Cool Vest

You can create a cooling vest for your dog, by some simple materials, and a little sewing. If you are willing to try to cool your dog down in the summer, use these materials to create a swamp cooler for your dog!

You will need:

    1. An evaporate decorative fabric like cotton or linen

    2. A water proof fabric with a plastic back

    3. Some bias tape for the edge of the vest

    4. Some stitch-on velcro for the vest.

    5. Felt or some absorbent material for the inside of the vest-this will not be visible once completed.

    6. Thread to match

Measure your dog, from head to rump, and around the barrel of your dog's chest. Once you have these two measurements, you can decide how much fabric and notions you will require. You will be making two pieces, chest, and back. You can make these with a newspaper, and usually it best to try a couple of these patterns out, by placing them on your dog. Allow for coverage on the back, and enough room for movement around the legs and neck.

Once you are sure you have some good patterns to work with, make one back, one chest with the decorative fabric(right side decorative side up), waterproof fabric(plastic side up), and one felt piece. You should have three pieces for chest, and three for back. Stitch these three pieces together around the edge of your cut pieces, so that they are sandwiched. Plastic piece will be next to your dog's skin, felt in middle, and decorative on top. Then, you can stitch the bias tape around the outside of the three pieces to bind them together.

You are almost done!

Then, take the two finished pieces, lay on your dog, and see how much velcro you will want to use to keep these two pieces on your pet. You will be albe to adjust, but it is best to allow for lots of movement, as when you soak these pieces, they will be heavy. Then, be sure to stitch the loops on the chest, and the soft materials on the back. That way, you can attach the vest easily to your dog.

Soak the vest for 10-15 minutes in cool water, wring out, and then place on your pet. You will find the picture below are showing how the vest looks without the bias tape. You do not have to use the bias tape, but it does keep the vest looking and wearing great!