line).
Beg with а К row, work 3 rows in st st.
Cast/bind off on WS.

To finish
Fold all hems to WS and slip stitch in place.
Press the coat lightly on WS, following instructions on yarn label.

Sew cast-/bound-off edge of collar to neck edge. Fold belt loops along fold lines and stitch cast-on edge to cast-/bound-off edge. Fold coat in half lengthways, then position one belt loop halfway up each side and sew ends of belt loops to coat.

Fold cast-on end of main belt around the center of a buckle and sew in place. Repeat this process with front buckle sections. Sew buckle end of main belt to center back of coat, aligning strap with belt loops. Using the photograph as a guide, sew front buckle and front straps to front of coat.