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2-Minute Dog Shirt from a T-Shirt Hack

Create a dog shirt in minutes with this quick hack. Then, tie-dye shirts so that you and your dog can match.

Tie Dye shirt on a Dog

The kids were looking for shirts to match the dog. They did not want to spend much money and could not find anything they liked, so I created them.

I did not want to take the time to sew so I created a cut-and-wear shirt. The knit fabric in a t-shirt will not unravel much, so hemming is optional.

All you need is a T-shirt and a pair of scissors to complete this project. I have included extra steps for tie-dyeing the shirts.

a couple and dog with matching shirts

Quick Dog Shirt Hack

When choosing a shirt for your dog, the size will depend on their measurements. Selecting a shirt that covers their back to the desired length is important.

Lennon is a 64 lb labradoodle. I used a youth 10/12 t-shirt.

Place the front legs of the dog through the arms of the shirt. Reach under and mark the spot for a cut line where the rib cage comes together.

mark the shirt on the dog

Remove the shirt from the dog. Lay the shirt flat.

Draw an arc from the center point you marked to the side of the shirt. I used a disappearing ink pen. If you do not have one, cut the marker line off.

mark cutting line on the shirt

Cut along this line to create the dog shirt.

front of a t-shirt cut to fit a dog

The shirt can be hemmed along the cut but works without sewing. I did not stitch Lennon’s shirt.

I cut the shirt before tie-dying.

Matching Tie-Dye Shirts with Your Dog

First, determine which design you want for the shirts. Lennon’s mom picked a pink and purple spiral pattern.

Use the same Tie-Dye Folding Technique for all the shirts. I tightly wrapped the shirts, which did not allow much dye absorption.

three shirts being dyed

Add dye as desired to each shirt. Once dyed, place each in a zippered plastic bag and let it sit for up to 24 hours.

Rinse the excess dye from the shirts with cold water before removing the rubber bands. Continue to rinse until the water runs clear.

Wash in a hot cycle to help set the color.

We were pleased with how the shirts turned out.

Three Matching Dog Shirts
Dog in a homemade tie dye shirt

More Dog Projects

woman and dog in matching tie-dye shirts

Yield: 1 shirt

Quick Dog Shirt Hack

Dog wearing a Dog T Shirt

Create a quick Dog Shirt from a human t-shirt in minutes. Perfect for making matching shirts for you and your dog, such as tie-dye.

Active Time 2 minutes
Total Time 2 minutes
Difficulty easy
Estimated Cost $3

Materials

  • short sleeve t-shirt

Tools

  • marker
  • scissors
  • optional: tie-dye supplies

Instructions

    1. The size of the shirt you pick will depend on the dog. Pick a shirt that goes down the dog's back as far as you want. I used a youth 10/12 on the 64-pound labradoodle.
    2. Place the shirt on the dog with the front legs through the arms. Determine the cut line by reaching under the dog and marking where the rib cage comes together.
    3. Remove the shirt from the dog and lay it flat.
    4. Draw an arc from the center point you marked to the side of the shirt. I recommend using a disappearing ink pen, but if you don't have one, you can simply cut off the marker line.
    5. Cut along the arc to create the dog shirt. Since t-shirt knit does not ravel, no hemming is necessary.
    6. Optional: Tie-dye or add a message to the back of the shirt.

Notes

Dye shirts so that the whole family can match.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Diana Rambles is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
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