Does anyone know where I could buy some fairly cheap simple coats for our dogs to wear at displays? Something where we could have our little circular logo added onto a plain red background, with a simple style like the PAT coats, just elastic across the chest and a velcro fastening under the tummy? Or possibly even a pattern to make them if it was VERY simple - I'm not brilliant with sewing!! We'd only need two or three sizes, our smallest dog is a Cav and the biggest is a large Goldie. :-)

have you had a look on ebay? I bought some cheap but wonderful coats there ages ago, may be worth a look? :)

We get embroidered badges with the training club logo and name made up. Then we can sew them on our own clothes. Would something like that work for you? You could get the coats that best fit each of your dogs then.

Try talking to some of the  companies that make personalised dog coats?  Maybe they would give you a discount if you allow their information to be on the coat aswell?  Save you doing all the work :)

I'm not sure, we so far only have jumpers and polo shirts for the humans. I suppose I could try to find plain red ones and not worry about the logo, after all they will be with a human with logo!

I've made towelling coats for my dogs its really easy, measure from chest to rear, and from topline to where you want it to hang. Get your material and fold in half and cut out a triangle piece at the front for the neck.. You can add some bias (or i used a nice bit of scrap ribbon) to cover the raw edges add velco and away you go,, They take me 5mins tops to sew up..

Ahh i found the pattern if you want it the link is http://www.bark.addr.com/pat/cool/coolpat.htm

I didnt sew up the front i was using towels and none were big enuff for mine :D :D so used velcro or elastic like you said will work well, anyway i hope it gives you a rough idea !!  I noticed at dog shows they was charging £20+ for wet coat for my breed all i got was a couple of cheapo bath towels from asda and ran them up on the machine at a a fraction of the cost :D

Ooh, that looks hopeful, I'll ask the club if they'll contribute to the material, I expect there's several people there that could do a couple of coats each. At our busier displays we might have a dozen dogs, then of course there's making the right sizes, so I'm not sure I'd have time to make all of them!! I can see this project taking until next summer's displays now. :-)

OK, another question, after looking at that link and at Henry's PAT coat I reckon we could probably make them, though not with the club logo alas. But if we went for plain red coats, what sort of material should I buy and where from?? We just want cheap lightweight coat fabric, not towelling or quilted or reflective or anything, just ordinary coat fabric.

I'm not sure cost wise but i would think a breathable polyester would work, have you got a local sewing shop? theres a lot of mesh type fabrics about now ,you could go in and see what types of fabric you think is best, dont worry about the colour as you can always dye it red if you want a cheaper fabric.

What about those embroidered patches i dont think they are expensive and often if you enquire they will give you a discount if its for a club

We've got a shop where I used to buy cotton fabrics for my patchwork quilting if it's not closed down, is that likely to have breathable polyester? If it's just getting plain red fabric I can possibly search on the net too. Gosh, decisions decisions!