The Latest in Canine Couture

Lucy, our beagle, is eleven years old, she'll be twelve in February. For the most part she still gets around pretty well for an old girl. I noticed the other day that she's been shaking a lot lately. At first I thought she was just slow to pick up on the Harlem shake craze (old people are like that). But after she gave me the are-you-crazy look a few times when trying to get her to go outside, I finally figured out she's just cold (old people are like that, too).

Lucy isn't exactly a petite beagle. In fact, she and Large Marge have a lot in common. A fashionable ready-made dog coat for a plus-size beagle is about as hard to find as a good man. I finally decided custom couture was our only option.

I started by taking her measurements, promising her I wouldn't post those online for all the world to see, and sketching out a rough pattern on a paper bag.

Then I made a mock up out of some unbleached muslin for her first fitting.

After a nip here and a tuck there, we found the perfect pattern to work from. I chose a couple of non-pill fleece fabrics from the craft store (they were 40% off, hooray!) Then quickly assembled the first bone print jacket together using velcro for closures. Ethel wanted to know if I could make her one with tuna fish.

Then I made a paw print version. I really wanted to get the cheetah print because I think it would be hilarious to watch her slowly toddle around in that, but she doesn't like it when I laugh at her - maybe I'll make her one for her birthday.

In the mean time these seem to be doing the trick, she doesn't mind going outside in the cold as much.