This is a great little project for that special pug in your life – or in someone else’s! Custom-designed for a pug’s substantial neck, deep chest, narrow hips and wide-set legs, this is a fun project that gets done pretty quickly. And who can resist the sock-type body with white cuffs and that iconic red stripe?

Maggie, the model, is a six-year-old pug with a jaw deformity, which gives her that sassy stick-out tongue. Her mom was concerned that she was too cold outside. But now her belly will be nice and warm in winter!

This is knit in the round on double-pointed or short circular needles. Knitters of some experience will find this a fun project, and adventurous beginners can expect to have success by following the directions carefully. I had a ton of fun putting this design together. It took several tries to figure out the specifics of what a pug needs in a sweater – wide-set legs and a deep chest mean quick increases over a short distance to accommodate the shape. The neck has a surprisingly large circumference. And that deep chest means it takes a bit of a distance to put the leg openings in the right spot under the body. Overall, it was a challenge!

But now that the hard work of figuring it all out is done, this project is pretty easy knitting and goes very quickly on double-pointed or short circular needles. I’ve provided instructions for both male and female versions, along with provision for openings to allow a leash or harness - or both! - to be attached.