Knit Your Own Dog: The winners of Best in Show

By Joanna Osborne and Sally Muir

The new edition of bestselling knitting classic Best in Show, combining the best of Joanna Osborne and Sally Muir’s dog designs.

With over 15 knitting patterns for popular dog breeds, including a Labrador, Poodle, Dachshund, Jack Russell and many more, you can knit your precious pet, reproduce your favourite breed, or even knit the dog you have always dreamed of.

Sally and Joanna’s life-like designs and careful attention to detail enable you to knit the right set for your Greyhound’s ears, fluffy perfection for your Bichon Frise’s coat and an anatomically accurate curl for your Pug’s tail. Join the authors as they guide you through making the world’s most popular breeds as realistic as possible, introduce you to famous names (pets and owners!) and regale quirky facts about each one.

The knitted dog is, of course, the ideal easy-care companion; it lives forever, there’s no feeding, no barking, no moulting, no vets’ bills – a perfect pet.

Dog patterns included:
Dachshund, Jack Russell, West Highland Terrier, Labrador, Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer, Pug, Border Collie, French Bulldog, Bichon Frise, Greyhound, Yorkshire Terrier, English Springer Spaniel, Golden Retriever, Beagle, Border Terrier.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK
• Release date: Sep 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781911670384

Joanna Osborne

Joanna Osborne is one half of the knitwear business Muir & Osborne as both a designer and author. With her partner Sally Muir, Muir & Osborne export their knitwear to stores in the United States, Japan and Europe as well as selling to shops in the United Kingdom. Several pieces of their knitwear are in the permanent collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. They have published seven knitting pattern books that include Best in Show, Knit Your Own Dog, (also Cat, Pet, Zoo, Farm and Dinosaur) and the children’s book Patch’s Grand Dog Show.

Book preview

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Dachshund

Instantly recognizable due to its idiosyncratic design, the Dachshund has extremely short legs and an elongated body and so has trouble getting up stairs, which can be a plus. They originated in Germany where the word dachshund means ‘badger dog’. They have silky ears, enchanting faces, are lively, courageous and wonderfully portable, but they can be stubborn and vocal. Dachshunds are a popular choice with artists: Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and David Hockney have all owned Dachshunds, variously called Lump, Archie, Amos, Stanley and Boodgie.

Dachshund

Simple and rewarding to knit, with a very small amount of intarsia.

Measurements

Length: 19cm (7½in)

Height to top of head: 11cm (4½in)

Materials

Pair of 2¾mm (US 2) knitting needles

Double-pointed 2¾mm (US 2) knitting needles (for holding stitches)

5g (⅛oz) of Cascade Heritage 4ply in Burnished Gold 5707 (bg)

15g (½oz) of Cascade Heritage 4ply in Real Black 5672 (bl)

Small amount of Cascade Heritage 4ply in Lavender 5650 (la) for collar

Abbreviations

A list of abbreviations and their meanings can be found here.

A list of abbreviations and their meanings can be found here for Colour Knitting.

Wrap and Turn Method.

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Legs

When sewing up match the curve of the tummy with the leg shaping, sewing up one side then the other.

Right Back Leg

With bg, cast on 11 sts.

Beg with a k row, work 2 rows st st.

Row 3: K3, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k3. (9 sts)

Row 4: Purl.

Row 5: K2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k2. (7 sts)

Row 6: Purl.**

Row 7: Knit.

Row 8: Purl.

Row 9: Inc, k5, inc. (9 sts)

Row 10: Purl.

Row 11: Inc, k2, inc, k1, inc, k2, inc. (13 sts).***

Join in bl.

Row 12: P3bl, p10bg.

Row 13: K5bg, incbg, k1bg, incbg, k5bl. (15 sts)

Row 14: P6bl, incbl, p1bg, incbg, p6bg. (17 sts)

Row 15: K7bg, incbg, k1bl, incbl, k7bl. (19 sts)

Row 16: P10bl, p9bg.

Row 17: Cast (bind) off 9 sts bg, k to end in bl (hold 10 sts on spare needle for Right Side of Body).

Left Back Leg

Work as for Right Back Leg to ***.

Join in bl.

Row 12: P10bg, p3bl.

Row 13: K5bl, incbg, k1bg, incbg, k5bg. (15 sts)

Row 14: P6bg, incbg, p1bg, incbl, p6bl. (17 sts)

Row 15: K7bl, incbl, k1bl, incbg, k7bg. (19 sts)

Row 16: P9bg, p10bl.

Row 17: K10bl, cast (bind) off 9 sts bg (hold 10 sts on spare needle for Left Side of Body).

Right Front Leg

Work as for Right Back Leg to **.

Row 7: Inc, k5, inc. (9 sts)

Row 8: Purl.

Row 9: Inc, k7, inc. (11 sts)

Row 10: Purl.*

Join in bl.

