Episode 20 - Dogwear Resizing Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
Episode Air Date: October 17, 2025
Runtime: 14:03
✨ Episode Summary
When I first started making dog coats, I thought resizing patterns was as simple as shrinking or enlarging the design.
Turns out — it’s not that simple. In this episode, I’m sharing the three biggest dogwear resizing mistakes I see (and made myself) — and how to avoid them so your coats fit beautifully across breeds and sizes.
If you’ve ever struggled with getting consistent fit from one size to another, this episode will help you understand what’s really happening behind the seams — and give you the confidence to scale your designs like a pro.
Top 3 Mistakes:
- Stretching a pattern evenly instead of resizing it proportionally at the key grading points
- Not understanding functional ease — what it is, why it matters, and how to remove and re-add it correctly
- Starting with a complex pattern instead of mastering scaling on a simple one first (like the Cozy Coat!)
🕒 Episode Highlights
00:00 – Intro + why learning to grade patterns changed everything for me
01:20 – My early trial-and-error years creating custom coats for every dog
03:05 – What “grading” really means in fashion design and how it applies to dogwear
04:10 – The four key grading points every dogwear designer should know
05:10 – Mistake #1: Stretching a pattern evenly instead of scaling proportionally
08:30 – Mistake #2: Forgetting to remove and re-add functional ease
12:15 – Mistake #3: Starting with complex patterns instead of simple, hackable ones
14:40 – How to build confidence by scaling one size at a time
15:25 – How mastering grading opens up new design freedom
16:30 – Wrap-up + creative encouragement for makers
📥 Ready to Take the Next Step?
Want to try these ideas for yourself? Start with my free Cozy Coat Pattern Package — it’s the simple, adaptable base pattern I use in this episode’s examples. It includes a printable pattern, video tutorials, a step-by-step guide, and a measuring workbook to help you get the fit right the first time.
Resource Links Mentioned
Watch the full video demo → https://youtu.be/XwEoZn7uu3c
Download the Hack Pack → https://www.thankdogwemadeit.com/f/hack-pack
Free Cozy Coat Pattern → https://www.thankdogwemadeit.com/f/free-cozy-coat-pattern-package
Dog Coat Sketch Templates → https://www.thankdogwemadeit.com/f/dog-coat-sketch-templates
Scale Your Dogwear System (SYDS) Course → https://www.thankdogwemadeit.com/f/grading-patterns-waitlist
💬 Got Questions or Feedback?
If something in today’s episode resonated with you—or brought up a question you’ve been wondering—I’d love to hear from you.
DM me anytime over on Instagram @thankdogwemadeit, or come join the conversation inside the Creative Circle. This is exactly the kind of stuff we talk about together.
You can also comment, rate, or follow the podcast here:
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You don’t have to do this alone—and you’re definitely not the only one feeling it.
