Galgo coat pattern

 

 the squares on the graph paper are 5x5 cm (1.9x1.9 inch)

the horizontal top line is 53 cm (20,9 inch)

click to enlarge

In earlier posts of  august and november 2010 (here and here) I talked about galgo coats my partner and I have been making, to be transported to the shelters in Spain, that care for these abused dogs.

Looking around on the internet I noticed that it is not easy to find a nice, simple pattern to sew these coats.
So here is model I have drawn from a pattern which was provided by Elsbeth Endel, who in the Netherlands is active in organising aid for Spanish galgo's.

The idea is to use two layers of fabric, an outside one of some rainproof material (like a shower curtain), and an inside one of a soft and warm material, (like fleece).

Both layers are cut as the pattern indicates, laying the horizontal line of the pattern along the the fold of the folded fabric and adding seam allowance to the rest.

First of all in both layers the "figure seam" at the backside should be stitched and finished (by cutting off the redundant part).  This seam will make the coat follow the contours of the hips of the dog.

Then the two layers can be combined, right sides together, by stitching along the margins, leaving openings at the backside and at the two front "flaps". Through the opening at the back the right side of the fabric can be turned outside.

The two front flaps should be connected, either by using velcro or by stichting them together. To ensure a nice rounding of the neck, it is recommended to cut litlle triangles in the relevant seam allowance.

The opening at the backside can be closed while topstichting the coat all around at the edge.

The pattern has an indication where two strings can be fixed. Make them in such a lenght that it's easy to make a knot at the upside of the dog.

This is the model without much ado, easy to make in large quantities and functionally perfect to be used in the shelters.

Of course if you want to provide a dog in your family with a coat, you could add all kind of more or less fashionable details, skirt around the model with a band and make clickable strings,