Row 11: Incbg, k8bg, k1bl, incbl. (13 sts)

Row 12: P5bl, p8bg.

Row 13: Cast (bind) off 6 sts bg, k to end in bl (hold 7 sts on spare needle for Right Side of Body).

Left Front Leg

Work as for Right Front Leg to *.

Join in bl.

Row 11: Incbl, k1bl, k8bg, incbg. (13 sts)

Row 12: P8bg, p5bl.

Row 13: K7bl, cast (bind) off 6 sts bg (hold 7 sts on spare needle for Left Side of Body).

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Body

Stuff the body quite lightly so you don’t detract from its length.

Right Side of Body

Row 1: With bl, cast on 2 sts, with RS facing k7 from spare needle of Right Front Leg, cast on 7 sts. (16 sts)

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: Inc, k15, cast on 6 sts. (23 sts)

Row 4: Purl.

Row 5: Inc, k22, cast on 6 sts. (30 sts)

Row 6: Purl.

Row 7: K30, cast on 2 sts, with RS facing k10 from spare needle of Right Back Leg, cast on 2 sts. (44 sts)

Work 3 rows st st.

Row 11: Inc, k43. (45 sts)

Row 12: Purl.

Row 13: K42, k2tog, k1. (44 sts)

Row 14: Purl.

Row 15: K41, k2tog, k1. (43 sts)

Row 16: P1, p2tog, p40. (42 sts)

Row 17: K39, k2tog, k1. (41 sts)

Row 18: Cast (bind) off 8 sts, p to end. (33 sts)

Row 19: K11 (hold 11 sts on spare needle for right neck), cast (bind) off rem 22 sts.

Left Side of Body

Row 1: With bl, cast on 2 sts, with WS facing p7 from spare needle of Left Front Leg, cast on 7 sts. (16 sts)

Row 2: Knit.

Row 3: Inc, p15, cast on 6 sts. (23 sts)

Row 4: Knit.

Row 5: Inc, p22, cast on 6 sts. (30 sts)

Row 6: Knit.

Row 7: P30, cast on 2 sts, with WS facing p10 from spare needle of Left Back Leg, cast on 2 sts. (44 sts)

Work 3 rows st st.

Row 11: Inc, p43. (45 sts)

Row 12: Knit.

Row 13: P42, p2tog, p1. (44 sts)

Row 14: Knit.

Row 15: P41, p2tog, p1. (43 sts)

Row 16: K1, k2tog, k40. (42 sts)

Row 17: P39, p2tog, p1. (41 sts)

Row 18: Cast (bind) off 8 sts, k to end. (33 sts)

Row 19: P11 (hold 11 sts on spare needle for left neck), cast (bind) off rem 22 sts.

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Head

Do make sure the stuffing is pushed into the tip of the nose.

Neck and Head

Row 1: With bl and with RS facing, k2, k2tog, k5, k2tog from spare needle of Right Side of Body, then k2tog, k5, k2tog, k2 from spare needle of Left Side of Body. (18 sts)

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: K13, wrap and turn (leave 5 sts on left-hand needle unworked).

Row 4: Working top of head on centre 8 sts only, p8, w&t.

Row 5: K8, w&t.

Rep rows 4–5 once more.

Row 8: P8, w&t.

Row 9: K13. (18 sts in total)

Join in bg.

Row 10: P2bg, p14bl, p2bg.

Row 11: K3bg, k12bl, k3bg.

Row 12: P3bg, p12bl, p3bg.

Row 13: K4bg, k9bl, w&t (leave 5 sts on left-hand needle unworked).

Row 14: P8bl, w&t.

Row 15: K8bl, w&t.

Row 16: P8bl, w&t.

Row 17: K1bl, k2bg, k2bl, k2bg, k2bl, k4bg. (18 sts in total)

Row 18: P3bg, p2togbl, p8bl, p2togbl, p3bg. (16 sts)

Row 19: K3bg, k2togbl, k6bl, k2togbl, k3bg. (14 sts)

Row 20: P2bg, p10bl, p2bg.

Row 21: K2bg, k10bl, k2bg.

Row 22: P3bg, p8bl, p3bg.

Row 23: K4bg, k2togbl, k2bl, k2togbl, k4bg. (12 sts)

Row 24: P5bg, p2bl, p5bg.

Row 25: K5bg, k2bl, k5bg.

Row 26: P2togbg, p3bg, p2bl, p3bg, p2togbg. (10 sts)

Row 27: K4bg, k2bl, k4bg.

Row 28: P2togbg, p2bg, p2bl, p2bg, p2togbg. (8 sts)

Cast (bind) off 3 sts bg, 2 sts bl, 3 sts bg.

Tummy

With bg, cast on 8 sts.

Beg with a k row, work 2 rows st st.

Row 3: K2tog, k4, k2tog. (6 sts)

Row 4: P2tog, p2, p2tog. (4 sts)

Work 6 rows st st.

