Upcycled human hi-vis vest, to doggy hi-vis vest **PICS**

[hjcw]

Our pup has a very dark coloured coat, so I worry that walking in the dark (as it is now coming into winter here in New Zealand), he may not be seen if for some reason he were to accidentally get off his leash.  So, I upcycled my hubby's old work hi-vis vest, to two vests for the dogs.


This one is the puppy's one, it has a big hem with another reflective stripe, so it can be let out as he grows:


Here they are modelling them:


and the backs:


Not sure how to stop them slipping around and flapping up at the back tho.  I initially had the smaller one (Snoopy's) with the belly strap further forward, but moved it back to stop this.  Rocky's one can't be moved back, coz he'd piddle on it!

[wendiek]

That is a good idea!

Maybe you can search the internet for dogs vests, and you'll get a good idea how to stop the slipping and flapping?!

[Rodelphia]

maybe a loop that goes underneath the tail, like on horse blankets.

[kriSmith]

Awesome idea. I love it.

[hjcw]

maybe a loop that goes underneath the tail, like on horse blankets.

that'd be a good idea, til they went to poop 
I thought about putting leg straps on (in New Zealand, our horse rugs have leg straps), but I think they may annoy the dogs, and Snoopy's jacket isn't long enough to put them on

[sarahactivated]

Your dogs look like natural models

[whipandchi]

I have made a lot of dog coats for a lot of different breeds of dogs. In my experience, you need to shape the coat to the dog's back end with darts in order to keep it in place. Where the darts are placed and how many you need depends on the dog's shape. Sometimes one in the center back in the last third of the seam before the tail end is enough, although I usually use 2 on the sides as well about 2/3 of the way down. Maybe play around with a vest cut out of some throw away fabric to get it right before you try it on your vests.



Another way to keep it in place is with 2 straps crossed underneath the belly like you see on the Foggy Mountain dog coats.

http://www.dogcoat.com/?page_id=10