Why yes, that IS German for sausage warmer!
The wiener dog body poses a number of challenges for handknitters—just ask any dachshund owner who’s watched her dog walk right out of a sweater. There’s the obvious length issue, of course–these are long, long dogs. Plus, the dachshund’s superwide chest means that most sweaters’ sleeves are too close together. Sweater necks are rarely long enough, and their sleeves are almost always too long (these two things are largely responsible for most dachshunds being able to escape their sweaters in the blink of an eye). And few dog sweaters are designed to cover that soft, hairless underbelly on a short-haired wiener.
Wurstwärmer is designed to address all of these issues. Short rows add extra material to accommodate a dachshund’s barrel chest. A long, ribbed, generously-sized turtleneck gently hugs the neck and allows for a wide range of neck and chest shapes and sizes. A long body covers the belly, and more short rows curve the sweater over the rump. Short, wide-set triangular sleeves will stay on even the wiggliest pups.
I strongly recommend taking a few measurements (listed in the pattern) and trying the sweater on as you go to make it truly custom-fit, but standard sizes are provided for gift-knitters and those whose dogs refuse to cooperate with measurings or fittings.
Wurstwärmer is knit in the round, with the exception of the short rows, which are knit back-and-forth. If you haven’t knit short rows before, don’t be intimidated. If you can knit and purl in the round, pick up stitches, increase, and decrease, you can knit this sweater.
Cost: $3 US.
ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THIS PATTERN WILL BE DONATED TO THE MICHIGAN ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE. IF YOU DON’T HAVE A DACHSHUND TO KNIT FOR, YOU MIGHT KNIT THE PATTERN AND DONATE IT TO A LOCAL DACHSHUND RESCUE ORGANIZATION. OR VISIT THE M.A.R.L. WEB SITE TO MAKE A DONATION ON YOUR OWN.
SIZING: XS (S, M, L, XL), to fit chest circumference of 11-13 (14-16, 17-19, 20-21, 22-23) inches.
MATERIALS:
– YARN:
• 2 (2, 2, 2, 3) skeins Hello Yarn Fat Sock (shown in Olive), OR
• 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) skeins Miss Babs Yummy Sport (shown in Teal), OR
• approximately 200-500 yards sport weight wool
– 4mm 16″ circular needle (or size to get gauge)
– 4mm double-pointed needles (or size to get gauge)
– 3 stitch markers
– tapestry needle
– scrap yarn