Row 11: Inc, k2, inc. (6 sts)

Row 12: Inc, p4, inc. (8 sts)

Work 32 rows st st.

Row 45: K2tog, k4, k2tog. (6 sts)

Row 46: P2tog, p2, p2tog. (4 sts)

Work 4 rows st st.

Row 51: Inc, k2, inc. (6 sts)

Row 52: Inc, p4, inc. (8 sts)

Work 10 rows st st.

Row 63: K2tog, k4, k2tog. (6 sts)

Work 7 rows st st.

Row 71: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)

Work 3 rows st st.

Row 75: [K2tog] twice. (2 sts)

Work 2 rows st st.

Row 78: P2tog and fasten off.

Tail

With bl, cast on 18 sts.

Cast (bind) off.

Ear

(make 2 the same)

With bl, cast on 3 sts.

Row 1: K3.

Row 2: Inc, k1, inc. (5 sts)

Row 3: Knit.

Row 4: Inc, k4. (6 sts)

Knit 3 rows.

Row 8: Inc, k5. (7 sts)

Knit 3 rows.

Row 12: Inc, k6. (8 sts)

Knit 5 rows.

Row 18: Cast (bind) off 3 sts, k to end. (5 sts)

Row 19: Knit.

Cast (bind) off.

Collar

With la, cast on 26 sts.

Knit one row.

Cast (bind) off.

To Make Up

See also diagram and notes here.

SEWING IN ENDS Sew in ends, leaving ends from cast on and cast (bound) off rows for sewing up.

LEGS Using mattress or whip stitch, sew up legs starting at paw. Stuff all four legs.

BODY Using mattress or whip stitch, sew along back and around bottom.

HEAD At head, fold in half and sew cast (bound) off edges of nose together.

TUMMY Sew cast on row of tummy to bottom end of dog and sew cast (bound) off row to nose. Ease and sew tummy to fit body, matching curves to legs, leaving a 2.5cm (1in) gap in one side for stuffing.

STUFFING Turn right side out, stuff and sew up

Reviews for Knit Your Own Dog

[myorangekiss · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is such a neat "how to" book for creating your own little knitted dogs. So many awesome patterns, and very clear instructions! I greatly look forward to using this book for years to come.

[kmmsb459 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So cute, I'd love to make the whole collection!

[pferdina · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Although I am not sure I will make any of these, it is fascinating to look at the photos of knitted dogs. There are 25 different breeds represented, grouped by class (Hounds, Sporting, etc).

[musicalknitter · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I found this book interesting and will be trying some of the patterns! The instructions are clear and very well laid out so that they are easy to understand. The additional information in the back is very helpful, especially the general instructions for sewing the parts together to make the actual dog. There is a short history of the breed which is informative and explains how some of them were bred.All in all a helpful, fun book with easy to understand patterns for all skill levels.

[silverarrowknits-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First Impressions: I must admit that I have a love for knitting books that focus on toys and other small items. Little knitting items are wonderful, because (1) they are tiny (and tiny items are always cute), (2) they use up all the scraps of yarn that you have in your knitting basket, and (3) they are super fast to knit up. I can just imagine knitting up an army of lifelike dogs and bright pink and blue dogs in just a few weeks!The Details: This book contains 25 adorable patterns of knitted dogs. There are 6 toy dogs (the Shih Tzu is my favorite), 4 utility dogs (I loved the Greyhound), 6 terriers (the Cain Terrier Yorkshire Terrier and the Airdale Terrier are super cute), 4 gun dogs (the pointer is adorable), and 5 working dogs (I really liked all of them). Each dog is knitted in pieces and then sewn together. The patterns do a good job of describing how to sew and shape each dog, so they look like their namesakes. Knit Your Own Dog recommends Rowan Yarn; however, the book even states that any yarn (of any size) can be used. I appreciate knitting books that recommend certain yarns (so if I want my project to look just like the picture in the book they will) but also encourage the knitter to try other yarns (I don't like it when books guilt me into buying hard-to-find yarns or out-of-my budget yarns). Final Impressions: This book is super cute. I love all of the dogs, and I cannot wait to start knitting lots of dogs in all the colors of the rainbow. There is a decent amount of variety in the types of dogs, so I feel like I won't get bored while knitting through the book.This review copy of Knit Your Own Dog: The Second Litter was kindly donated by Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers.

[peacock_rose · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm still a fairly novice knitter, so I somewhat disagree with "Every pattern is easy-to-follow for both new and experienced knitters." Stitches are not defined in the book so, if you don't know the different stitch definitions or techniques, it can be a little confusing. The book is a nice read with little factoids about the breeds. Once you look up the stitches used in the book it becomes easier to understand. I am currently attempting to knit the Labrador, though not exactly in a yarn color that would typify the breed. I had some variegated yarn handy, should make for a dog fit for Rainbow Bright. LOL