The Real Value of Custom Dog Sweaters

Like a Love Letter to Your Dog

---

“Tell me about your dog.”
That’s how every WestieWear™ sweater starts. With that question.

And people light up when I ask it. They love talking about their dogs. And I love listening. Whether we’re meeting face-to-face or they’re filling out my Color Profile Quiz, I ask thoughtful questions about their dog’s body, energy, and personality. I straight-up wouldn’t want to make the sweater without that information.

What they don’t ask.

After four months in this business, I’ve noticed something remarkable:

Nobody ever asks how much my sweaters cost.

At first, this surprised me. I’d been conditioned to expect that question first, before the “tell me more,” before the “how does this work,” certainly before the “yes.”

But it doesn’t happen that way. Instead, people ask: “How long does it take for you to make one sweater?” or “What colors would my dog look good in?” And I simply love it when they start imagining what WestieWear™ Color Profile best reflects their dog’s personality.

If the price does come up, it’s because I have offered it. And it is consistently met with a casual, neutral acceptance.
“That’s great.”
“Perfect.”
“Okay, sounds good.”

No hesitation. No negotiation. Just appreciation for what I offer. When I recently explained this phenomenon to a friend in finance, he asserted, “Given that information, I’d question whether your prices are too low.” But at $78 for an extra-small dog sweater, I can’t imagine they are priced too low. While my custom garments are not priced at the rate of your run-of-the-mill, mass-produced dog sweaters like those found on Amazon, these one-of-a-kind, hand-crocheted garments look unlike anything you will find at any big-box store. You can go and spend $30-$50 for a machine-made sweater, but it doesn’t come with the heart and experience of purchasing a WestieWear™ Custom sweater. (And it certainly won’t come with a matching beanie for you.)

But here’s what that $78-$148 doesn’t show: The real cost is 10-16 hours of active stitching time per sweater. It’s the hours I spend before I ever pick up my hook—learning about your dog, creating their sketch, understanding their personality. By pure math, I’m barely making minimum wage. But measuring this work in dollars per hour misses the entire point.

Which is exactly why people aren’t concerned with the price of WestieWear sweaters.

The Heart of What I Do

By the time someone reaches out, they have already begun to realize what goes into a WestieWear sweater. Whether they’ve scrolled through pictures of dogs in sweaters that fit well, or read captions where I talk about Fergie’s diva qualities or Josie’s flair the dramatic, they know my process is different. They may have noticed the texture in the stitching, the intentional details around the collar, the way each piece looks like it was made exclusively for the dog wearing it.

Before they ever reach out, they have felt something in my work.

When someone chooses a handmade piece like this, they aren’t asking, Can I afford it? They’re wondering, what would she create for my dog?

By the time they reach out, they’re just taking another step towards envisioning their dog in one of my one-of-a-kind garments. And they already know that the experience is very much a part of their purchase.

During these short four months, I’ve learned something powerful about my work and myself: I don’t make sweaters for dogs. I channel the dogs I’m making sweaters for. And what I’m offering can’t be separated from the experience that comes with it.

---

Connecting to My Customers

On my studio wall, I keep a progress board; a visual representation of “the pack” with columns for each stage of work. Each color-coded card holds an AI-generated sketch of the dog I’m making a sweater for. Missy. Ranee. Tidbit. Darwin.

They’re all up there, ensuring I stay connected to my “customers” while I work.

This seemingly small detail packs a powerful punch. When I sit down with my yarn and crochet hook, I’m not looking at a list of orders with number or a generic descriptions like “small dog, blue sweater.”

I see Missy. The sketch of her reminds me of her sweet nature, the innocence taken when she was brutally attacked by another dog in her neighborhood. Her sketch reminds me that I’m making her sweater to help bring her a little comfort in the wake of this traumatizing event. And with every garment I make, there is a story stitched into it.

Which is why I created the Color Profile Experience, a set of four profiles based on my four West Highland Terriers who graced my life over the past 20 years. Each color profile inspires creativity through color collections designed to reflect a set of personality traits common among all dogs.

Once I understand your dog, I ask myself:

Is this dog like Dudley? A steady, loyal, Goodest Boy? If so, the piece needs warmth and groundedness.
Maybe the dog is more like Fergie? A fancy, elite, and pampered, Doggy Diva? Every stitch offering softness and intention.
If they are vocal like Murphy? They may be a Bossy Pants, assertive and impossible to ignore. Their sweater would need bold energy that showcases their outgoing demeanor.
Or are they more like Josie? Enthusiastic, playful, and a little extra? The Bumble Bee features bright colors and dramatic stitching that merits texture, dimension, flair.

The Color Profile Experience includes a fun eight-question quiz designed to help pet parents determine which profile and colors best represent their pet. And when it’s time to place their order, our WestieWear™ order form draws out insights about the individual quirks and personality traits of each dog, straight from their person; the one who knows them best.

By the time I have my AI-generated pencil-drawn sketch of a dog, they’ve already become real to me. This part of my process fosters connection in a tangible way that further connects me to the furbaby I’m designing a sweater for.

Channeling Each Dog Before the Work Begins

That channeling, that connection, is what changes everything.

And all of this occurs before I ever pick up my hook. The active stitching itself takes 10 to 15 hours for each sweater. Some designs get layered stitching or embellished scalloping around the collar. Others include special stitching that sets the garment apart from the rest. Each piece requires presence, patience, and intention.

But the real cost of a custom dog sweater isn’t measured in yarn and time. It’s measured in presence. In the willingness to see your dog as an individual. In the commitment to translate their spirit into something tangible. That’s what you’re actually paying for, that’s why I enjoy this work, and that’s why the price never comes up.

The Joy is in the Connection

Not because I have to. Because I want to. Because without the connection, there is no enjoyment in making it. Without the connection, I am merely moving my hands in repetition for 10 – 15 hours.

---

Recently, someone asked if I’d make a beanie. They didn’t have a dog, and just wanted a beanie.

She appreciated the quality of my work and wanted to support my business. And I was grateful for that.

But when I sat down to plan it, I was overcome by unexpected discomfort. After assessing this feeling, I realized, I didn’t want to make it.

That highly uncomfortable moment forced me to get very clear about something I hadn’t fully articulated yet. And it wasn’t about the beanie. Furthermore, it had nothing to do with the person I was asked to make it for. It was all about the missing connection between the dog, the human, and the piece. Because that’s what matters most to me.

The meaning behind my work lives in the relationship between the dog, their person, and the piece(s) I make for them.

Colorful Love Letters to Your Dog

The sweater is merely the outcome. But the process, the channeling, the knowing who I’m making it for … well, that’s the point. And I think people feel that.

They feel it when they see my sweaters—or when they engage with me. They feel it when they read my posts. And in the questions I ask. In the care I take with each garment.

Which explains why they don’t ask about the price.

In the end, they know there’s no price to be put on what they are getting:
A love letter. To their dog.
… to the bond they share… to the moments they want to cherish.

And that kind of work—the kind that comes from channeling something real, something alive,—speaks for itself. That alignment, that heart, is the foundation of WestieWear™.

Written by: Kimberly Jo — Founder & Furbaby Fashion Designer